USING THE BIS BAS SCALES TO MEASURE BEHAVIORAL-INHIBITION AND BEHAVIORAL ACTIVATION - FACTOR STRUCTURE, VALIDITY AND NORMS IN A LARGE COMMUNITY SAMPLE/

The Behavioural Inhibition System and Behavioural Activation System (B IS/BAS) scales of Carver and White (1994) were used in an Australian c ommunity sample of 2725 individuals aged 18-79. Factor analysis of the BIS/BAS items supported the 4-factor structure found by Carver and Wh ite, as well as a 2-factor structure reflecting separate behavioural i nhibition and behavioural activation systems. The BIS scale was relate d to neuroticism and negative affectivity, while the BBS scale was rel ated to extraversion and positive affectivity. The BIS scale was less correlated with anxiety and depression symptoms than are neuroticism a nd negative affectivity scales, probably because it is designed to mea sure predisposition to anxiety rather than the experience of anxiety. BIS scores were higher in females, while the BAS subscales showed a mo re complex pattern, with reward responsiveness scores higher in female s and drive scores higher in males. Both BIS and BAS scores were lower in older age groups, suggesting the possibility that the behavioural inhibition and behavioural activation systems become less responsive w ith age. (C) 1998 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.