The Development of a Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory State Scale

This thesis outlines the development and preliminary validation of a suite of self-report measures that assess state activation of the (revised) Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory motivational systems and related anger/aggression. Scale content was informed by the Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory of Personality Questionnaire (RST-PQ; Corr & Cooper, 2016) as well as an extensive literature review. EFAs and CFAs indicated a robust one-factor structure for the fight-flight-freeze system (FFFS); a higher-order structure for the Behavioural Activation System (BAS; comprised of a higher order BAS factor; and lower order Reward Interest, Goal-Drive Persistence, Reward Reactivity and Impulsivity factors); a two-factor structure for the revised Behavioural Inhibition System (rBIS; Anxious Uncertainty and Behavioural Disengagement); and a three factor structure for the anger and aggression scales (Predatory Aggression, Anger/Frustration and Defensive Aggression). Convergent validity was demonstrated for the rBIS, BAS and FFFS scales by establishing the expected pattern of inter-correlations and relations with a trait-level measure of rRST. The rRST state scales are the first psychometrically validated measures of state rRST system activation and are also efficient to use and theoretically coherent.