BIS and BAS Sensitivities at Different Levels of Personality Description: A Latent-Variable Approach with Self- and Informant-Ratings. Issue 2 (4th March 2021)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Vecchione, Michele; Ghezzi, Valerio; Alessandri, Guido; Dentale, Francesco; Corr, Philip J.
• Is Part Of: Journal of personality assessment. Volume 103:Issue 2(2021)
• Page Start: 246
• Page End: 257
• Publication Date: 2021-03-04
• Subjects: Personality assessment -- Periodicals; Psychology; Periodicals; 155.28
• DOI: 10.1080/00223891.2020.1743709
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0022-3891

Abstract

Abstract: We examine the structural overlap of the Behavioral Inhibition System (BIS) and the Behavioral Approach System (BAS) with Stability and Plasticity, the two higher-order factors encompassing the Big Five. Carver and White's BIS/BAS and the Big Five Inventory were administered to a sample of 330 adults, serving both as targets and informants. Self- and other-ratings were modeled by using the Correlated Trait-Correlated Method model. BIS and BAS correlated highly with metatraits, after method variance and measurement error were partialled out: BIS was positively related to Stability, while BAS was positively related to Plasticity and negatively related to Stability. After the higher-order factors were controlled, the BIS was highly and positively related to Emotional stability, whereas the BAS had a small but significant relationship with Extraversion. Findings are discussed with regard to the most appropriate level of generality/specificity at which the personality correlates of BIS and BAS can be investigated.