Welcome to

The Scientific Underpinnings of the
Reiss Motivation Profile®

The following publications by Professor Steven Reiss discuss his theory of motivation and the empirical development of the RMP. The list also includes scientific journal articles by independent researchers whose studies provide further evidence for the test's reliability and validity as well as papers that illustrate specific applications of the Reiss Motivation Profile®.

Discover Your Motives

Welcome to

The Science of Motivation®

Learn to use the scientifically proven approach to understanding and predicting human behavior.

Discover Your Motives

Welcome to

The Science of Motivation®

Learn to use the scientifically proven approach to understanding and predicting human behavior.

Discover Your Motives

Motivation, stress, recovery, and physical activity of teachers: Discoveries with the Reiss Motivation Profile® and the Firstbeat® measurement

Tuominen, P.P.A., & Mayor, P. (2023).  Motivation, stress, recovery, and physical activity of teachers: Discoveries with the Reiss Motivation Profile® and the Firstbeat® measurement.  Journal of Public Health.

The 2022 Re-Norming of the Reiss Motivation Profile®

Reiss, M.M., Reiss, M., & Aflleje, W. (2022) The 2022 Re-Norming of the Reiss Motivation Profile®.

 

The Importance of Positive Leadership in the Process of Change on the Example of the Banking Sector

Morawski, M, & Jablonowska-Luba, L. (2021). The importance of positive leadership in the process of change on the example of the banking sector. Foundations of Management, 13, 85-102.

What Motivates High-Achieving Women

Reiss, M.M., Michelson, J., & Aflleje, W. (2020). What Motivates High-Achieving Women. Unpublished manuscript, IDS Publishing Corporation.

Reasons Why We Read Blogs and Memorial Pages of People who Lost a Child. Life Motives of Emotional Rubberneckers

Chudzicka-Czupala, A., & Basek, A. (2019). Reasons why we read blogs and memorial pages of people who lost a child. Life motives of emotional rubberneckers. Death Studies, 45, 119-130.

Intrinsic Motivation of Elite Basketball Athletes

Laughlin, D.D., Meisterjahn, R.J., Alami, A., & Aflleje, W. (2019). Intrinsic Motivation of Elite Basketball Athletes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology in Portland, OR.

Intrinsic Motivation of Collegiate and Club Rugby Athletes

Laughlin, D.D., Hoban, C., Alami, A., Armstrong, S., & Mead, H. (2019). Intrinsic Motivation of Collegiate and Club Rugby Athletes. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Association for Applied Sport Psychology in Toronto, ON, Canada.

How Do Elite Athletes Differ from the General Population

Reiss, M.M. (2019). How Do Elite Athletes Differ from the General Population. Unpublished manuscript, IDS Publishing Corporation.

The 16 Strivings for God: The New Psychology of Religious Experiences

Reiss, S. (2015). The 16 Strivings for God: The New Psychology of Religious Experiences. Macon, GA: Mercer University Press.

Myths of Intrinsic Motivation

Reiss, S. (2013a). Myths of Intrinsic Motivation. McLean, VA: IDS Publishing Corporation.

The Reiss Motivation Profile: What Motivates You?

Reiss, S. (2013b). The Reiss Motivation Profile: What Motivates You? McLean, VA: IDS Publishing Corporation

Intrinsic and Extrinsic Motivation

Reiss, S. (2012). Intrinsic and extrinsic motivation. Society for the Teaching of Psychology, 00, 1-5.

“High Potential” Can Be Deceiving – Utilizing the Reiss Motivation Profile® in HR and Leadership Development

Mengel, T. (2012a). “High potential” can be deceiving – Utilizing the Reiss Motivation Profile® in HR and leadership development. FMI*IGF Journal, 23, 10-12.

Leading with “Emotional” Intelligence – Existential and Motivational Analysis in Leadership and Leadership Development

Mengel, T. (2012b). Leading with “emotional” intelligence – Existential and motivational analysis in leadership and leadership development. Journal on Educational Psychology, 5, 24-31.

Six Motivational Reasons for Low School Achievement

Reiss, S. (2009). Six motivational reasons for low school achievement. Child & Youth Care Forum, 38, 219-225.

