Controlling Behaviors Scale – Revised (CBS-R)
Measures the frequency of controlling and coercive behaviors exhibited within intimate partner relationships.
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 behaviors in relationships. The scale is intended for use with Adults in heterosexual or same-sex 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.
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Not specified in source text.
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.