Psychological approaches to the analysis of social entrepreneurship

Abstract

Introduction. The unique combination of economic and social components of social entrepreneurship distinguishes it from purely entrepreneurial activity and makes it a subject of psychological research. Aim. Based on the relevant scientific literature, to determine the main psychological approaches to the analysis of social entrepreneurship. Methods. Theoretical analysis, systematization and generalization of scientific psychological literature on the problem of interest. Results. The analysis of the relevant scientific literature allowed determining the following vectors of research into the psychological foundations of social entrepreneurship: entrepreneurs' activity type, behavior type, and personal traits. Social entrepreneurship as a special activity is characterized by activity goals, features, values, motivation, and type of interaction. Besides, social entrepreneurship as a type of personal behavior combines entrepreneurial, organizational, and helping behaviors. The social entrepreneurs' personal features include entrepreneurial, organizational and personally supportive ones. Conclusions. The study of approaches to the analysis of social entrepreneurship was focused on types of activity (activity goals, signs and motivation, values, and interactions at different levels), the types of behavior (entrepreneurial, organizational, and helping activities), as well as a set of entrepreneurs' personal features (the psychological portrait of a classic entrepreneur is supplemented with their personally supporting qualities and prosocial values).