Modelling self-regulated learning strategies in early-stage entrepreneurs: the role of intentionality and interaction.

This research investigates entrepreneurs from a psychological perspective, with a focus on the strategies entrepreneurs use to manage or self-regulate their learning, an area which has largely been ignored in past research with regard to entrepreneurs. The sample consisted of 11 nascent entrepreneurs and new business owners who had started ventures in the sectors of business or consumer services in the last two years. Participants were recruited from a variety of sources throughout Ireland, including university incubator centres, entrepreneurial network groups, enterprise boards, and information and support services for entrepreneurs. The entrepreneur’s self-regulated learning strategies were assessed using an in-depth, focused interview. Analysis of the results unravelled the complex network of strategies employed by entrepreneurs to manage their learning and knowledge acquisition in the early stages of a new venture. As such, this research demonstrates that entrepreneurial learning is self-regulated, and can be viewed along the dual continuation of: • the level of intentionality of the learning • the level of interaction with other individuals or the environment. Although this research reports on an early-stage, preliminary investigation of a wider study, the examination of the self-regulation of learning and knowledge acquisition can provide valuable insights into the decision-making processes of entrepreneurs and of the process of venture creation more generally

Self-regulation in entrepreneurs: integrating action, cognition, motivation and emotions

Psychological processes (e.g. cognition, motivation, emotions) have emerged as key to understanding entrepreneurial actions and success. Currently, we do not know enough about specific entrepreneurial psychological processes and particularly lack knowledge about their cumulative or interactive effects. Self-regulation offers some promise in understanding these issues. However, self-regulation in entrepreneurship has not been fully explored, which limits our understanding. We address this by introducing an integrated model of episodic self-regulation (the A-CEM-A model) to map the reciprocal regulatory effects of action, cognition, emotion, and motivation in entrepreneurship research and isolate a series of propositions stemming from the model. We further explore the resource implications of the A-CEM-A model for entrepreneurs managing several self-regulatory processes simultaneously. The A-CEM-A model offers a novel and unique insight on entrepreneurial action and psychological processes, and presents a roadmap for future researchers interested in adopting an episodic process perspective in entrepreneurship research

Influencing a nation: how a leader’s interpersonal emotion regulation influences citizen compliance via trust and emotions during a global pandemic

During crises like the COVID-19 pandemic, it was necessary for political leaders to influence citizens to comply with public health measures and restrictions. These health measures (e.g., physical distancing, staying at home) had substantial negative effects on individuals’ lives and thus were sometimes met with defensive, noncooperative responses. To influence citizens’ compliance with public health guidance and nationally imposed restrictions, political leaders needed to effectively motivate them through their public communications. We argue that while negative emotions may have discouraged citizens from deviating from public health restrictions, other factors such as citizens’ trust in political leaders played a role as well. We investigated whether the perception of the interpersonal emotion regulation (IER) strategies used by government leaders in ministerial briefings impacted citizens’ compliance intentions via either negative affect or perceived trustworthiness. Across three studies based in Western Europe (Studies 1 and 2 survey, Study 3 experimental), we consistently found that a leader’s affect-improving IER strategies increased compliance intentions via perceived trustworthiness but not via negative affect. Affect-worsening IER strategies demonstrated either no effect or an indirect worsening effect on the compliance intentions of citizens. Our findings highlight the importance of IER strategies in ministerial briefings and perceived trustworthiness of political leaders in motivating citizens to comply with public health restrictions during a pandemic.</p

Investigating the role of discrete emotions in silence versus speaking up

Silence in the workplace is a highly prevalent behaviour, but more is needed to understand the causes and consequences of such behaviour. In this article, we draw on theory and research to examine the role of discrete emotions in decisions to remain silent or to speak up. Three studies with full-time employees were carried out utilizing both qualitative and experimental methodologies. Study 1 (n = 110) demonstrated that there are many reasons for being silent and established fear as the main emotion associated with silence behaviour. Building on the results of Study 1 and using a quasi-experimental vignette design, Study 2 (n = 142) confirmed that different silence motives provoke different emotional experiences. Exploring the behavioural effects of emotions using a further experimental design, Study 3 (n = 80) showed that anger is an antecedent to speaking up about an observed transgression, whereas less intense anger was associated with staying silent. This pattern was not evident for fear. Taken together, these three studies provide empirical data regarding the relationship between silence, emotions, and actions. We contribute to theory and research at the intersection of silence, emotions, and behaviour and offer valuable insights into the dynamics of these concepts in the workplace

The neuroscience of trust violation: Differential activation of the default mode network in ability, benevolence and integrity breaches

Trust is widely regarded as being foundational in workplace relationships. The violation of interpersonal trust results in a range of negative affective, cognitive and behavioural consequences for the injured party. However, research has yet to isolate the specific neural areas and processes activated when different types of interpersonal trust are breached. Using electroencephalogram with 68 participants, we identified the effects of three distinct types of trust violations—ability violation, integrity violation and benevolence violations—on electrical brain activity. Our findings indicate that trust violations are processed in social cognitive-related brain areas. Specifically, our results identify the significance of the default mode network (DMN), relevant to the processing of social information, in trust violation and further isolated distinct activity for ability, integrity and benevolence trust violation, with integrity violations demonstrating the greatest reaction in the DMN. Benevolence violations generated the next greatest reaction but were not significantly different from the ability violations. This potential distinction may be worth further investigation in future research. Our findings highlight the potential importance of the DMN in processing cues regarding the trustworthiness of others and the distinctiveness of the processing of violation cues of the three facets of trustworthiness. </p