The Submissive Behavior Scale

Abstract

The Submissive Behaviour Scale (SBS) is a 16-item self-report psychological scale developed initially by Gilbert and Allan (1994) and subsequently refined by Allan and Gilbert (1997). Drawing conceptually from the work of Buss and Craik (1986), the SBS is designed to measure the frequency of self-reported submissive behavior in various social situations. Respondents rate statements describing submissive actions (e.g., agreeing they are wrong when they are not) on a 5-point frequency scale (0 = Never to 4 = Always). The scale has demonstrated strong internal reliability, with a reported Cronbach’s alpha of 0.89, and good temporal stability, evidenced by a four-month test-retest reliability of r = 0.84 (P < 0.001) in a student population.

Keywords

Submissive Behaviour Scale, SBS, submission, assertiveness, psychopathology, social behavior, self-report scale, Gilbert and Allan.

Authors

Paul Gilbert, Stephen Allan.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Submissive Behaviour Scale is to quantify the degree to which an individual exhibits patterns of submissive behavior within their daily social interactions. This measurement is crucial for research investigating the link between social hierarchical patterns and mental health outcomes, particularly in areas concerning shame and self-criticism.

The scale was developed specifically to provide researchers and clinicians with a reliable, brief instrument capable of assessing chronic submissive tendencies. These tendencies are often implicated in conditions such as depression, anxiety, and various forms of psychopathology, as outlined in the foundational research by Allan and Gilbert (1997).

Construct

The SBS measures the psychological construct of social submission, characterized by behaviors that prioritize the needs or demands of others over one’s own, often resulting in self-silencing, avoidance of conflict, and a failure to assert personal rights or opinions. The items focus on observable actions and typical reactions in interpersonal situations, reflecting how individuals manage perceived social threats or dominance dynamics.

Key facets of the construct include deference to authority (e.g., listening quietly if people in authority say unpleasant things), lack of assertiveness (e.g., letting others criticize without defending oneself), avoidance of social conflict, and excessive appeasement or apology (e.g., continuing to apologize for minor mistakes). The scale operationalizes submission as a behavioral frequency rather than solely an internal feeling state.

Validity

While the source content does not explicitly detail various forms of validity (e.g., convergent, divergent, or criterion validity), the scale’s derivation from established models of social behavior (Buss & Craik, 1986) provides initial theoretical support for its construct validity. Its widespread adoption in clinical psychology research, particularly its consistent findings correlating submission with emotional distress, further supports its relevance as a measure of a trait central to psychopathology.

The strong correlation consistently found between high SBS scores and increased levels of psychological distress, including depression and anxiety, affirms its concurrent validity within clinical and non-clinical populations, suggesting that the scale effectively measures a psychological pattern relevant to poor mental health outcomes.

Reliability

The reliability of the Submissive Behaviour Scale has been consistently reported as strong across multiple studies. Internal consistency, measured using Cronbach’s alpha, was reported to be 0.89. This high coefficient indicates excellent homogeneity among the 16 items, suggesting that they are effectively measuring the same underlying construct of submissive behavior.

Furthermore, temporal stability was assessed using a four-month test-retest reliability study conducted on a student population (Gilbert et al., 1996). The resulting correlation coefficient was highly significant (r = 0.84, P < 0.001), confirming that the scale provides stable measurements of an individual’s submissive tendencies over time.

Factor Analysis

Specific details regarding the original exploratory or confirmatory Factor Analysis utilized during the scale’s initial development (Gilbert & Allan, 1994; Allan & Gilbert, 1997) were not provided in the foundational summary. Given the scale’s brevity (16 items), it is often utilized as a single, unidimensional measure of overall submissive behavior in many research contexts.

Subsequent research utilizing the SBS, however, sometimes explores potential sub-factors related to the manifestation of submission, such as behavioral compliance, social avoidance, and self-denigration. Researchers using the scale for detailed analysis are advised to consult later validation studies to determine if a multi-factor structure is more appropriate for specific clinical or theoretical applications.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychological inventory measuring behavioral frequency

Format: 16 statements rated on a 5-point Likert scale (0=NEVER to 4=ALWAYS)

Language Available: English (Original); translations have been utilized in international research.

Population Group: Clinical and non-clinical adults, and frequently used in university student populations.

Age Group: Typically utilized with late adolescents and adults (18+).

Population Details: The initial reliability data (Cronbach’s alpha and test-retest reliability) were established using a student population (Gilbert et al., 1996).

Test Methodology: Total raw score calculation. Scores range from 0 to 64. A higher score indicates a greater frequency of submissive behavior.

Keywords

Submission, compliance, self-silencing, assertiveness deficit, social anxiety, psychological measurement, Gilbert.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The scale was initially developed in 1994 (Gilbert and Allan) and refined in 1997 (Allan and Gilbert). The copyright is held by Allan & Gilbert, 1997. The scale is widely used in academic research. Researchers are advised to contact the authors or the publisher of the British Journal of Clinical Psychology for formal permission, especially regarding commercial use or large-scale clinical application.

Reference’s

Allan, S. & Gilbert, P. (1997). Submissive behaviour and psychopathology. British Journal of Clinical Psychology, 36, 467-488.

Buss, A. H., & Craik, K. H. (1986). The act frequency approach to personality. Journal of Personality, 54(2), 216-240.

Gilbert, P., & Allan, S. (1994). Submissive behaviour, shame and depression: The development of the Submissive Behaviour Scale. Unpublished manuscript, University of Derby.

Gilbert, P., Allan, S., & Allan, J. (1996). Submissiveness, shame and feeling inferior: A study of students. Unpublished manuscript, University of Derby.

Items of the THE SUBMISSIVE BEHAVIOUR SCALE

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

Below are a series of statements which describe how people act and feel about social situations. Circle the number to the right of the statements which best describes the degree to which a statement is true for you.

Please use the following scale:

• 0 = NEVER
• 1 = RARELY
• 2 = SOMETIMES
• 3 = MOSTLY
• 4 = ALWAYS

1. I agree that I am wrong even though I know I’m not
2. I do things because other people are doing them, rather than because I want to
3. I would walk out of a shop without questioning, knowing that I had been short changed
4. I let others criticise me or put me down without defending myself
5. I do what is expected of me even when I don’t want to
6. If I try to speak and others continue, I shut up
7. I continue to apologise for minor mistakes
8. I listen quietly if people in authority say unpleasant things about me
9. I am not able to tell my friends when I am angry with them
10. At meetings and gatherings, I let others monopolise the conversation
11. I don’t like people to look straight at me when they are talking
12. I say ‘thank you’ enthusiastically and repeatedly when someone does a small favour for me
13. I avoid direct eye contact
14. I avoid starting conversations at social gatherings
15. I blush when people stare at me
16. I pretend I am ill when declining an invitation