Controlling Behaviors Scale – Revised (CBS-R)
Measures the frequency of controlling and coercive behaviors exhibited towards an intimate partner.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Controlling Behaviors Scale – Revised (CBS-R) was developed by Nicola Graham-Kevan & John Archer (2003). It is designed to measure Controlling behavior in intimate relationships. The scale is intended for use with Adults in relationships.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 32 items organized into 7 factors/subscales: Economic control, Threatening control, Intimidating control, Emotional control, Isolating control, Using children, Minimizing.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Economic control | 1,2,3,4 | 4 |
| Threatening control | 5,6,7,8 | 4 |
| Intimidating control | 9,10,11,12,13 | 5 |
| Emotional control | 14,15,16,17,18 | 5 |
| Isolating control | 19,20,21,22,23,24 | 6 |
| Using children | 25,26,27,28,29 | 5 |
| Minimizing | 30,31,32 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 0 = Never, 1 = Rarely, 2 = Sometimes, 3 = Often, 4 = Always.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 0 to 128. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low level of controlling behavior: 0 – 32
- Moderate level of controlling behavior: 33 – 64
- High level of controlling behavior: 65 – 128
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of High internal consistency across subscales.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.