Ohio State Finds People's Deepest Desires in Religion

For centuries, scholars and researchers have attempted to pinpoint the primary factor that draws people to religion. However, a renowned psychologist from Ohio State University has challenged these narrow theories with his groundbreaking research on human motivation.

Steven Reiss, professor emeritus of psychology at The Ohio State University, developed the Reiss Motivation Profile, a questionnaire that assesses individuals' values towards 16 fundamental goals. Through extensive surveys and ratings from thousands of participants, Reiss identified the commonalities among humans: acceptance, curiosity, eating, family, honor, idealism, independence, order, physical activity, power, romance, saving, social contact, status, tranquility, and vengeance.

Reiss's theory suggests that people are attracted to religion because it allows them to fulfill all their basic desires repeatedly. He emphasizes that religion couldn't have achieved widespread acceptance if it only satisfied one or two of these fundamental goals. According to Reiss, religion offers a comprehensive solution for humans' diverse needs, making it an attractive and enduring phenomenon.

In his book, The 16 Strivings for God (Mercer University Press, 2016), Reiss debunks the notion that people seek religion solely to cope with fear of death or to establish morality. Instead, he proposes that religion satisfies all 16 basic human desires, including those related to social contact, independence, and romance.

Reiss's research offers a more nuanced understanding of what draws people to religion. By recognizing that humans have multiple motivations, we can better comprehend the complexities of religious attraction. His work highlights the importance of considering individual differences in our pursuit of understanding human behavior.

The Ohio State University's findings demonstrate that people are attracted to religion due to its capacity to fulfill all their fundamental desires. This insight has far-reaching implications for various fields, including psychology, sociology, and anthropology. As Reiss so aptly puts it, 'You can't boil religion down to one essence.' By acknowledging the diversity of human motivations, we can gain a deeper appreciation for the multifaceted nature of religious experiences.

Ohio State's research on human motivation has significant implications for understanding why people are drawn to religion. The university's findings offer a more comprehensive perspective on this complex and multifaceted topic.

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