The importance of being exasperated. How and why expressions of anger impact everyday entrepreneurial journeys: a sociology of emotions perspective

This presents a rich, original, highly contextualised discussion that qualitatively explores how and why expressions of anger impact entrepreneurial journeys. A sociology of emotions framework is employed, to study expressions of anger as culturally constructed communicative devices. This shifts the focus from studying emotions as affective states in entrepreneurial processes onto studying emotions as externally expressed phenomena, that impact entrepreneurial journeys in relation to socio-emotional rules and norms. Phenomenological data given by ‘everyday entrepreneurs’ who own and run small businesses in a closeknit localised entrepreneurial ecosystem is inductively analysed. Expressions of anger can impact entrepreneurial journeys in advantageous ways by preventing entrepreneurs being exploited, especially when owed money, and by helping entrepreneurs motivate and manage employees. Simultaneously, expressions of anger can impact entrepreneurial journeys in disadvantageous ways, because they debilitate interpersonal relationships and harm an entrepreneur’s status. Sector and gender are shown to create contingent socio-emotional rules and norms that determine how expressions of anger impact entrepreneurial journeys relatively.