A comparison of experimental data and theoretical results is presented that may help to explain the underlying causes of the flux regeneration mechanism (‘‘dynamo’’) in the reversed‐field pinch (RFP). Discrete events are seen on many diagnostic measurements which are coincident with observable increases in toroidal magnetic flux in discharges where the pinch parameter &thgr; (&thgr;≡B&thgr;wall/⟨B&fgr;⟩) exceeds the value 1.6. By observing the relative timing and the &thgr; dependence of these events as the discharge is returned to lower values of &thgr;, a case may be made for associating them=1 tearing mode with the RFP dynamo.