Behavioral Inhibition / Behavioral Activation Scales – BIS/BAS
Measures individual differences in the sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and the behavioral activation system (BAS).
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Behavioral Inhibition / Behavioral Activation Scales – BIS/BAS was developed by Charles S. Carver & Teri L. White (1994). It is designed to measure Behavioral Inhibition and Behavioral Activation Systems. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 24 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: BAS Drive, BAS Fun Seeking, BAS Reward Responsiveness, BIS.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| BAS Drive | 3,9,12,21 | 4 |
| BAS Fun Seeking | 5,10,15,20 | 4 |
| BAS Reward Responsiveness | 4,7,14,18,23 | 5 |
| BIS | 2,8,13,16,19,22,24 | 7 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = very true for me, 2 = somewhat true for me, 3 = somewhat false for me, 4 = very false for me.
The scale includes 18 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 7 to 28. Interpretation guidelines:
- BIS Score Range: 7 – 28
- BAS Drive Score Range: 4 – 16
- BAS Fun Seeking Score Range: 4 – 16
- BAS Reward Responsiveness Score Range: 5 – 20
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha ranges from .73 to .76 for BIS, .76 for Drive, .66 for Fun Seeking, and .73 for Reward Responsiveness.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.