In a recent article in Parade "We Asked 4 Child Psychologists What Actually Motivates Kids — They all Said the Same Thing," Beth Ann Mayer asked an important question: “What actually motivates children?” The four child psychologists with whom she spoke all agreed that intrinsic motivation is what motivates children. This made me laugh because saying that children are motivated by intrinsic motivation is a tautology. The statement adds nothing to our understanding of motivation.
On the positive side, the psychologists correctly defined intrinsic motivation as engaging in behavior that is inherently satisfying — in other words, doing something because you want to do it. Further, it was rightly noted that intrinsic motivation is superior to external incentives in driving and sustaining behavior. For example, a curious child who inherently enjoys reading is more likely to become a lifelong reader compared to a child who reads only to earn a reward (such as an allowance) or to avoid a punishment (such as loss of privileges).
The answer to the question of what motivates children is one that was addressed empirically by Professor Steven Reiss in his decades long research into the specific intrinsic motives that drive human behavior. Reiss did not start with preconceived ideas about the universal goals that motivate everybody. Instead, he decided to ask people what goals matter to them. The initial draft of the scientific questionnaire included more than 500 items reflecting every imaginable goal that might motivate someone. After paring this list to 328 items by eliminating redundancies, Reiss conducted a series of studies with thousands of people from diverse backgrounds in which he used a statistical technique called factor analysis to interpret the data.
The end result of the research was the development of the Reiss Motivation Profile® (RMP), a standardized assessment of the 16 intrinsic motives of human nature:
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Acceptance, the desire for positive self-regard
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Beauty, the desire for aesthetically appealing experiences
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Curiosity, the desire for understanding
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Eating, the desire to consume food
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Family, the desire to raise children and spend time with siblings
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Honor, the desire for upright character
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Idealism, the desire for social justice
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Independence, the desire for self-reliance
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Order, the desire for structure and stability
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Physical Activity, the desire for muscle exercise
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Power, the desire for influence of will
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Saving, the desire to collect things
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Social Contact, the desire for companionship with peers
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Status, the desire for respect based on social standing
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Tranquility, the desire to avoid experiencing anxiety and pain
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Vengeance, the desire to confront those who frustrate or offend us
In addition to identifying the intrinsic motives driving human behavior, Reiss's research demonstrated that people differ in how they prioritize the 16 motives. Although we all want the same universal goals, we want them to different extents. Consider the intrinsic motive called Curiosity, defined as the desire for understanding. Everyone wants some degree of understanding — no one wants to be confused — but some people seek much more understanding than do others. People with a strong need for Curiosity place great value on theoretical knowledge and ideas, enjoy thinking deeply, and typically are interested in learning about a wide range of subjects. On the other hand, people with a weak need for understanding generally value doing over thinking, may want to learn only about topics that are relevant to their lives, and tend to become frustrated if required to think for a sustained period of time.
To answer the question posed in the article — What actually motivates children — we need to assess how a child prioritizes the 16 intrinsic motives. For example:
Does the child have a strong or weak need for Independence? A child with a strong need for self-reliance will be motivated by opportunities for independent work, while a child with a weak need will thrive in collaborative environments.
Does the child have a strong or weak need for Order? A child with a strong need for structure and stability will respond favorably to parents who follow the same daily routines. A child with a weak need for Order, however, will prefer a more flexible and spontaneous parenting style.
Does the child have a strong or weak need for Acceptance? A child who needs a high degree of external validation will do best in a supportive and encouraging environment. On the other hand, a child with a strong sense of inner self-worth is likely to be resilient even in the face of challenging circumstances.
In short, Reiss's empirical research allows us to understand what truly motivates children. Rather than a superficial, one-size-fits-all approach, the Reiss Motivation Profile® provides data-based insights into understanding the intrinsic motivations of children as individuals.
Parents, to learn more about what motivates your child, email us at thereissmotivationprofile@gmail.com.
