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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Three Laboratory Procedures for Assessing Different Manifestations of Impulsivity in Rats

Published on: March 17, 2019

The hierarchical structure of self-reported impulsivity.

Kris N Kirby¹, Julia C Finch

¹Williams College Department of Psychology.

Personality and Individual Differences

|March 13, 2010

Summary

This study explored the structure of self-reported impulsivity, identifying seven key components. Delay discounting, a measure of impulsivity, loaded onto the "Impatiently Pleasure Seeking" dimension, offering a framework for understanding impulsivity.

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Area of Science:

Psychology
Behavioral Science

Background:

Impulsivity is a complex trait with various proposed dimensions.
Previous research has not consistently organized these dimensions hierarchically.

Purpose of the Study:

To examine the hierarchical structure of self-reported impulsivity.
To investigate the relationship between delay discounting and self-reported impulsivity dimensions.

Main Methods:

Exploratory Principal Component Analysis (PCA) on 95 self-reported impulsivity items.
Analysis of delay-discount rates for money in a college student sample (N = 407).

Main Results:

Identified seven interpretable components of impulsivity: Prepared/Careful, Impetuous, Divertible, Thrill and Risk Seeking, Happy-Go-Lucky, Impatiently Pleasure Seeking, and Reserved.
Delay discount rates loaded significantly onto the Impatiently Pleasure Seeking dimension.
Correlations were found between impulsivity measures and the I(7) scales.

Conclusions:

The identified hierarchical structure helps organize previously conflicting dimensions of impulsivity.
The discounting model provides a valuable qualitative framework for understanding the multifaceted nature of impulsivity.