BAS Scales Research Articles

Construct and Concurrent Validity of two Scales Designed to Measure Reinforcement Sensitivity

Two studies assessed construct and concurrent validity of two scales designed to measure reinforcement sensitivity. Two non-probabilistic samples of college students from Mexico City were used. The first study showed that while the BIS/BAS scales may possess construct validity, they lack in concurrent one; conversely, the SPSRQ did not show construct validity but showed evidence of concurrent one. Convergent validity was assessed using self-report questionnaires. The second study showed that the BAS scales may predict response distribution, in the IOWA-GT, in a way that is consistent with Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST); this was not the case with the BIS scale. The results suggest that either the scales developed to assess RST, or the theory itself (or both) require a thorough revision.

Measuring Personality Systems in Older Adults: Age-Neutrality of the Dutch BIS/BAS Questionnaire.

With a rapidly aging population, age-neutrality of psychological instruments is becoming ever more important for accurate assessment of older adults. This study aims to test the age-neutrality of the Dutch Behavioral Inhibition System/Behavioral Approach System (BIS/BAS) scales by means of Differential Item Functioning (DIF) and Differential Test Functioning (DTF) analyses. DIF and DTF analyses were conducted using an odds ratio approach. Potential DIF was examined for the two primary scales and three BAS subscales in 390 Dutch-speaking participants divided over three age groups. Overall, the BIS-BAS scales lacked age-neutrality when comparing older adults to young adults: eight out of 20 items (ie, 40%) displayed DIF according to the adjusted Bonferroni corrected cut-offs, which exceeds the threshold of 25% for large DIF. Thus, for 40% of the test items, items were differently endorsed by young and older adults with the same position on the construct measured by the item. Therefore, the implications of the item-level DIF on the scale level were investigated across age groups. DTF analyses revealed large DTF for all BIS and BAS scales according to the adjusted Bonferroni corrected cut-offs. DIF found in items on the BIS scale and BAS-Drive and BAS-Fun Seeking scale can probably be explained by a difference in degree of expression across age groups. A solution could be the development of age-specific norms. DIF on BAS-Reward Responsiveness subscale could be partly due to measuring a different construct across age groups. Rephrasing or replacing such items with DIF may increase age-neutrality of the BIS/BAS Scales.

La impulsividad y sistemas BIS/BAS como factores de riesgo para el consumo de drogas en personas privadas de la libertad

El consumo de drogas y la impulsividad se encuentran asociados al comportamiento criminal. Objetivo: determinar el efecto de los sistemas BIS/BAS e impulsividad en el consumo de drogas en personas privadas de la libertad. Muestra: 175 personas privadas de la libertad en una cárcel de mediana seguridad del estado de Jalisco, México. Método: investigación cuantitativa, no experimental, transversal. Instrumentos: escalas BIS/BAS, de impulsividad y cuestionario exprofeso para variables sociodemográficas. Resultados: de la muestra, la media de edad fue de 36, DE = 9, estado civil, 35.4 solteros y 27.7 % concubinato. Escolaridad: 50.3 % educación primaria y 24.6 % educación secundaria. El 68 % reportó consumo de drogas antes de ingresar a reclusión. Las variables de estudio explican el 23.5 % de la varianza del consumo de drogas en personas privadas de la libertad. Las personas que vivieron violencia en la infancia (OR = 4.9) y con autoconcepto impulsivo (OR = 5.09) tienen mayor riesgo de consumo de drogas. Se descarta el efecto del sistema BIS sobre el consumo de drogas en personas privadas de la libertad.

Effects of the Interaction of the ANKK1/DRD2 TaqIA and HTR2C Cys23Ser Polymorphisms on Approach Motivation in Schizophrenia Patients and Healthy People

