Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward (SPSRQ)

Abstract

The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) is a validated psychometric instrument developed to measure individual differences in two fundamental motivational systems central to Jeffrey Gray’s Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST). Specifically, the SPSRQ operationalizes the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) through Sensitivity to Punishment (SP) and the Behavioral Activation System (BAS) through Sensitivity to Reward (SR). The scale is widely utilized in personality and clinical psychology to assess underlying dimensions related to anxiety and impulsivity.

Keywords

SPSRQ, Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, Gray’s theory, Sensitivity to Punishment, Sensitivity to Reward, anxiety, impulsivity, psychometrics, personality assessment, BIS, BAS, motivational systems.

Authors

R. Torrubia, C. Ávila, J. Moltó, X. Caseras.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the SPSRQ is to provide a comprehensive, self-report measure of individual differences in motivational tendencies related to approach and avoidance behavior. It is designed to capture the intensity with which an individual reacts to potential negative outcomes (punishment or non-reward) and potential positive outcomes (reward or non-punishment).

By quantifying these sensitivities, the SPSRQ allows researchers to test hypotheses derived from Gray’s model regarding the biological basis of temperament and psychopathology. High scores on the SP dimension are often linked to vulnerability to anxiety disorders, while high scores on the SR dimension are related to traits such as impulsivity and substance misuse.

Construct

The SPSRQ measures two orthogonal psychological constructs corresponding to the two main components of the original Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (RST) proposed by Gray:

• Sensitivity to Punishment (SP): This factor is associated with the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS). High SP reflects an individual’s heightened responsiveness to cues of punishment, non-reward, and novelty, leading to inhibitory behaviors, avoidance, and feelings of fear or apprehension.
• Sensitivity to Reward (SR): This factor is associated with the Behavioral Activation System (BAS). High SR reflects an individual’s readiness to approach cues of reward, non-punishment, and potential gratification, resulting in approach behaviors, persistence, and feelings of hope or excitement.

Validity

The scale possesses strong construct validity, evidenced by its significant correlations with established measures of personality and psychopathology. The initial validation by Torrubia et al. (2001) confirmed that the SP dimension correlated highly with measures of trait anxiety, while the SR dimension correlated highly with measures of impulsivity and extraversion, thus supporting the scale’s theoretical alignment with Gray’s dimensions.

Further studies, such as those employing Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA), have largely supported the distinct two-factor structure of the SPSRQ, confirming that SP and SR are separable constructs, as required by the theory.

Reliability

The SPSRQ demonstrates high internal consistency across both subscales, indicating that the items reliably measure their intended constructs. The original publication reported the following Cronbach’s Alpha coefficients:

• Sensitivity to Punishment (SP): 0.83 (males) and 0.82 (females).
• Sensitivity to Reward (SR): 0.78 (males) and 0.75 (females).

Subsequent validation studies, such as the 2004 analysis by O’Connor, Colder, and Hawk, replicated these findings, reporting an internal reliability of 0.89 for the Sensitivity to Punishment scale and 0.80 for the Sensitivity to Reward scale, confirming the robust reliability of the instrument.

Factor Analysis

The development of the SPSRQ was fundamentally guided by the two-dimensional model proposed by Gray. The original factor analysis confirmed that the 48 items load onto two independent factors corresponding precisely to Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward.

The two-factor structure has been consistently supported through subsequent psychometric evaluations, including the Confirmatory Factor Analysis performed by O’Connor et al. (2004). This analysis confirmed the robustness of the factor structure, establishing the SPSRQ as a valid measure of Gray’s anxiety and impulsivity dimensions.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report personality questionnaire.

Format: 48 items, answered using a dichotomous (YES/NO) response format.

Language Available: Spanish (Original), English, and others.

Population Group: General adult population, frequently applied in clinical and non-clinical samples.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults.

Population Details: Used to assess individual differences in behavioral motivation systems.

Test Methodology: Simple administration requiring respondents to endorse or deny statements describing typical behaviors or reactions. Scores are summed for the 24 SP items and 24 SR items separately.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Contact information for Nicholls (2013) study provided: Dr Nicolas Kambouropoulos ([email protected]), Associate Professor Petra Staiger ([email protected]), or Julia Nicholls ([email protected]).

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) was first published in 2001 by Torrubia, Ávila, Moltó, & Caseras. The scale is widely accessible for academic research. The instrument is available online, and the original PDF from the Nicholls 2013 study can be downloaded here: http://dro.deakin.edu.au/eserv/DU:30062519/nicholls-therole-2013A.pdf.

