Intraindividual variability in identity centrality: Examining the dynamics of perceived role progress and state identity centrality.

Abstract

Conventionally, identity centrality has been conceived of as a stable and transsituational construct, with situational variability in identity centrality treated as being of little informational value. In contrast to past research, we develop a theoretical model arguing that a portion of within-person variability in identity centrality is systematic and meaningful. Drawing on identity control theory, we examine the within-person relationship flowing from perceived role progress to state identity centrality, which is conventionally viewed as reverse causal at the between-person level. We further explain the intermittent effect of an intense positive emotion—passion for the role—and investigate the contingent effect of in-role effort. The results from 2 repeated-measures studies showed that a significant proportion of total variance in identity centrality occurred at the within-person level and perceived role progress influenced state identity centrality by engendering passion for the role contingent on in-role effort. We discuss the theoretical and practical implications of our findings for management and organizations to inspire new intellectual debate and novel viewpoints to advance the microfoundation of identity theory.

Where does the heart lie? A multistage process model of entrepreneurial passion and role identity management

“…Third, we outline how different passion types and environmental feedback "push" or "pull" transitions across multiple roles as part of entrepreneurial identity reconstruction, fitting entrepreneurial passion and identity to the venture's situational needs (see Ho & Astakhova, 2018). In doing so, we extend past studies that have mainly focused on the effects of favorable progress feedback on effort intensity (Uy et al, 2015) and role identity centrality (Tripathi et al, 2020). Our work examines both positive and negative feedback in conjunction with the dualistic model of passion, addressing calls for research on both early and later stages of venture development (Uy et al, 2015) and on the effects of negative feedback (Tripathi et al, 2020).…”

“…The eight role identity transition/persistence patterns presented above start a new feedback loop (see Figure 2), which allows continuous adjustments of identity (Tripathi et al, 2020), influencing the extent of entrepreneurial identity-environment fit over time. Drawing on person-environment fit theory (see Edwards, 2008), we define this as the degree to which the entrepreneur's central role identity matches the situational needs of the venture.…”

My future entrepreneurial self: antecedents of entrepreneurial identity aspiration

“…Based on our data, we can show that higher self-confidence of students in their ability to fill out the entrepreneur's role leads to a higher aspiration to make this role a part of their identity. Thus, self-efficacy can be a marker for progress towards the future possible entrepreneurial self, increasing its desirability (Tripathi et al, 2020), making it essential for educational initiatives to develop this self-efficacy (Florin et al, 2007). Despite the rich tradition of seminal works that postulate the importance of need for achievement as a decisive factor for potential entrepreneurial behavior (Collins et al, 2004;McClelland, 1975;Stewart et al, 1999), it did not hold the expected positive effect for entrepreneurial identity aspiration.…”

“…Based on our data, we can show that higher self-confidence of students in their ability to fill out the entrepreneur's role leads to a higher aspiration to make this role a part of their identity. Thus, self-efficacy can be a marker for progress towards the future possible entrepreneurial self, increasing its desirability (Tripathi et al , 2020), making it essential for educational initiatives to develop this self-efficacy (Florin et al , 2007).…”

“…For a possible self to be more central, the future role's assumptions and expectations must be congruent with the individual's self-description (Gecas, 1982; Markus and Nurius, 1986). In the case of congruency, individuals are encouraged to make progress towards the role requirements facilitating the internalization of the emergent role identity (Ashforth and Schinoff, 2016; Farmer et al , 2011; Tripathi et al , 2020). Thus, the greater the fit between the entrepreneurial role identity expectations and an individual's attributes, characteristics and typical behavior, the stronger the individual's entrepreneurial identity aspiration.…”