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Appendix D The Negativism Dominance Scale (NDS)
373
APPEUDIX D
THE NEGATIVISM WWINANCE SCALE (NDS) McDermott, M.R.
and A p t e r , M.J.
The Negativism Daminance Scale (NDS), also known as the R e b e l liousness Dominance Scale, is an 18-item personality scale designed for
use with adolescent and adult subjects. (On the form which is given to subjects, it is labelled the "Social Reactivity Scale" in order to make the objectives of the test less obvious). It consists of two 7-item subscales which relate to different types of negativism dominance, and four "filler" items. The two subscales are defined as follows: 1. Reactive negativism. This measures the frequency with which a subject reacts to disappointments and frustrations with feelings of resentment, and/or with vindictive or vengeful behaviour. It is labelled "reactive" since it is about the way in which the subject reacts to certain kinds of situations. 2. Proactive negativism. This measures the frequency with which a subject indulges in negativistic or rebellious behaviour in order to provoke situations which are exciting and fun. It is labelled "proactive" since it is about how frequently the subject sets out to cause gratuitous trouble.
The scale is scored in a negativistic direction, a negativistic choice on each item counting 2, and a "not sure" response counting 1. For scoring purposes, the filler items (included in order to reduce the chance of response sets occurring) are disregarded. The scale therefore yields two separate subscale scores (the maximum score on each being 14) and an overall negativism dominance score (the maximum score being 28). Here is the complete scale, including instructions to subjects: Instructions:
This is a measure of the way in which you react in certain social situations. For each of the following eighteen items three responses are given. For each item choose the response which is most true of you. These responses do not represent all possible ones but please accept this and make your choice from those which happen to be given. Try to use the 'not sure' response as little as possible. Do not think too long about your answer. It is your first reaction that is important. Put a 'X' in the circle next to the response which is most true of you. This is not a test of right or wrong answers. Thank you for your help.
intelligence or ability and
there are no
314
M.R. McDermott and M.J. Apter
1.
When you are told that you are breaking a rule (for example, 'No Smoking'), is your first reaction to (a) or, (b) (c)
stop breaking the rule any further go ahead and still break the rule? not sure
You have been treated badly by someone. Do you (a) try to get back at the person or, (b) hope that things will improve? (c) not sure In trying to complete an exercise routine, you go through some pain. Do you (a) or, (b) (c)
continue give up? not sure
4.
"I enjoy the thrill I get YOU (a) agree o r , (b) disagree? (c) not sure
5.
If people are unkind to you, do you feel you should be or,
6.
(a) (b) (c)
yes, often no, hardly ever not sure
If you are asked particularly NOT to do something, do you feel an urge to do it? (a) or, (b) (c)
8
unkind back understanding? not sure
Do you find it exciting to do something "shocking"? or,
I .
(a) (b) (c)
from being difficult and awkward." Do
no, hardly ever yes, often not sure
You are in a group of people who are drinking, but you do not like alcohol and are offered a drink. Would you or,
(a) (b) (c)
refuse the drink accept the drink? not sure
The Negativism Dominance Scale 9.
Do you tease people unnecessarily just so as to have their expense? or,
10.
(a) (b) (c)
yes, often no, hardly ever not sure
apologise and move it argue with the attendant? not sure
11. How often do you do excitement?
or,
(a) (b) (c)
not often at all often not sure in an activity which secretly you
say you have something else planned try hard to avoid an argument? not sure
If you get yelled at by someone in authority, would you (a) or, (b) (c)
14.
something you shouldn't just to get some
You are asked to take part dislike. Would you (a) or, (b) (c)
13.
some fun at
A parking attendant tells you that you cannot park where you have just put the car. Would you (a) or, (b) (c)
12.
375
get angry and argue back try hard to avoid an argument not sure
If a person your age was mean to you, would you or,
(a) (b) (c)
try to forget it try to get revenge? not sure
15. Can you think of anything you oppose strongly? or,
(a) (b) (c)
no yes not sure
16. A charity will not accept you as a volunteer. Is your first reac-
tion to
(a) or, (b) (c)
thank them for considering you tell them to "go to hell"? not sure
M.R. McDermott and M.J. Apter
316
17. How often do others say that you are a difficult person? (a)
or, (b)
(c)
rarely often not sure
18. If you ask a person at a party to dance with you who says ‘no’ without offering any explanation, would you (a) or, (b) (c)
get annoyed accept it? not sure
The items in each subscale and the negativistic option for each item are as follows: Proactive negativism: 1 7 17
-
(b) (b) (b)
4 9
-
5
-
(a) (a)
6 11
-
(a) (b)
(a) (b)
10 16
-
(b) (b)
Reactive negativism: 2 13
-
18 -
(a) (a) (a)
14
-
APPEUDIX D
THE NEGATIVISM WWINANCE SCALE (NDS) McDermott, M.R.
and A p t e r , M.J.
