The BIS/BAS Scales of the BAI (not to be confused with the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI)) assess two general motivational systems that underlie behavior and affect: a behavioral inhibition system(BIS) and a behavioral activation system (BAS). The BIS/BAS scales consist of 20 items that participants rate on a 4-point scale. The measure yields four scale scores, one BIS score and three BAS scores.
ITEM CODING
The BAI consists of 20 items that are rated on a 4-point Likert scale as follows:
| Strongly Disagree | Disagree | Agree | Strongly Agree |
| 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 |
SCALES
The BAI yields 4 primary scales. Description of the scales and item loadings are listed below. Scale scores are calculated as the sum of respective items. Items 1 and 18 are reverse scored.
| SCALE NAME (ABBR.) | DESCRIPTION | ITEM LOADINGS |
|---|---|---|
| BIS or Punishment Sensitivity Scale | This scale includes all items referencing reactions to the anticipation of punishment. | 1, 6, 10, 13, 15, 18, 20 |
| BAS Reward Responsiveness | This scale has items that focus on positive responses to the occurrence or anticipation of reward. | 3, 5, 11, 14, 19 |
| BAS Drive | This scale is made up of items pertaining to the persistent pursuit of desired goals. | 2, 7, 9, 17 |
| BAS Fun Seeking | This scale has items reflecting both a desire for new rewards and a willingness to approach a potentially rewarding event on the spur of the moment. | 4, 8, 12, 16 |
RESOURCE FILES
REFERENCES
Carver, C. & White, T. (1994). Behavioral Inhibition, Behavioral Activation, and affective response to impending reward and punishment: The BIS/BAS Scales. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 67(2), 319-333.
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