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The Importance Of Self Report Measures And Behavioral Tasks Essay

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Abstract (164 words) Impulsivity is a multi-dimensional construct that comprises attention, poor evaluation of consequences and suppressing responses (Crews & Boettinger, 2009) and plays an important role in ´normal´ life as well as in pathologies such as substance abuse disorders. In this essay two main approaches of assessing impulsivity, i.e. self-report measures and behavioral tasks, are shortly presented and critically discussed. As self-report measures the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale and the Behavioural Inhibition/Activation System Scale are presented. As behavioral measures I introduce the Stop-Signal Test and the Matching Familiar Figures Test. Generally it can be said that self-report measures assess impulsivity in terms of traits and behavioural measures in terms of states. Former measures can be applied in participants that have insight in their emotions and behaviour, while latter ones are suitable if that is not the case. Due to a lack of overlap in results of these two types of measurements (Cyders & Coskunpinar, 2011), a validated definition of impulsiviness that captures its multidimensional nature is desirable. Introduction (280 words) Impulsivity is understood as several "actions that appear poorly conceived, prematurely expressed, induly risky, or inappropriate to the situation and that often result in indesirbale consequences" (Daruna and Barnes, 1993, p.23)." In other words, impulsivity can be seen as a tendency to act on a whim, displaying

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