Exploring the Emotional Nexus in Cogent Family Business Archetypes

This article aims at offering a comprehensive framework that describes the emotional nexus, that is, the way emotions bind the family and the business, among cogent family business archetypes. Building on research discussions on family business boundaries and insights from Family Systems Theory, Exchange Theory and Emotional Dissonance Theory, the "Enmeshed Family Business", "Balanced Family Business", and "Disengaged Family Business" are suggested as conceptual refinements of existing typologies in the family business field. Vignette illustrations and descriptions of the emotional characteristics of these three archetypes contribute to defining a family business model inclusive of the emotional dimension. The theoretical and practical implications, limitations, and future research directions on emotions in family businesses are finally discussed.