Do Volunteers Intend to Become Social Entrepreneurs? The Influence of Pro-Social Behavior on Social Entrepreneurial Intentions

Abstract

This article examines the influence of pro-social behavior on social entrepreneurial intentions (SEI). Drawing on theory of planned behavior, entrepreneurship, and behavioral psychology literatures, we examine the influence of volunteers’ traits and behavior on SEI. Our research adds two unexplored antecedents to previous studies, volunteers’ altruism, and religion. From a sample of 423 volunteers, our model shows that self-efficacy, perceived social support, opportunity recognition, and altruism, influence volunteers’ SEI, while moral obligation, religion, and empathy were not significant. Thus, without entrepreneurial characteristics such as self-efficacy and opportunity recognition, volunteers are unlikely to engage in social entrepreneurship. Given that altruism can be triggered by contrasting drivers (e.g., self-interest or selflessness), these differences open up a new venue for further studies on volunteers’ traits and SEI. We also suggest that it will be critical to further address the effect of contextual factors on the role of empathy and moral obligation.

The Role of Perceived Entrepreneurial Feasibility in The Influence of Altruism on College Students' Social Entrepreneurial Intention

“…First, these findings show that altruism has a strong influence on college students' SEI, and these results confirm several preliminary studies where there is a research gap regarding this relationship (Aloulou & Algarni, 2022;Kruse et al, 2021;Lee et al, 2022;Trajano et al, 2023;Zulkifle & Aziz, 2023). Individuals having a behavioral basis in altruism often consider that through social business, they will find happiness and satisfaction that comes from helping others and creating social change in society (Trajano et al, 2023). Within this study, students also perceive that social business is a tool to show their concern, kindness, or care for the interests and welfare of others, and they hope to bring positive changes and create a more just world by resolving social inequality in society.…”

“…First, these findings show that altruism has a strong influence on college students' SEI, and these results confirm several preliminary studies where there is a research gap regarding this relationship (Aloulou & Algarni, 2022;Kruse et al, 2021;Lee et al, 2022;Trajano et al, 2023;Zulkifle & Aziz, 2023). Individuals having a behavioral basis in altruism often consider that through social business, they will find happiness and satisfaction that comes from helping others and creating social change in society (Trajano et al, 2023).…”

“…Altruism refers to a person's tendency to show concern, kindness, or consideration for the interests and welfare of others. Altruistic attitudes form the moral foundation that guides entrepreneurs to focus on the needs of the crowd and address social challenges (Trajano et al, 2023). The research results of Rambe & Ndofirepi (2021), Lee et al (2022), andTrajano et al (2023) indicate that altruism has a positive effect on SEI.…”

“…Altruistic attitudes form the moral foundation that guides entrepreneurs to focus on the needs of the crowd and address social challenges (Trajano et al, 2023). The research results of Rambe & Ndofirepi (2021), Lee et al (2022), andTrajano et al (2023) indicate that altruism has a positive effect on SEI. Different research results found by Aloulou & Algarni (2022), Zulkifle & Aziz, 2023), and Razzak & Al Riyami (2023) found that there is no effect of altruism on SEI.…”

“…However, this study examines altruism based on indicators of empathy, moral responsibility, beliefs about a just world, and low ego. Furthermore, previous researchers focused on volunteers (Trajano et al, 2023), labor (Aloulou & Algarni, 2022;Lee et al, 2022), retirees (Razzak & Al Riyami, 2023), and vocational school students (Rambe & Ndofirepi, 2021), Then, this study focuses on SEI among students from various fields of study, especially the economic science family of higher education, which includes both general economic majors and education fields.…”