Paper Data_Too shamed to be an entrepreneur again

Entrepreneurial journeys are challenging and can lead to failures with profound psychological implications. Among these effects, perceived shame emerges as a critical yet understudied factor influencing the decision to reengage in entrepreneurial pursuits. Despite its recognized importance, extant literature remains inconclusive on how shame impacts post-failure decisions. This study aims to add new insights by examining the nuanced relationship between perceived shame and entrepreneurial reentry intention. Drawing on the conservation of resources theory, we suggest that perceived shame adversely affects entrepreneurial reentry intention by reducing entrepreneurial identity centrality, and this effect is contingent upon the resource management principle they choose. Our mixed-method approach, encompassing two experiment studies and a survey study, validates our hypotheses and provides a robust framework to explore this dynamic. By revealing the conditions under which shame can hinder or foster entrepreneurial persistence, the study contributes to a better understanding of how psychological and social factors jointly influence entrepreneurial reentry.