Reference’s

• Torrubia, R., Ávila, C., Moltó, J., & Caseras, X. (2001). The Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire (SPSRQ) as a measure of Gray’s anxiety and impulsivity dimensions. Personality and Individual Differences, 31(6), 837-862.
• O’Connor, R. M., Colder, C. R., & Hawk Jr, L. W. (2004). Confirmatory factor analysis of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward Questionnaire. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(5), 985-1002.
• Nicholls. J. D. (2013). The Role of Impulsivity in Co-occurring Social Anxiety and Substance Misuse. Deakin University. Doctor of Psychology thesis.

Items of the Sensitivity to Punishment and Sensitivity to Reward (SPSRQ)

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

The SPSRQ utilizes a YES/NO response format. Items belonging to the Sensitivity to Punishment subscale are: 1, 3, 5, 7, 9, 11, 13, 15, 17, 19, 21, 23, 25, 27, 29, 31, 33, 35, 37, 39, 41, 43, 45, and 47. Items belonging to the Sensitivity to Reward subscale are: 2, 4, 6, 8, 10, 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, 22, 24, 26, 28, 30, 32, 34, 36, 38, 40, 42, 44, 46, and 48.

1. Do you often refrain from doing something because you are afraid of it being illegal?
2. Does the good prospect of obtaining money motivate you strongly to do some things?
3. Do you prefer not to ask for something you are not sure you will obtain it?
4. Are you frequently encouraged to act by the possibility of being valued in your work, in your studies, with your friends or with your family?
5. Are you often afraid of new or unexpected situations?
6. Do you often meet people that you find physically attractive?
7. Is it difficult for you to telephone someone you do not know?
8. Do you like taking some drugs because of the pleasure you get from them?
9. Do you often renounce your rights when you know you can avoid a quarrel with a person or an organization?
10. Do you often do things to be praised?
11. As a child, were you troubled by punishments at home or in school?
12. Do you like being the center of attention at a party or a social meeting?
13. In tasks that you are not prepared for, do you attach great importance to the possibility of failure?
14. Do you spend a lot of your time on obtaining a good image?
15. Are you easily discouraged in difficult situations?
16. Do you need people to show their affection for you all the time?
17. Are you a shy person?
18. When you are with a group, do you try to make your opinions the most intelligent or the funniest?
19. Whenever possible, do you avoid demonstrating your skills for fear of being embarrassed?
20. Do you often take the opportunity to pick up people you find attractive?
21. When you are with a group, do you have difficulties se‎lecting a good topic to talk about?
22. As a child, did you do a lot of things to get people’s approval?
23. Is it often difficult for you to fall asleep when you think about things you have done or must do?
24. Does the possibility of social advancement, move you to action, even if this involves not playing fair?
25. Do you think a lot before complaining in a restaurant if your meal is not well prepared?
26. Do you generally give preference to those activities that imply an immediate gain?
27. Would you be bothered if you had to return to a store when you noticed you were given the wrong change?
28. Do you often have trouble resisting the temptation of doing forbidden things?
29. Whenever you can, do you avoid going to unknown places?
30. Do you like to compete and do everything you can do to win?
31. Are you often worried by things you said or did?
32. Is it easy for you to associate tastes and smells to very pleasant events?
33. Would it be difficult for you to ask your boss for a raise (salary increase)?
34. Are there a large number of objects or sensations that remind you of pleasant events?
35. Do you generally avoid speaking in public?
36. When you start to play with a slot machine, is it often difficult for you to stop?
37. Do you, on a regular basis, think that you could do more things if it was not for your insecurity or fear?
38. Do you sometimes do things for quick gains?
39. Comparing yourself to people you know, are you afraid of many things?
40. Does your attention easily stray from your work in the presence of an attractive stranger?
41. Do you often find yourself worrying about things to the extent that performance in intellectual abilities is impaired?
42. Are you interested in money to the point of being able to do risky jobs?
43. Do you often refrain from doing something you like in order not to be rejected or disapproved by others?
44. Do you like to put competitive ingredients in all of your activities?
45. Generally, do you pay more attention to threats than to pleasant events?
46. Would you like to be a socially powerful person?
47. Do you often refrain from doing something because of your fear of being embarrassed?
48. Do you like displaying your physical abilities even though this may involve danger?