Terror Management Theory and Entrepreneurship: Fear and Decision-Making

Identifier

1079

Author

Eric Kinnamon

Date

2014

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Business Administration

Committee Member

Robert Renn

Committee Member

John (Ian) Norris

Abstract

Terror management theory is a macropsychological theory that investigates the cognitive processes of individuals exposed to their own mortality. This research suggests that terror management theory could explain a number of decision-making behaviors in entrepreneurs. The central proposition of the current study is that entrepreneurs will respond similarly to firm failure salience as to mortality salience, and will, thereby, make more risk-averse decisions. The second proposition will explore whether the moderating effect of self-esteem between mortality salience and culture worldview posited by terror management theory is in accord with entrepreneurial self-efficacy as a moderator in the relationship between firm failure salience and risk-averse attitudes.

Comments

Data is provided by the student.

Library Comment

Dissertation or thesis originally submitted to the local University of Memphis Electronic Theses & dissertation (ETD) Repository.

Recommended Citation

Kinnamon, Eric, "Terror Management Theory and Entrepreneurship: Fear and Decision-Making" (2014). Electronic Theses and Dissertations. 914.
https://digitalcommons.memphis.edu/etd/914