The provenance and effects of entrepreneurial inspiration

Purpose Building on authoritative studies inspiration in the field of psychology (e.g. Thrash and Elliot, 2013, 2014), this study aims to clarify how entrepreneurial – an emotional state personal attraction toward entrepreneurship is created it affects intentions. First, receptiveness introduced as a potential feeling trait that constitutes universal enabler alongside typically idiosyncratic inspirational triggers. Second, proposes reinforce theoretical base relation between intentions by applying affect infusion model (AIM) empirically testing its explanatory power. Design/methodology/approach Hypotheses are tested through independent dependent sample t -tests hierarchical regression analyses with interaction effect. Data originate from pre-post course survey among 342 students various countries institutions. Findings The results confirm positive inspiration. Receptiveness precedes increases experience, suggesting can be both inborn cultivated. In line AIM, stimulates only aspirations participants without experience. Experienced individuals, other hand, derived more their courses, but was not translated higher Instead, they could benefit ways proposed literature, such enhanced opportunity recognition. Originality/value This provides much needed, theory-informed, insight into formation Furthermore, first research propose test specific underpinning intentions, which also accounts for moderating role Finally, rare multi-country, multi-institution nature reinforces external validity findings.