Objective. To assess the association of the DRD2 gene and its interaction with the HTR2C gene with the characteristics of the hedonistic and activatory aspects of approach motivation in schizophrenia. Materials and methods. Genotypes at the polymorphic loci rs1800497 of DRD2 and rs6318 (Cys23Ser) of HTR2C were identified in a cohort including 174 patients with schizophrenia spectrum disorders and 268 healthy subjects. Subjects completed scales assessing approach motivation (BIS/BAS) and the Temporal Experience of Pleasure Scale (TEPS). Results and conclusions. Analysis taking account of sex and age identified an effect of the interaction between the DRD2 and HTR2C genes and diagnosis (p = 0.033) on assessments on the BAS scales. The effect was significant on the Fun-Seeking and Drive subscales. Among patients, the highest scores on both scales were seen with the combination of the DRD2 TT/CT and HTR2C GG/G genotypes and the lowest in carriers of the diplotypes with the minor alleles at both loci. Differences between these group were nominally significant for both scales, but were not significant after correction for multiple comparisons. Among healthy subjects, the highest levels of motivation were seen in people lacking the minor alleles. They were significantly different from those in carriers of the DRD2 TT/CT and HTR2C GG/G diplotype on the Fun-Seeking subscale (pcorr = 0.008). DRD2 and HTR2C were not found to have any effect on TEPS evaluations. Our results can be interpreted as indicating a role for the interaction of the DRD2 and HTR2C genes in the variation of the activatory aspects of approach motivation in both schizophrenia patients and healthy subjects. However, the absence of highly significant (persisting after the Bonferroni correction) differences between groups with different diplotypes makes it difficult to interpret this effect.

A re-examination of the BIS/BAS scales: Evidence for BIS and BAS as unidimensional scales.

Carver and White's behavioral inhibition system and behavioral activation system (BIS/BAS) scales are the most widely used to assess constructs of the revised reinforcement sensitivity theory. This study provides a re-examination of the latent structure of the original BIS/BAS scales. The interpretability of the three purported BAS subfactors relative to a "general behavioral activation" factor was assessed using Schmid-Leiman and standard confirmatory factor analysis. Regarding the BIS scale, comparisons were made between (a) Carver and White's unidimensional BIS model, (b) Johnson, Turner, and Iwata's 2-factor BIS model, (c) Heym, Ferguson, and Lawrence's alternative 2-factor BIS model, and (d) a modified Heym et al. model (unidimensional) controlling for method effects of reverse-scored items. Results revealed the majority of variance of individual BAS items was accounted for by a common, general BAS dimension. Additionally, for the BIS scale, results of the χ2 difference statistical test supporting the 1-factor model, as well as the noted theoretical and psychometric difficulties in interpreting a multifactor BIS scale, provide converging support that BIS items actually represent a single, unidimensional factor. The collective results suggested that the BIS and BAS scales should be conceptualized as separate unidimensional measures, which is consistent with theory behind the original development.

Personality and defensive behaviour: A factor analytic approach to threat scenario choices

Although people tend to react in specific ways in threatening situations, research points to the importance of individual differences in these defensive behaviours. From the perspective of reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), this study examined the role of personality traits in defensive behaviours. Four RST questionnaires and Blanchards' threat scenarios were used, with a total of 1019 participants. The threat scenarios were modified and examined by exploratory factor analysis (EFA), while their relationship with the RST questionnaires was explored by correlational and regression analyses. The EFA revealed an orthogonal two-dimensional structure of defensive direction: defensive direction towards threat and defensive direction away from threat, while defensive intensity was not separately extracted. The results revealed that different operationalizations of the BAS, BIS and FFFS, from the various RST questionnaires, produced different associations with Blanchards' threat scenarios. In general, the BIS, Flight and Freezing scales predicted tendencies to move away from the threat, while Fight and some BAS Scales predicted tendencies to move towards the threat, in dangerous situations. These findings challenge some aspects of RST, especially their lack of association between the BIS and defensive direction towards threat. Directions for further research are indicated.

Individual Differences in Asymmetric Resting-State Frontal Cortical Activity Modulate ERPs and Performance in a Global-Local Attention Task

Recent research has demonstrated that individual differences in approach motivation modulate attentional scope. In turn, approach and inhibition have been related to different neural systems that are associated with asymmetries in relative frontal activity (RFA). Here, we investigated whether such individual differences in asymmetric hemispheric activity during rest, and self-report measures of approach motivation (as measured by the behavioral inhibition system, BIS/behavioral activation system, BAS scales) would be predictive of the efficiency of attentional processing of global and local visual information, as indexed by event-related potentials (ERPs) and performance measures. In the reported experiment, participants performed a visual attention task in which they were required to either attend to the global shape or the local components of presented stimuli. Electroencephalogram was recorded during task performance and during an initial “resting state” measurement. The results showed that only the BAS-Reward Responsiveness subscale was associated with left RFA during rest, while BIS, BAS-Drive, and BAS-Fun Seeking were associated with more right-lateralized RFA. Importantly, left RFA during the “resting state” measurement was associated with increased P3 (right-lateralized) amplitudes and decreased P3 latencies on trials requiring a global focus. In turn, these ERPs were associated with enhanced performance on trials requiring a global focus. These results provide the first evidence for a positive association between left RFA during rest and increased efficiency of right-lateralized brain mechanisms that are involved in processing global information.