The Normal Personality: A New Way of Thinking about People

Reiss, S., (2008). The Normal Personality: A New Way of Thinking about People. New York, NY: Cambridge University Press.

Relations of Fundamental Motives and Psychological Needs to Well-being and Intrinsic Motivation

Olson, K.R., & Chapin, B. (2007). Relations of fundamental motives and psychological needs to well-being and intrinsic motivation. In P. R. Zelick (Ed.), Issues in The Psychology of Motivation. New York, NY: Nova Science Publishers, Inc.

Research on Fundamental Motives

Olson, K.R. (2007). Research on fundamental motives. In L. Brown (Ed.), Psychology of Motivation. Hauppauge, NY: Nova Science Publishers.

Human Individuality and the Gap Between Science and Religion

Reiss, S. (2005a). Human individuality and the gap between science and religion. Zygon, 40, 131-142.

Extrinsic and Intrinsic Motivation at 30: Unresolved Scientific Issues

Reiss, S. (2005b). Extrinsic and intrinsic motivation at 30: Unresolved scientific issues. The Behavior Analyst, 28, 1-14.

Why People Become Organ Donors

Reiss, S., & Crouch, T. (2005). Why People Become Organ Donors Paper presented at the 133rd meeting of the American Public Health Association in Philadelphia, PA. 

Motivation in Developmental Context: A New Method for Studying Self-actualization

Reiss, S., & Havercamp, S.M. (2005). Motivation in developmental context: A new method for studying self-actualization. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 45, 41-53.

Multifaceted Nature of Intrinsic Motivation: The Theory of 16 Basic Desires

Reiss, S. (2004a). Multifaceted nature of intrinsic motivation: The theory of 16 basic desires. Review of General Psychology, 8, 179-193.

The Sixteen Strivings for God

Reiss, S. (2004b). The sixteen strivings for God. Zygon, 39, 303-320.

Why People Watch Reality TV

Reiss, S., & Wiltz, J. (2004). Why people watch reality TV. Media Psychology, 6, 363-378.

Relations Between Big Five Traits and Fundamental Motives

Olson, K., & Weber, D. (2004). Relations between Big Five traits and fundamental motives. Psychological Reports, 95, 795-802.

A Comprehensive Assessment of Human Strivings: Test-retest Reliability and Validity of the Reiss Profile

Havercamp, S.M., & Reiss, S. (2003). A comprehensive assessment of human strivings: Test-retest reliability and validity of the Reiss Profile. Journal of Personality Assessment, 81, 123-132.

Motivational Profile of Low Academic Achievement: What Failing Students Do and Do Not Care About

Reiss, S., & Kavanaugh, P.S. (2002). Motivational Profile of Low Academic Achievement: What Failing Students Do and Do Not Care About. Unpublished manuscript, IDS Publishing Corporation.

The Personality of Love: Fundamental Motives and Traits Related to Components of Love

Engel, G., Olson, K.R., & Patrick, C. (2002). The personality of love: Fundamental motives and traits related to components of love. Personality and Individual Differences, 32, 839-853.

Secrets of Happiness

Reiss, S. (2001). Secrets of happiness. Psychology Today, January/February, 50-56.

Trait Motivational Correlates of Athleticism

Reiss, S., Wiltz, J., & Sherman, M. (2001). Trait motivational correlates of athleticism. Journal of Personality and Individual Differences, 30, 11391145.

Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities

Reiss, S. (2000a). Who Am I? The 16 Basic Desires that Motivate Our Actions and Define Our Personalities. New York, NY: Tarcher/Putnam.

Why People Turn to Religion: A Motivational Analysis

Reiss, S. (2000b). Why people turn to religion: A motivational analysis. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 39, 47-52.

Toward a Comprehensive Assessment of Fundamental Motivation: Factor Structure of the Reiss Profiles

Reiss, S., & Havercamp, S.M. (1998). Toward a comprehensive assessment of fundamental motivation: Factor structure of the Reiss Profiles. Psychological Assessment, 10, 97-106.

The Sensitivity Theory of Motivation: Implications for Psychopathology

Reiss, S., & Havercamp, S. (1996). The sensitivity theory of motivation: Implications for psychopathology. Behavior Research and Therapy, 34, 621-632.