Impulsivity Scale (IS)

Abstract

The Impulsivity Scale (IS) is a psychological instrument designed to quantify impulsivity, a core personality trait defined by the tendency to act without adequate forethought or planning. Individuals scoring highly on the IS often exhibit rash decision-making, risk-taking behaviors, and difficulties in emotional and behavioral regulation. This trait is clinically relevant, frequently observed as a symptom in various mental health conditions, including Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), Bipolar Disorder, and Borderline Personality Disorder, as well as being associated with substance abuse.

The scale, specifically the 30-item D-Version adopted by Denson (1977), utilizes a self-report questionnaire format and provides a multi-dimensional assessment of impulsivity across three distinct domains: attentional, motor, and non-planning impulsivity.

Keywords

Impulsivity Scale, IS, Impulsivity, Attentional Impulsivity, Motor Impulsivity, Non-Planning Impulsivity, Personality Assessment, Psychological Testing, Sutton-Smith, Rosenberg, Hirschfield.

Authors

B. Sutton-Smith, B. G. Rosenberg, P. P. Hirschfield (Original Scale, 1965); T. A. Denson (D-Version Adoption, 1977).

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Impulsivity Scale (IS) is to provide a standardized, quantitative measure of impulsive behavior and tendencies. It serves as a valuable diagnostic and research tool across clinical, educational, and research contexts.

The scale facilitates the diagnosis of impulsivity disorders, allows for the assessment of the severity of impulsive traits, and enables researchers and clinicians to track changes in impulsivity over time, particularly in response to therapeutic interventions. The results derived from the IS are instrumental in developing tailored treatment plans for individuals struggling with self-regulation and impulse control.

Construct

The IS is designed to measure the multifaceted construct of impulsivity, which is conceptualized as encompassing three distinct, yet related, dimensions of behavioral and cognitive disinhibition. The 30-item self-report questionnaire specifically measures these three domains:

• Attentional Impulsivity: This domain reflects the cognitive component of impulsivity, characterized by a marked tendency toward distractibility and difficulty maintaining focus on required tasks. Individuals high in attentional impulsivity often struggle with following instructions, staying on task, completing work, and may exhibit restlessness or boredom easily.

• Motor Impulsivity: This domain captures the behavioral tendency to act prematurely or without adequate reflection. High motor impulsivity is associated with rash actions, hasty decision-making, risk-taking behaviors, and challenges in controlling emotional and physical responses.

• Non-planning Impulsivity: This dimension relates to a general lack of foresight and organizational skills. Individuals demonstrating high non-planning impulsivity typically experience difficulty planning ahead, organizing thoughts, managing time effectively, and are often forgetful or disorganized.

Validity

The Impulsivity Scale (IS) has been demonstrated to be a valid measure of the impulsivity construct. Evidence for its validity is primarily established through correlational studies comparing the IS scores with established measures of related psychological traits.

Specifically, the IS has been shown to correlate positively with other widely used measures of impulsivity and related constructs, such as the Eysenck Impulsivity Questionnaire (EPQ) and the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale (TMAS), confirming that it assesses the intended psychological attributes.

Reliability

The psychometric properties of the IS indicate that it is a highly reliable measure of impulsivity. Studies have consistently shown high indices of reliability across several critical measures:

• Internal Consistency: The scale demonstrates high internal consistency, suggesting that the various items within the scale measure the same underlying construct effectively and consistently.

• Test-Retest Reliability: High test-retest reliability indicates that the IS provides stable scores over time, assuming the underlying trait has not changed significantly.

• Interrater Reliability: The scale also exhibits strong interrater reliability, confirming that scores are consistent regardless of the administrator or scorer, which is crucial for its utility in clinical and research environments.

Factor Analysis

While the original literature may be complex regarding the precise factor structure of the IS, the scale is generally understood to be multidimensional. The design of the instrument reflects a factor structure comprising three key components: Attentional Impulsivity, Motor Impulsivity, and Non-planning Impulsivity. This three-factor model allows for a nuanced assessment of impulsivity rather than treating it as a single, unitary trait. Early work on the scale, including the Denson (1977) adoption, specifically investigated the factor structure of the measure in relation to cognitive style.

Instrument

Test Type: Personality/Clinical Self-Report Scale

Format: 30-item Dichotomous Self-report questionnaire (True/False response format for the D-Version).

Language Available: English (Primary research language).

Population Group: Originally developed for children, but later versions (like the D-Version) have been applied in adolescent and general populations for assessing trait impulsivity.

Age Group: Varies; original research focused on children, later research utilized it across broader age ranges.

Population Details: Used in clinical, research, and educational settings to identify and assess impulsive behavior.

Test Methodology: Respondents indicate whether statements describing impulsive behaviors or tendencies are descriptive of themselves (True) or not (False).