Psychometric Characteristics of Carver and White's BIS/BAS Scales in Dutch Adolescents and Their Mothers

The psychometric characteristics of Carver and White's (1994) BIS/BAS scales were examined in 2 groups of Dutch adolescents (497 early adolescents and 237 middle adolescents, M Age = 13.0 years and 16.4 years, respectively) and their middle-aged mothers (M Age = 45.2 years; N = 734). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed an acceptably fitting 2-factor model for adapted BIS /BAS scales in all 3 groups, reflecting separate BIS and BAS factors. Reliabilities of the 2 scales were satisfactory. The results supported the convergent validity of BIS and BAS scales. BIS was positively correlated with internalizing problem behaviors and neuroticism. BAS was positively correlated with externalizing problem behaviors and extraversion. The discriminant validity of the BIS/BAS scales received mixed support in our data. BIS was negatively correlated with extraversion, and BAS was not correlated with depression. However, BIS was also found to be correlated with externalizing problem behaviors, and BAS was positively correlated with neuroticism. In sum, the scales are suitable for use in research settings, but caution is advocated in application for clinical practice.

Motion as Motivation: Using Repetitive Flexion Movements to Stimulate the Approach System

Research suggests that having a healthy approach system is critical for adaptive emotional functioning. The goal of the current study ( n = 186 undergraduates) was to determine the efficacy of an easy-to-disseminate and cost-efficient strategy for stimulating this system. The experiment tested the effects of repeated flexion movements (rFM) on approach system activation as measured by both self-report (BAS scales) and behavior. The results showed that rFM increased approach system motivation in men but not women. Men who completed the rFM task reported significantly greater levels of fun-seeking motivation than men in the control task. Moreover, the rFM task led to changes in actual behavior. Men who completed the rFM task exhibited significantly greater persistence on a difficult laboratory task than men in the control task. In contrast, women who completed the rFM task reported significantly lower levels of fun seeking and tended to exhibit less persistence on a difficult laboratory task than women in the control task. These results provide support for embodied theories of emotion as well as additional evidence for a gender difference in approach–avoidance tendencies.

Self- and manual mobilization improves spine mobility in men with ankylosing spondylitis — a randomized study

Aims: To evaluate effects of physiotherapeutic intervention in terms of self- and manual mobilization on chest expansion, vital capacity, posture, spine mobility and experienced consequences of the disease in patients with ankylosing spondylitis. Design: A prospective, randomized controlled study. Methods: Thirty-two men, aged between 23 and 60 years, with ankylosing spondylitis were randomized to active or no treatment for eight weeks. Physiotherapeutic intervention included individualized self- and manual mobilization for 1 hour twice a week and individually adjusted home exercises. Two blinded investigators made the assessments of chest expansion, posture and spinal mobility before and after the treatment period. The patient filled in three and the physiotherapist one of the four Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis scales (BAS scales). Results: In the treatment group chest expansion increased at the level of processus xiphoideus (P<0.01), with no difference in vital capacity compared with the control group. The posture improved in the cervical (C7—wall distance) (P<0.001) and in the thoracic spine (P<0.05). Thoracic and lumbar spine flexion improved (P<0.01) as did sagittal range of motion P<0.001 and P<0.01, respectively. The Bath Ankylosing Spondylitis Metrology Index total scoring improved (P<0.001) in the treatment group compared with the control group. The other three BAS scales showed no differences between groups. At four months follow-up of the treatment group, cervical spine posture, lumbar flexion and range of motion as well as BAS Metrology Index were still improved. Conclusion: This study shows that eight weeks of self- and manual mobilization treatment improved chest expansion, posture and spine mobility in patients with ankylosing spondylitis.

Testing conceptual distinctions among BAS scales: A comment and extension on

Smillie et al. (2006) have proposed a structural reconceptualization of the BAS scales ( Carver & White, 1994). They hypothesized that the fun scale should be considered close to trait impulsivity, whilst drive and reward responsiveness scales reflect more closely a reward reactivity interpretation of the behavioral activation system. In this study, it is claimed that Smillie at al.’s results were not conclusive because the authors did not address plausible equivalent alternative models to their data. It is argued that when using confirmatory models it is important to address possible alternative models that fit equally well to the data. The problem of alternative equivalent models is here discussed, and models that overcome the problem and that support Smillie et al.’s theoretical argument are presented.

