Articles & Insights

Explore thought leadership, motivation science, and practical insights from the team behind AgileBrain’s motivation intelligence platform. From peer-reviewed research on human motivation to real-world case studies in coaching, education, and the workplace, these articles unpack what actually drives behavior and how to act on it. Whether you’re a coach, educator, HR leader, or just curious about the science of motivation, there’s something here grounded in real research rather than generic advice.

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The Emotionally Agile Brain

Mastering the 12 Emotional Needs that Drive Us

by J.D. Pincus, Ph. D.

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Goal Setting with AgileBrain
  • J. David Pincus
Setting Goals That Truly Matter: Aligning Ambitions with Emotional Well-being

Using AgileBrain for Goal-Setting At the beginning of each new year, many of us feel inspired to set fresh goals,…

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Prioritizing Student Wellbeing at Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall
  • John Penrose
Case Study: Prioritizing Student Wellbeing at
Chapel Hill-Chauncy Hall

Overview Chapel Hill – Chauncy Hall (CH-CH) is an independent, college-preparatory day and boarding school serving over 200 students in…

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Emotional Wellbeing Insights of 2025
  • John Penrose
Reflecting on Emotional Wellbeing: Insights from the 2025 AgileBrain New Year’s Check-In

The Start of a New Year: A Time for Reflection and Renewal Each new year invites a fresh chapter—a chance…

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  • J. David Pincus
Mastering Emotional Agility: A Unified Model of Human Motivation Inspired by the Periodic Table

What motivates you to act, dream, or change? This fundamental question is at the heart of The Emotionally Agile Brain:…

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Peer-reviewed Research
  • J. David Pincus
Validation of a Brief Image Elicitation Task as an Indicator of Subjective Wellbeing
Published: Frontiers in Public Health

J.D. Pincus discusses the validation of a brief image elicitation task as a novel method to assess subjective wellbeing in…

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Peer-reviewed Research
  • J. David Pincus
Leadership as a Determinant of Need Fulfillment: Implications for Meta-Theory, Methods, and Practice
Published: Frontiers in Psychology

Leadership remains a major focus in both private and public sectors, with a huge investment of $356 billion in 2015…

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  • John Penrose
Understanding the Emotional Effects of the Ukrainian Conflict – AgileBrain Research

AgileBrain Ukraine Initiative - Celebrating 1 Year In August of 2023, AgileBrain partnered with ICF Ukraine to provide AB for…

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Peer-reviewed Research
  • J. David Pincus
Organizational Culture as a Need Fulfillment System: Implications for theory, methods, and practice
Published: Human Arenas

This article critiques the current understanding of organizational culture, highlighting the lack of theoretical consensus and clear definitions. It proposes…

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Peer-reviewed Research
  • J. David Pincus
Values as Motives: Implications for theory, methods, and practice
Published: Integrative Psychological and Behavioral Science

Human values are fundamental to understanding various fields, including culture, ethics, politics, sociology, and management. These values represent the core…

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Science of Emotions
  • J. David Pincus
Science of Emotions

Think of everything you know about emotions. What words pop into your mind when I say “emotions”?  Feelings? Thoughts? Or…

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12 Days of Emotional Needs
  • John Penrose
Journey Through the 12 Days of Emotional Needs

As we approach the end of the year, a time traditionally filled with reflection and celebration, AgileBrain is excited to…

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A View of Employee Wellbeing and Organizational Support
  • John Penrose
Circles of Support: A New View of Employee Wellbeing and Organizational Success in the Workplace

Employee wellbeing can be a source of true competitive advantage, but successfully implementing wellbeing requires a unified framework for action…

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