Narcissism and Learning from Entrepreneurial Failure

Authors

Yiran Liu, Tianjin University
Yong Li, University of Nevada, Las VegasFollow
Xiling Hao, Anhui University
Yuli Zhang, Nankai University

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

1-30-2019

Publication Title

Journal of Business Venturing

First page number:

1

Last page number:

17

Abstract

Failure of a prior business provides an opportunity for an entrepreneur to learn in the subsequent entrepreneurial endeavor, but learning from failure is not guaranteed. Why do some entrepreneurs learn less from failure than others? In this study, we propose that a narcissistic personality can create cognitive and motivational obstacles to learning. We further posit that the inhibiting effect of narcissism will be more salient when the costs of failure, especially social costs, are higher. Our analysis with a survey sample of startups provides the initial empirical evidence about the negative impact of narcissism on learning from entrepreneurial failure. The study adds to research on learning from failure and narcissism in entrepreneurship.

Keywords

Learning from failure; Entrepreneurship; Narcissism; Failure cost

Disciplines

Entrepreneurial and Small Business Operations

Language

English

Repository Citation

Liu, Y., Li, Y., Hao, X., Zhang, Y. (2019). Narcissism and Learning from Entrepreneurial Failure. Journal of Business Venturing 1-17.
http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jbusvent.2019.01.003