Why Do People Become Social Entrepreneurs?


Social entrepreneurs – which Ashoka.org defines as “individuals with innovative solutions to society’s most pressing social problems” – are very popular these days. Many people, it seems, are starting organizations to solve a variety of social problems.

This rise in the popularity begs the question: why do people become social entrepreneurs? There are, no doubt, numerous factors, but one possibility that intrigues me is genetics.

Some people may be innately predisposed to become social entrepreneurs. At the moment, this is only a hypothesis. I have no direct evidence to support my assertion. Moreover, even if genetic factors influence are found to the decision to become a social entrepreneur, those effects may be miniscule in comparison to other factors.

Nevertheless, there is data to suggest that this hypothesis is worth considering. Research shows that our genes influence how altruistic we are. For instance, one study by Ronald Kessler and his associates show that genetics accounts for about 30 percent of the difference between people in “normative altruism obligation,” which captures the duty people feel to engage in charitable activities, such as volunteering money or time for social causes.

According to David Cesarini and his colleagues, approximately 20 percent of the difference between people in selfless behavior is innate. And experiments by Bjorn Wallace and his collaborators show that 42 percent of the variance in the willingness to give up financial gains to punish unfair behavior is genetic.

A few researchers have even identified specific genes associated with altruism. For instance, Ariel Knafo’s research group found that people with the long version of the gene, AVPR1A, which provides instructions for the production of a brain receptor for arginine vasopressin were more altruistic than people with the short version when they played a game that involved giving away money.

A gene for a receptor for the brain chemical dopamine called DRD4 also appears to affect altruism. As Richard Ebstein, a researcher at Hebrew University in Israel, explains, ”Dopamine probably plays a key role in pro-social behavior. People with the altruism gene may do good works because they get more of a thrill out of their good works.”

One might expect that altruistic people are more likely than non-altruistic people to choose jobs-like joining the Peace Corps-that involve helping others at expense to themselves. After all, research by Lauren Keller and her associates shows that genetic effects account for 37 percent of the differences between people in preference for work environments “in which moral values, social service, and concern for coworkers are stressed.”

Genetics influences the tendency to be an entrepreneur. It also influences people’s choice of a variety of occupations. So it makes sense to believe that genetics would influence the tendency to choose the most altruistic type of entrepreneurship – social entrepreneurship.

While an innate tendency to engage in social entrepreneurship is only a hypothesis at the moment, someone is likely to test the argument in the next few years. If they do, I’ll be sure to update you with what they find.

*Adapted from Born Entrepreneurs, Born Leaders: How Your Genes Affect Your Work Life” by Scott A. Shane, ©2010 Oxford University Press


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Scott Shane Scott Shane is A. Malachi Mixon III, Professor of Entrepreneurial Studies at Case Western Reserve University. He is the author of nine books, including Fool's Gold: The Truth Behind Angel Investing in America ; Illusions of Entrepreneurship: and The Costly Myths that Entrepreneurs, Investors, and Policy Makers Live By.

8 Reactions
  1. Hi Scott,

    it can also be the case that people start trusting themselves more than the (social, political, economical) system. This is good news, actually. It shows that, even in highly mobile conditions, people can get versatile and develop they’re ideas and… survive.
    Two thumbs up!

    Lloyd
    Publisher
    officedeskreviews.com

  2. Nature v Nurture isn’t so much a debate, both have their affects. For me, the desire to get into selling myself as a “social solution maker” has stemmed from a tendency towards altruism and a very broad and deep self education. There’s no way I could have become convinced of my ability to start down this path without an understanding of many of the disciplines that are most relevant to our social future; and, ironically, I never would’ve received that kind of diverse education if I would have stayed in college. Being a dropout allowed me the freedom to study at will, and connect the dots necessary to know what to do going forward. Public education would have left me boxed in, and, for me at least, stupified and stagnant.

    Take Care!

    Sean

  3. Maybe they were just lied to. “Make 80k this week!”, “So easy a caveman could do it!”

    This era is all about me me me me … facebook YOUtube twitter all about “Hey! Look at what I’m doing now!” it’s only natural to add monetization if people start listening (or pretending to listen cause the ‘follow’ you)

  4. Alex @ Esculon Says

    At the risk of sounding cliche, it almost seems like social entrepreneurship is “the new black.” The fact that graduate schools have instituted social entrepreneurship programs doesn’t hurt either. There also seems to be a shift from non-profits to social ventures, which promotes profit while doing something good for the world.

    Tom’s Shoes is a classic example of a social venture…who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too?

  5. I think it is a great sign. People, on the whole, see the needs of others and seek out ways to make a different. I believe these grassroots movements will do more to help cure the ills of the world than what had previously been accomplished by major organizations.

  6. Interesting article Scott, I never would have thought genetics could play such a large role with respect to how involved entrepreneurs get socially.