Psychometric Properties of the Scores on the Behavioral Inhibition and Activation Scales in a Sample of Norwegian Children

The primary aim of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the scores on a version for children of the Carver and White Behavioral Inhibition and Activation scales (the BIS—BAS scales). This involved administering the BIS—BAS scales, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule, the Junior Eysenck Personality Questionnaire Revised—Abbreviated, and the Achievement Motives Scale to a population of 661 Norwegian sixth graders. The findings reveal that the scores on the BIS—BAS scales for children have a theoretically meaningful factor structure as well as satisfactory convergent validity and reliability. However, the results indicate that the version for children of the BAS scale actually may consist of two subscales: one related to the experience of pleasurable affect and one to persistence in goal pursuit. To a large extent, the relationship with the other scales was as expected.

The exploration of subclinical psychopathic subtypes and the relationship with types of aggression

The psychopathy literature includes inconsistencies with regard to correlates, etiology, and treatment, suggesting heterogeneity within the construct. This paper used measures of psychopathy (the LPS primary and secondary), temperament (the BIS and BAS scales), and anxiety (STAI), in a model-based cluster analysis, and identified prototypes that somewhat resembled subclinical primary and secondary psychopathy in a college population. Variants matched theory in terms of psychopathy factors and anxiety, but there were some inconsistencies in terms of BIS and BAS. Despite these discrepancies, the current study found a theoretically consistent relationship between the clusters and types of aggression generally supporting the construct validity of the subclinical psychopathic clusters that emerged in this study; the primary psychopathic-like traits cluster utilized more instrumental/mixed aggression and the secondary psychopathic-like traits cluster reported more hostile/reactive aggression.

Affect and personality correlates of the Iowa Gambling Task

The present study examined the relationship of personality, Behavioral Inhibition Scale/Behavioral Activation scale (BIS/BAS scale) and affect, Positive Affect Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) to performance on the Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) in a nonclinical sample ( n = 87). Results showed that both negative affect and BAS were related to riskier performance on the IGT; BAS Fun Seeking was still related to IGT even after controlling for negative affect. Cluster analytic group analyses showed that individuals highest in BAS Fun Seeking performed worst on IGT, relative to individuals low on BAS scales and individuals high on only BAS Drive and Reward. Although both negative affect and Fun Seeking were related to IGT performance, there was no interaction between mood and personality. Results suggest that both state mood (particularly negative affect) and personality (particularly Fun Seeking) are independently related to risky performance on IGT. Results suggest a need to assess both affect and personality dimensions when attempting to explain poor IGT performance, particularly in clinical populations.

Individual differences in decision making: Drive and reward responsiveness affect strategic bargaining in economic games

BackgroundIn the growing body of literature on economic decision making, the main focus has typically been on explaining aggregate behavior, with little interest in individual differences despite considerable between-subject variability in decision responses. In this study, we were interested in asking to what degree individual differences in fundamental psychological processes can mediate economic decision-making behavior.MethodsSpecifically, we studied a personality dimension that may influence economic decision-making, the Behavioral Activation System, (BAS) which is composed of three components: Reward Responsiveness, Drive, and Fun Seeking. In order to assess economic decision making, we utilized two commonly-used tasks, the Ultimatum Game and Dictator Game. Individual differences in BAS were measured by completion of the BIS/BAS Scales, and correlations between the BAS scales and monetary offers made in the two tasks were computed.ResultsWe found that higher scores on BAS Drive and on BAS Reward Responsiveness were associated with a pattern of higher offers on the Ultimatum Game, lower offers on the Dictator Game, and a correspondingly larger discrepancy between Ultimatum Game and Dictator Game offers.ConclusionThese findings are consistent with an interpretation that high scores on Drive and Reward Responsiveness are associated with a strategy that first seeks to maximize the likelihood of reward, and then to maximize the amount of reward. More generally, these results suggest that there are additional factors other than empathy, fairness and selfishness that contribute to strategic decision-making.

Psychometric properties and validation of a Polish adaptation of Carver and White’s BIS/BAS scales

The BIS–BAS scales ( Carver & White, 1994), which assess Gray’s motivational systems, were translated into Polish. The first part of this contribution contains a psychometric analysis of the Polish translation. The analyses include basic item and scale descriptions as well as structural equation modeling of the measurement model. The second part describes two studies for proving convergent and discriminant validity. In the first study, the correlations are presented on the dimension of the Polish translation of the EPQ-R (including extraversion and neuroticism), STAI-Y2 (with anxiety) and PANAS (with positive and negative affects). The second study includes PTS (with strength of excitation, strength of inhibition, and mobility), FCB-TI (with emotional reactivity, endurance, activity, briskness, and perseveration). The psychometric results as well as the results from convergent and discriminant validity analyses provide evidence for a successful translation of the original scales including relationships to temperamental constructs.

