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Cognitive Therapy and Research 07/2013; · 1.33 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to examine the psychometric properties of the Invalidating Childhood Environment Scale (ICES; Mountford, Corstorphine, Tomlinson, & Waller, 2004), a measure designed to retrospectively assess exposure to parental invalidation. The ICES was administered to a sample of female college students along with measures of parental bonding and borderline personality disorder (BPD) symptomatology. In contrast with previous findings, the ICES demonstrated excellent internal consistency within a nonclinical sample. It also correlated in the predicted directions with measures of parental bonding and BPD symptomatology. Taken together, these findings suggest that the ICES is a promising retrospective measure of parental invalidation. They also provide some support for the hypothesized link between parental invalidation and BPD symptomatology and suggest that additional research with clinical samples is needed.
Journal of personality disorders 09/2012; · 3.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The objective of this study was to examine if and how two basic dimensions of temperament-behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity-might interact with exposure to perceived parental affectionless control (AFC) to predict personality disorder (PD) symptomatology. Measures of BIS, BAS, AFC, and PD symptomatology were administered to a large nonclinical sample (n = 318). As predicted, exposure to AFC was positively associated with PD symptoms in general, BIS was positively associated with Cluster A and C symptoms, and BAS was positively associated with Cluster B symptoms. BIS and BAS were also found to interact with each other to predict Cluster B symptomatology. In addition, BIS, BAS, and maternal AFC interacted to predict Cluster A symptomatology. In the latter case, it was found that individuals who reported high BIS, high BAS, and high maternal AFC reported the highest overall level of Cluster A symptoms.
Journal of personality disorders 04/2012; 26(2):203-12. · 3.08 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The goal of the present research was to test the hypothesis that cognitive biases for negative and threatening social information mediate the effects of behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity on social anxiety. Participants completed self-report measures of BIS and BAS and then underwent a social-threat induction procedure in which they were told they would have to perform a speech. A battery of cognitive bias measures was then administered, followed by a battery of state anxiety measures. Audience members also rated participants' anxiety during the speech. Structural equation modeling was used to test the hypothesized model. As predicted, the fully-mediated model showed the best fit to the data, and higher BIS and lower BAS were found to have significant indirect effects on social anxiety via cognitive bias.
Personality and Individual Differences 12/2011; · 1.88 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Motivational models emphasizing altered reinforcement sensitivity have been increasingly implicated in etiological accounts of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Overactive behavioral approach tendencies are identified among these motivational models and are addressed within reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST). RST proposes that overactive behavioral approach is associated with over responsiveness to immediately rein-forcing stimuli and results from an overactive appetitive motivational subsystem of the brain—the behavioral approach system. The current study tested the hypothesis that behavioral approach would be higher in a clinical sample of adults diagnosed with ADHD relative to a control group. Experimental and self-report measures of behavioral approach were administered. Behavioral approach was higher in the ADHD group across both methods of assessment. Effect size estimates fell within the medium to large range. Implications for how these findings might be incorporated into future ADHD models are discussed. Keywords ADHD . Behavioral approach . Reinforcement sensitivity theory Attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) is a developmental disorder characterized by symptoms of inattention, hyperactivity, and impulsivity (American Psychiatric Association 2000). Motivational models emphasizing altered reinforcement sensitivity have been increasingly implicated in etiological accounts of ADHD (e.g., Luman et al. 2005; Nigg 2006; Nigg et al. 2005). For example, the delay aversion account proposes that individuals with ADHD prefer immediate smaller rewards over delayed larger rewards due to a generalized aversion to delayed contingencies (Sonuga-Barke 2002, 2003). Impulsive drive for immediate reward, referring to the behavioral tendency to be over-responsive to immediate reward, has also been demonstrated to be a component of altered reinforcement sensitivity accounts in children with ADHD and separate from delay aversion (Marco et al. 2009). The behavioral tendency to be overly responsive to immediately reinforcing stimuli is interpretable within the framework of reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST; Gray and McNaughton 2000; Pickering and Gray 1999; see Corr 2008, for a review). RST has a longstanding history in motivationally-based etiological accounts of ADHD (e.g., Beauchaine 2001; Newman and Wallace 1993; Quay 1988; see Nigg 2001, for a review) and assessing findings within this model allows for theoretically-guided interpretation (Nigg 2006). RST has also been applied to inform etiological accounts of a variety of other forms of psychopathology (e.g., Bijttebier et al. 2009; Kimbrel
Journal of Psychopathology and Behavioral Assessment 01/2011; · 1.55 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Both behavioral inhibition system (BIS) and behavioral approach system (BAS) sensitivity have been proposed to play a role in social anxiety; however, findings concerning the relationship between BAS and social anxiety have been mixed. Moreover, recent evidence suggests that low levels of BAS may only be associated with the social interaction subdimension of social anxiety.
Measures of BIS, BAS, social interaction anxiety, and social observation anxiety were administered to three large analogue samples.
