POWER BEHAVIORAL SYSTEM SCALE
In the following questionnaire, we are interested in
the way you usually feel, think, and act when you have
an argument, conflict, disagreement, or fight with other
people. Please read each statement and indicate the
extent to which you agree with it.
Deactivation items
I tend to relinquish important goals if their
attainment requires confronting other people.
It’s hard for me to react assertively when someone
hurts my feelings, even if the blow to my self-esteem
is severe and unjustified.
During an argument, I usually don’t try very hard to
defend my viewpoint.
I’d rather compromise than fight for my point of view,
even if it means sacrificing some of my own interests.
I tend to avoid attacking, even if it’s a matter of self-
defense.
I’d rather let others win an argument, even when I
know I’m right.
I’d rather bend my principles somewhat rather than
get into an argument or struggle with someone.
Even when someone takes something I value or need,
I don’t usually raise a fuss about it.
It’s hard for me to confront someone, even when I
know it’s justifiable.
I’d rather not show people I’m angry, even when my
anger is justified.
I’d rather avoid situations that require me to exert
authority over others.
I’d rather not confront other people, even when I’m
being harmed or my interests are being ignored.
When someone insults or ignores me, I can maintain
my balance and ‘cool.’
I find it difficult to debate with someone even when
the issue at hand is important to me.Hyperactivation items
It’s very hard for me to accept losing an argument or
conflict with someone else.
I feel anxious in situations where I have little control
over other people and their actions.
In an argument or disagreement, my strong desire to
fight back makes it difficult for me to consider other
possible responses.
Sometimes I get so engrossed in a battle or conflict
with someone, I forget what I was originally trying to
accomplish.
When someone attacks me and I have no opportunity
to fight back, I feel very frustrated.
When I feel I don’t have much control over others, I
feel anxious and frustrated.
It’s hard for me to stop arguing, even when the other
person has conceded.
When people undermine my authority, I feel very
upset about it.
When I’m unsuccessful at getting people to do what I
want, I feel inadequate and depressed.
When somebody hurts me, I’m flooded with thoughts
of revenge.
I am quick to confront people who threaten to hurt
me or my interests.
During a confrontation, when I’m not successful in
fighting back, I feel weak and helpless.
Sometimes, my strong impulse to fight back keeps
me from choosing the best way to get what I’m
entitled to.
I enjoy having complete authority over others.
Notes : Items are rated on a 7-point Likert-type scale
ranging from: 1 5Strongly disagree to 7 5Strongly
agree.
Reproduced with permission.
FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
Beginning with Bowlby’s creation of attachment theory, as an offshoot of psychoanalytic theory, and propelled
by Ainsworth’s invention of the Strange Situation assessment procedure for infants, and then extended into per-
sonality/social psychology by Hazan and Shaver (1987) , the study of adolescent and adult attachment has mush-
roomed over several decades to become one of the major topics in the social/personality field. As the topic area
has grown, new measures have been created and refined, and at present there is no sign of a slow-down in this
process. There is very strong evidence for the importance of attachment security in various kinds of relationships,
including ones with pets and religious personages. A great deal of research shows that the two main dimensions
of insecurity first identified by Ainsworth et al. (1978) , attachment anxiety and avoidance, can be distinguished
and have many distinct correlates with other variables and mental and relational processes.445 FUTURE RESEARCH DIRECTIONS
IV. INTERPERSONAL STYLES