The appetitive motivation scale and other BAS measures in the prediction of Approach and Active Avoidance

The Appetitive Motivation Scale (Jackson & Smillie, 2004) is a new trait conceptualisation of Gray’s (1970, 1991) Behavioural Activation System. In this experiment we explore relationships that the Appetitive Motivation Scale and other measures of Gray’s model have with Approach and Active Avoidance responses. Using a sample of 144 undergraduate students, both Appetitive Motivation and Sensitivity to Reward (from the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire, SPSRQ; Torrubia, Avila, Molto, & Ceseras, 2001), were found to be significant predictors of Approach and Active Avoidance response latency. This confirms previous experimental validations of the SPSRQ (e.g., Avila, 2001) and provides the first experimental evidence for the validity of the Appetitive Motivation scale. Consistent with interactive views of Gray’s model (e.g., Corr, 2001), high SPSRQ Sensitivity to Punishment diminished the relationship between Sensitivity to Reward and our BAS criteria. Measures of BIS did not however interact in this way with the appetitive motivation scale. A surprising result was the failure for any of Carver and White’s (1994) BAS scales to correlate with RST criteria. Implications of these findings and potential future directions are discussed.

The role of personality in positively and negatively framed risky health decisions

Two hundred and forty research participants of varying ages completed a two-part procedure in which framing experiments were conducted and personality factors were assessed. We operationally defined information framing according to the attribute-, goal-, and risky choice-framing paradigms and made our tasks as similar as possible to everyday risky health decisions. Individual difference variables were measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, the Carver’s BIS–BAS scales, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Multidimensional Health Questionnaire, and Coronary Heart Disease specific items. Framing valence effects were in keeping with the literature, with more risk-taking in the negative risky choice framing valence condition and more negative health status evaluation in the negative attribute-framing valence condition. Respondents’ personality, in particular Impulsiveness, Anxiety, Health Involvement and Health Negative Affect, correlated with message effectiveness in the goal-framing task and with the observed risk attitude in the risky choice task. These findings expand the literature on personality and risk-taking by demonstrating the joint role of personality factors and situational factors on decisions to promote good health or prevent bad health.

The role of personality in positively and negatively framed risky health decisions

Two hundred and forty research participants of varying ages completed a two-part procedure in which framing experiments were conducted and personality factors were assessed. We operationally defined information framing according to the attribute-, goal-, and risky choice-framing paradigms and made our tasks as similar as possible to everyday risky health decisions. Individual difference variables were measured by the Eysenck Personality Questionnaire-Revised, the Carver’s BIS–BAS scales, the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale, the Multidimensional Health Questionnaire, and Coronary Heart Disease specific items. Framing valence effects were in keeping with the literature, with more risk-taking in the negative risky choice framing valence condition and more negative health status evaluation in the negative attribute-framing valence condition. Respondents’ personality, in particular Impulsiveness, Anxiety, Health Involvement and Health Negative Affect, correlated with message effectiveness in the goal-framing task and with the observed risk attitude in the risky choice task. These findings expand the literature on personality and risk-taking by demonstrating the joint role of personality factors and situational factors on decisions to promote good health or prevent bad health.

Psychometric evaluation of the behavioral inhibition/behavioral activation scales in a large sample of outpatients with anxiety and mood disorders.

The latent structure, reliability, and validity of the Behavioral Inhibition/Behavioral Activation Scales (BIS/BAS; C. L. Carver and T. L. White, 1994) were examined in a large sample of outpatients (N = 1,825) with anxiety and mood disorders. Four subsamples were used for exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses. In addition to generally upholding a latent structure found previously in nonclinical samples, results indicated measurement invariance of the BIS/BAS between genders and a higher order structure of the BAS scales. Convergent and discriminant validity of the BIS/BAS were supported by findings that the subscales correlated most strongly with measures of neighboring personality constructs (e.g., BIS with neuroticism, BAS with positive affect) than with measures of current anxiety and depression symptoms. Overall, the results support the psychometric properties of the BIS/BAS in this clinical sample.