What do self-report measures of Dis-inhibition really measure?

We compare and contrast the use of various self-report instruments to measure Disinhibition. Disinhibition, as conceptualised by Patterson and Newman's (1993) response modulation model, characterises disinhibited individuals as having a tendency towards rapidly approaching situations of conflict and also as being prone to having deficits in passive avoidance learning. According to this model, Disinhibition occurs only in situations of competing approach/avoidance goals and is also thought to be driven by Neuroticism. Different subjective measures such as Zuckerman's Sensation Seeking Scale, Dickman's Impulsivity Inventory and the Barrett Impulsivity Scale have been used interchangeably to measure Disinhibition. However, little consideration has been directed towards understanding how these scales map on to definitions of Disinhibition. Based on a comprehensive literature review, the current research will highlight the tendency of many popular self-report measures to be heavily focused on reporting the resultant disinhibited behaviour, rather an interest in understanding its underlying mechanisms. The current research will also demonstrate how this bias can influence the reporting and meaning of this construct. This 'construct confusion' has important implications for Disinhibition research.