Adult Measure of Behavioural Inhibition – AMBI
Measures a behaviourally inhibited temperament style in adults, characterized by inhibition, non-approach, low sociability, and risk avoidance.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Adult Measure of Behavioural Inhibition – AMBI was developed by Gladstone, G., & Parker, G. (2005). It is designed to measure Behavioral Inhibition. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 16 items organized into 4 factors/subscales: Fearful Inhibition, Non-approach, Low Sociability, Risk Avoidance.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Fearful Inhibition | 1,2,3,8 | 4 |
| Non-approach | 4,5,7,9,10,11 | 6 |
| Low Sociability | 6,12,13,14,15 | 5 |
| Risk Avoidance | 16 | 1 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = no/hardly ever, 1 = some of the time, 2 = yes/most of the time.
The scale includes 6 reverse-scored items to reduce acquiescence bias.
Scoring
Items are summed to produce a total score.
Total scores range from 0 to 32. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Behavioral Inhibition: 0 – 10
- Moderate Behavioral Inhibition: 11 – 21
- High Behavioral Inhibition: 22 – 32
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified.
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.