He is known for his contributions to political psychology, international relations theory, nuclear strategy, and intelligence studies.

[1][2] According to the Open Syllabus Project, Jervis is one of the most-frequently cited authors on college syllabi for political science courses.

He was a member of the Arnold A. Saltzman Institute of War and Peace Studies in the School of International and Public Affairs.

"[11] According to Jack Snyder, "Jervis's body of thought can be categorized in terms of five interrelated themes: communication in strategic bargaining, perception and misperception in international politics, cooperation in anarchy, the nuclear revolution, and complex system effects and unintended consequences.

"[12] According to Thomas J. Christensen and Keren Yarhi-Milo, "in seeking to understand both behavior and outcomes in world affairs, Jervis championed the role of individuals’ perceptions and formative experiences rather than just broad political, social, and economic forces... [His] work was always rooted in the complexities of actual decision-making by real people with quirks and flaws.

[15] He participated in the 2010 Hertog Global Strategy Initiative, a high-level research program on nuclear proliferation.

[20] In the early 1960s, while studying for his PhD in Political Science at the University of California at Berkeley, Jervis participated in the Free Speech Movement.