Toward a Conceptualization of Impulsivity: Components across the Behavioral and Self-Report Domains

Abstract

The components underlying items from a comprehensive but diverse domain of impulsivity measures were investigated. The disparity of items within this domain attests to the lack of a coherent framework from which to conceptualize impulsivity. The self-report measures included in this study were the 16PF Impulsivity scale, the GZTS Restraint, Thoughtfulness and General Activity scales, the PRF Impulsivity scale, the EASI-III Impulsivity scale, the BIS-8 and BIS-10, the I-5 and I-7, the SSS, and selected MMPI items. Behavioral measures included in this study were the MFFT, Simple Reaction Time, Time Estimation, and Time Production. From a restricted factor analysis (without correlated measurement errors) of the responses of 379 subjects to the 373 self-report items and of 228 subjects (or more) to each of the behavioral measures, 15 distinct impulsivity components were identified, with moderate to low and some negative correlations. From the analysis of the corresponding scales, a second-order model revealed three broad impulsivity factors: Spontaneous, Not Persistent, and Carefree. Implications of these results were discussed for establishing a coherent conceptualization and measurement strategy of impulsivity based, for example, on this derived second-order structure.