Richard M. Ryan
Professor Emeritus of Psychology
PhD, 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳, 1981
- Web Address
Research Overview
Richard M. Ryan is an influential 91×ÔÅÄÂÛ̳ Professor Emeritus of Psychology. He is a clinical psychologist and co-developer of , an internationally recognized leading theory of human motivation. He lectures frequently in the United States and aboard on the factors that promote motivation and healthy psychological and behavioral functioning (applied to such areas as work and organizations, education, health, sport and exercise, video games and virtual environments). Ryan is among the most cited researchers in psychology and social sciences today and the author of over 400 papers and books in the areas of human motivation and well-being, including his best-selling book, Self-determination theory: Basic psychological needs in motivation, development and wellness (). Reflective of Ryan's influence internationally and across disciplines, he has been recognized as one of the eminent psychologists of the modern era[1],[2] and listed among the Top 20 most influential industrial-organizational psychologists[3]. He has also been honored with three lifetime achievement awards for his work on motivation, personal meaning, and self and identity.
Research Interests
Professor Ryan’s current research interests go in many directions all of which to relate to Self-Determination Theory. He also has considerable interest in the neurological mechanisms that underlie processes or phenomena that they have previously examined in terms of psychological experiences, such as the enhancement of intrinsic motivation resulting from being given choice. In addition to examining neurological mechanisms, he is also interested in higher levels of analysis by examining political and economic influences on motivational processes.
Selected Publications
See publications on or .
[1] Sternberg, Fiske, & Foss, 2016, : One Hundred Eminent Behavioral and Brain Scientists Talk about their Most Important Contributions. Cambridge University Press.
[2] Diner, Oishi, & Parker, 2014, , Archives of Scientific Psychology
[3] Human Resources MBA,