As hypothesized, BAS was inversely related to social interaction anxiety, but was unrelated to social observation anxiety across all three samples. In addition, individuals with generalized social fears were found to report both higher levels of BIS and lower levels of BAS compared to individuals with few or specific social fears.
These findings suggest that a complete motivational account of generalized social anxiety should include both BIS and BAS.
Journal of anxiety disorders 02/2010; 24(3):372-8. · 2.68 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory is a personality model that proposes brain systems, referred to as the Behavioral Approach System (BAS), and the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), underlie individual differences in personality, mood, and approach-avoidance tendencies. In the current study, the relationship between BIS, BAS, and normal social functioning was examined in a sample of undergraduates (N = 248). Regression analyses indicated that higher levels of BIS predicted decreased participation in social and romantic activities, lower levels of perceived social support, and fewer leadership roles in organizations. Higher BIS also predicted increased solitary media use, lack of confidence in social situations, excessive reassurance seeking, and higher levels of emotional reliance upon others. In contrast, higher levels of BAS predicted increased participation in social and romantic activities, higher levels of perceived social support, higher levels of satisfaction with social support, increased confidence in social situations, and more leadership roles in organizations. Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST, Gray & McNaughton, 2000; Pickering & Gray, 1999) is a biologically-based personality model proposing three major brain systems underlie individual differences in personality, mood, orienting, and approach-avoidance tendencies. These systems are referred to as the Behavioral Approach System (BAS), the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS), and the Fight–Flight–Freeze System (FFFS). The BAS activates reward-seeking behavior, feelings of elation, and underlies impulsivity and extraversion (Corr, 2004; Pickering & Gray, 1999). Conversely, the FFFS motivates avoidance and escape behaviors in response to both conditioned and unconditioned aversive stimuli and underlies the emotion of fear (Corr, 2004; Gray & McNaughton, 2000). Finally, the BIS resolves conflicts among competing goals (e.g., approach-avoidance conflicts) by inhibiting prepotent behavior, increasing arousal, and assessing risk. The BIS also underlies the emotion of anxiety (see Corr, 2004, for a summary; Gray & McNaughton, 2000). Corr (2004) has suggested that BIS sensitivity as measured by traditional self-report personality inventories actually reflects combined BIS-FFFS functioning. Therefore, the current paper refers to combined BIS-FFFS functioning as BIS. Previous research has demonstrated relationships between BIS and BAS and negative and positive affect (e.g.
Individual Differences Research 01/2010; 8(4):246-256.
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ABSTRACT: Personality disorders are complex and highly challenging to treatment providers; yet, for clients with these
problems, there exist very few treatment options that have been supported by research. Given the lack of
empirically-supported therapies for personality disorders, it can be difficult to make treatment decisions for this population. The purpose of this paper is to present our view that basic behavioral principles can be integrated into the assessment and treatment of personality disorders to maximize success with such challenging behavioral patterns. Following a review of well-established behavioral assessment and treatment options, we offer additional suggestions upon which to base treatment: (a) the identification of relevant response classes and (b) the use of functional analysis in personality disorder treatment. We conclude with application of the proposed strategies to the examples of borderline and avoidant personality disorders.
Behavior Analyst Today. 01/2009; 10(1):54-70.
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ABSTRACT: The current study examined the joint effect of personality and parenting factors on the prediction of bulimia nervosa (BN) and social anxiety disorder (SAD) symptomology in a sample of female college students. The study also tested whether personality and parenting factors might account for the association between BN and SAD symptoms.
One-hundred twenty-eight participants completed self-report measures assessing maternal care (MC), maternal overprotection, sensitivity to punishment (SP), sensitivity to reward (SR), and BN and SAD symptomology.
SP, SR, and MC each uniquely predicted BN symptoms, whereas only SP and MC predicted SAD symptoms. High SP interacted with low MC to predict BN and SAD symptoms over the main effects. In addition, SP, MC, and the interaction term SP x MC mediated the association between SAD and BN symptoms.
High SP and low MC appear to account for the link between BN and SAD symptomology, whereas high SR appears to distinguish the disorders.
Eating Behaviors 05/2008; 9(2):210-7. · 1.58 Impact Factor
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Nathan A Kimbrel
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ABSTRACT: Many factors have been associated with the development and maintenance of generalized social phobia (GSP); however, the ways in which these factors interact with one another to produce and maintain GSP remains unclear. The current paper proposes that Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) can be used to integrate a wide range of factors into a unified and theoretically-driven model of GSP. The paper begins by briefly summarizing research on genetic, temperamental, environmental, and cognitive factors associated with GSP. The next section of the paper provides an overview of RST. A model of the development and maintenance of GSP is then presented. The proposed model is unique because it: (a) integrates a wide range of factors into a unified model of GSP, (b) incorporates recent updates to RST, (c) provides a potential explanation for the differences observed among social phobia subtypes, (d) considers the role of general stressors in the development of GSP, (e) provides a biologically-based framework for understanding the cognitive biases seen in GSP, and (f) predicts the conditions under which these cognitive biases are most likely to emerge. Clinical implications and future directions for research are discussed.
