Intrinsic and Extrinsic Religious Motivation: Retrospect and Prospect

ABSTRACT

Intrinsic and extrinsic (I/E) religious motives remain a perennial topic of interest within the psychology of religion. Yet, the status of this construct remains unclear despite many decades of research. The present overview describes conceptual and methodological concerns regarding I/E, including issues of definition, measurement, and cultural considerations. Historical and contemporary research findings regarding relations of I/E with prosociality and psychological well-being are reviewed, along with a discussion of inconsistent findings and limitations. The article concludes with suggestions for integrating research on religious motives into a broader perspective on motivation.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).