The dark triad and entrepreneurial intention: The moderating role of family business exposure

Abstract

A substantial body of research has documented that personality traits, namely, negative personality traits generally known as the dark triad, play a significant role in determining entrepreneurial intention. However, despite the important role that parents play in the construction of their children's personality traits, studies examining the role of family business exposure on these socially aversive traits and its effect on the development of entrepreneurial intention are rarely developed. The current research is set to fill this gap through a quantitative approach based on a sample of 896 students. More specifically, we test the moderating effect of family business exposure on the relationship between dark triad personality traits and entrepreneurial intention. Our results provide evidence that narcissism and psychopathy have a direct effect on entrepreneurial intention and that family business exposure moderates the relationship between Machiavellianism and entrepreneurial intention. Several implications for educators and public policies are discussed.