Clinical Psychology Review 05/2008; 28(4):592-612. · 7.07 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The current study examined the role of Behavioral Approach System (BAS) and Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity in predicting symptoms along the externalizing dimension of psychopathology. A sample of 273 undergraduates completed measures of BAS, BIS, and externalizing disorder symptomatology. Regression analyses indicated that high BAS predicted drug abuse, alcohol abuse, primary and secondary psychopathy, and hyperactive-impulsive AD/HD symptoms. Whereas low BIS predicted drug use and hyperactive-impulsive symptoms only, high BIS predicted secondary psychopathy and inattentive AD/HD symptoms. These results replicate previous findings and suggest that high BAS is closely associated with the externalizing dimension. In contrast, the results from the current study call into question the role of low BIS in externalizing disorders and provide only limited support for the joint-subsystems hypothesis in this context. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2008 APA, all rights reserved) (journal abstract) DOI: doi:10.1016/j.paid.2007.09.018
01/2008;
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ABSTRACT: Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) and the Five-Factor Model (FFM) are two prominent personality accounts that have emerged from different backgrounds. Although the two accounts are applied to similar research topics, there is limited empirical work examining the correspondence between them. The current study explored the relationship between RST-based personality traits and the FFM domains and facets in an undergraduate sample (n = 668). Regression analyses indicated that Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) was positively associated with Neuroticism and Agreeableness, and negatively associated with Extraversion, Openness, and Conscientiousness. In contrast, Sensitivity to Reward (SR) was positively associated with Extraversion and Neuroticism, and negatively associated with Agreeableness and Conscientiousness. Exploratory analyses at the facet level specified the relationship between SP, SR, and each domain. A factor analysis was also conducted to explore the higher-order factor structure of RST and the FFM domains. Three factors emerged, which we labelled SP, Stability-Impulsivity, and Sensation Seeking. Taken together, these findings suggest that there is substantial overlap between these two accounts of personality. Copyright © 2007 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.
European Journal of Personality 07/2007; 21(7):869 - 887. · 2.44 Impact Factor
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ABSTRACT: The current review is an account of the development and maintenance of personality disorders as defined
in the DSM-IV-TR (Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, 4th edition, Text Revision,
American Psychiatric Association, 2000) from a behavior analytic perspective. A thesis of this paper is
that behavior is a result of a complex biological-environmental interaction. Complex behavioral
repertoires that come to be regarded as personality characteristics are the result of evolutionary, learning,
and cultural histories. Following a review of our model and how it is maintained by these histories, we
provide two examples of avoidant and borderline personality disorders to illustrate our approach that
attempts to describe the development and maintenance of personality disorders.
Behavior Analyst Today. 01/2007; 8(4).
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ABSTRACT: This study examined the effect of reinforcement sensitivity and adverse parenting on adult psychopathology. One hundred eighty-one undergraduates completed a battery of self-report scales measuring Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) sensitivity, Behavioral Approach System (BAS) sensitivity, maternal care, maternal overprotection, depression, anxiety, psychopathy, and substance abuse. Hierarchical regression analyses were conducted to test the hypotheses. Higher BIS and lower care scores predicted anxiety and depression; lower BAS, higher BIS, and lower care scores predicted anhedonic depression. Higher BAS and lower BIS scores predicted drug abuse and primary psychopathy; higher BAS, lower BIS, and lower care scores predicted alcohol abuse. Higher BAS and lower care scores predicted secondary psychopathy. Exposure to low maternal care predicted anxiety, depression, alcohol abuse, and secondary psychopathy after partialling out BIS and BAS sensitivity. In addition, some support was found for the hypothesis that BIS sensitivity mediates the effect of maternal overprotection on anxiety.
Personality and Individual Differences.
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ABSTRACT: This study examined the relationship between reinforcement sensitivity theory (RST), life stress, and internalizing symptoms. Generally, low sensitivity of the behavioral approach system (BAS) predicts depression whereas high sensitivity of the behavioral inhibition system (BIS) predicts anxiety and depression. However, few studies have examined how RST variables interact with life stress to predict these symptoms. It was hypothesized that higher BIS sensitivity would predict greater anxious arousal; lower BAS sensitivity and higher BIS sensitivity would predict greater anhedonic depression as predicted by the joint subsystems hypothesis (JSH); and low BAS, high BIS, and high life stress would interact to predict anhedonic depression symptoms whereas high BIS with high life stress would predict anxious symptoms. A sample of 285 undergraduates completed measures of RST, life stress, and internalizing symptoms. Greater BIS sensitivity predicted mixed anxiety–depression and anhedonic depressed symptoms, lower BAS predicted anhedonic depression symptoms, and life events predicted mixed anxiety–depression. Three-way interactions indicated that for high life stress, BIS predicted both types of symptoms. For low life stress, low BAS and high BIS predicted anhedonic depression whereas high BIS and high BAS predicted mixed anxiety–depression. The implications of these findings are discussed in terms of the JSH.
Personality and Individual Differences.