Keywords

Psychometrics, Reliability, Validity, Behavioral Control, Personality Inventory, ADHD, Borderline Personality Disorder, Clinical Assessment.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source material.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The original Impulsivity Scale (IS) was published by Sutton-Smith & Rosenberg in 1959 and refined with Hirschfield in 1965. The 30-item D-Version was adopted by Denson in 1977. Information regarding current usage permissions or standardized administration fees is not provided in the source material. The instrument has been widely cited in academic literature, often appearing in sourcebooks for clinical practice and research.

The original PDF of the instrument, as referenced in the source content, can be downloaded here: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED465784.pdf

Reference’s

• Sutton-Smith, B. & Rosenberg, B. G. (1959). A Scale to Identify Impulsive Behavior in Children. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 85(2), 211-216.

• Hirschfield, Paul P. (1965). Response Set in Impulsive Children. The Journal of Genetic Psychology, 107(1), 117-126.

• Sutton-Smith, B., Rosenberg, B. G., Hirschfield, P.P. (1965). Impulsivity Scale (IS). In Fischer, Joel., Corcoran, Kevin J. (2007). Measures for Clinical Practice and research: A sourcebook. (4th ed.). NY. Oxford University Pr. Vol. 1, Page (s): 552-553.

• Denson, Teri A. (1977). Three Measures of Cognitive Style: characteristics, Factor Structure, and Implications for Researchers. Unpublished. The original PDF can be downloaded here: https://files.eric.ed.gov/fulltext/ED137344.pdf

Items of the Impulsivity Scale (IS)

Sutton-Smith, Rosenberg, Hirschfield, 1965 Version (Items provided with counter-statements):

1. I like to keep moving around. (I don’t like to keep moving around.)
2. I make friends quickly. (I don’t I make friends quickly.)
3. I like to wrestle and to horse around. (I don’t like to wrestle and to horse around.)
4. I like to shoot with bows and arrows. (I don’t like to shoot with bows and arrows.)
5. I must admit I am a pretty good talker. (I must admit that I’m not a pretty good talker.)
6. Whenever there’s a fire engine going someplace, I like to follow it. (If there’s a fire engine going someplace, I don’t like to follow it.)
7. My home life is not always happy. (My home life is always happy.)
8. When things get quiet, I like to stir up a little fuss. (I usually don’t like to stir up a little fuss when things get quiet.)
9. I am restless. (I am not restless.)
10. I don’t think I’m as happy as other people. (I think I’m as happy as other people.)
11. I get into tricks at Halloween. (I don’t get into tricks at Halloween.)
12. I like being “it” when we play games of that sort. (I don’t like being “it” when we play games of that sort.)
13. It’s fun to push people off the edge into the pool. (It’s not fun to push people off the edge into the pool.)
14. I play hooky sometimes. (I never play hooky.)
15. I like to go with lots of other kids, not just one. (I usually like to go with one kid, rather lots of them.)
16. I like throwing stones at targets. (I don’t like throwing stones at targets.)
17. It’s hard to stick to the rules if you’re losing the game. (It’s not hard to stick to the rules even if you’re losing the game.)
18. I like to dare kids to do things. (I don’t like to dare kids to do things.)
19. I’m not known as a hard and steady worker. (I’m known as a hard and steady worker.)

Sutton-Smith, Rosenberg Impulsivity Scale – D Version (Adopted by Denson, 1977):

1. I like to keep moving around.
2. I make friends quickly.
3. I must admit I am a pretty good talker.
4. Whenever there’s a fire engine going someplace, I like to follow it.
5. When things get quiet, I like to stir up a little.
6. I am restless.
7. I like being “it” when we play games of that sort.
8. It’s fun to push people off the edge into the pool.
9. It’s hard to stick to the rules if you’re losing the game.
10. I like to dare kids to do things.
11. I like to go around with lots of other people, not just one or two.
12. I’m not known as a hard and steady worker.
13. I like to just “blow off” steam.
14. I don’t think you should always have to do what you’re told.
15. I’ll try almost anything once.
16. I usually say the first thing that comes into my head.
17. I often act on the spur of the moment without stopping to think.
18. I can’t concentrate on my work when people are talking in the room.
19. It’s hard for me to save money even when I want to.
20. When people are playing an exciting game, I want to get in it rather than just watch.
21. I can’t sit still when I hear really good music.
22. It’s fun to take chances.
23. Sometimes I say or do thing just to see how people will react.
24. I buy things I don’t need because I like them.
25. I think museums are boring.
26. I like “hard rock” music better than “soft rock” music.
27. I seem to get into trouble a lot without even planning to.
28. My friends think I’m a “character’.
29. I don’t like to follow schedules or routines.
30. I like to “tinker” with things.