The Jackson-5 scales measure how people react to reward and threat, as described by revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST). Gray and McNaughton revised the theory in 2000, and questionnaires written for the original version no longer matched it. I developed the Jackson-5 to fill that gap.
The measure has 30 items in five scales of six items each. r-BAS measures approach to reward. r-BIS measures the detection of goal conflict, which is felt as anxiety. r-Fight, r-Flight and r-Freezing measure the three defensive responses to threat that make up the Fight-Flight-Freeze System.
In the development study the scales were internally reliable and related to each other as the theory predicts. In a second study with students, the revised theory explained delinquency and psychopathy differently from the original theory. Ben Walker and I later examined the validity of the scales (2017). Independent comparisons with other RST questionnaires have reported mixed results on fit and convergent validity, so researchers should read those before choosing a measure.
Scales
- r-BAS
- Approach to reward (Behavioural Approach System)
- r-BIS
- Goal conflict and anxiety (Behavioural Inhibition System)
- r-Fight
- Defensive attack (Fight-Flight-Freeze System)
- r-Flight
- Escape from threat (Fight-Flight-Freeze System)
- r-Freezing
- Immobility under threat (Fight-Flight-Freeze System)
Key references
- Jackson, C. J. (2009). Jackson-5 scales of revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory (r-RST) and their application to dysfunctional real world outcomes. Journal of Research in Personality, 43(4), 556–569. doi:10.1016/j.jrp.2009.02.007
- Walker, B. R., & Jackson, C. J. (2017). Examining the validity of the revised Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory scales. Personality and Individual Differences, 106, 90–94. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.10.035
- Walker, B. R., Jackson, C. J., & Frost, R. (2017). A comparison of revised reinforcement sensitivity theory with other contemporary personality models. Personality and Individual Differences, 109, 232–236. doi:10.1016/j.paid.2016.12.053
- Smillie, L. D., Pickering, A. D., & Jackson, C. J. (2006). The new RST: Recent revisions to Reinforcement Sensitivity Theory, and implications for psychometric measurement. Personality and Social Psychology Review, 10, 320–335. doi:10.1207/s15327957pspr1004_3