The Negativism Daminance Scale (NDS), also known as the R e b e l liousness Dominance Scale, is an 18-item personality scale designed for
use with adolescent and adult subjects. (On the form which is given to subjects, it is labelled the "Social Reactivity Scale" in order to make the objectives of the test less obvious). It consists of two 7-item subscales which relate to different types of negativism dominance, and four "filler" items. The two subscales are defined as follows: 1. Reactive negativism. This measures the frequency with which a subject reacts to disappointments and frustrations with feelings of resentment, and/or with vindictive or vengeful behaviour. It is labelled "reactive" since it is about the way in which the subject reacts to certain kinds of situations. 2. Proactive negativism. This measures the frequency with which a subject indulges in negativistic or rebellious behaviour in order to provoke situations which are exciting and fun. It is labelled "proactive" since it is about how frequently the subject sets out to cause gratuitous trouble.
The scale is scored in a negativistic direction, a negativistic choice on each item counting 2, and a "not sure" response counting 1. For scoring purposes, the filler items (included in order to reduce the chance of response sets occurring) are disregarded. The scale therefore yields two separate subscale scores (the maximum score on each being 14) and an overall negativism dominance score (the maximum score being 28). Here is the complete scale, including instructions to subjects: Instructions:
This is a measure of the way in which you react in certain social situations. For each of the following eighteen items three responses are given. For each item choose the response which is most true of you. These responses do not represent all possible ones but please accept this and make your choice from those which happen to be given. Try to use the 'not sure' response as little as possible. Do not think too long about your answer. It is your first reaction that is important. Put a 'X' in the circle next to the response which is most true of you. This is not a test of right or wrong answers. Thank you for your help.
intelligence or ability and
there are no
314
M.R. McDermott and M.J. Apter
1.
When you are told that you are breaking a rule (for example, 'No Smoking'), is your first reaction to (a) or, (b) (c)
stop breaking the rule any further go ahead and still break the rule? not sure
You have been treated badly by someone. Do you (a) try to get back at the person or, (b) hope that things will improve? (c) not sure In trying to complete an exercise routine, you go through some pain. Do you (a) or, (b) (c)
continue give up? not sure
4.
"I enjoy the thrill I get YOU (a) agree o r , (b) disagree? (c) not sure
5.
If people are unkind to you, do you feel you should be or,
6.
(a) (b) (c)
yes, often no, hardly ever not sure
If you are asked particularly NOT to do something, do you feel an urge to do it? (a) or, (b) (c)
8
unkind back understanding? not sure
Do you find it exciting to do something "shocking"? or,
I .
(a) (b) (c)
from being difficult and awkward." Do
no, hardly ever yes, often not sure
You are in a group of people who are drinking, but you do not like alcohol and are offered a drink. Would you or,
(a) (b) (c)
refuse the drink accept the drink? not sure
The Negativism Dominance Scale 9.
Do you tease people unnecessarily just so as to have their expense? or,
10.
(a) (b) (c)
yes, often no, hardly ever not sure
apologise and move it argue with the attendant? not sure
11. How often do you do excitement?
or,
(a) (b) (c)
not often at all often not sure in an activity which secretly you
say you have something else planned try hard to avoid an argument? not sure
If you get yelled at by someone in authority, would you (a) or, (b) (c)
14.
something you shouldn't just to get some
You are asked to take part dislike. Would you (a) or, (b) (c)
13.
some fun at
A parking attendant tells you that you cannot park where you have just put the car. Would you (a) or, (b) (c)
12.
375
get angry and argue back try hard to avoid an argument not sure
If a person your age was mean to you, would you or,
(a) (b) (c)
try to forget it try to get revenge? not sure
15. Can you think of anything you oppose strongly? or,
(a) (b) (c)
no yes not sure
16. A charity will not accept you as a volunteer. Is your first reac-
tion to
(a) or, (b) (c)
thank them for considering you tell them to "go to hell"? not sure
M.R. McDermott and M.J. Apter
316
17. How often do others say that you are a difficult person? (a)
or, (b)
(c)
rarely often not sure
18. If you ask a person at a party to dance with you who says ‘no’ without offering any explanation, would you (a) or, (b) (c)
get annoyed accept it? not sure
The items in each subscale and the negativistic option for each item are as follows: Proactive negativism: 1 7 17
-
(b) (b) (b)
4 9
-
5
-
(a) (a)
6 11
-
(a) (b)
(a) (b)
10 16
-
(b) (b)
Reactive negativism: 2 13
-
18 -
(a) (a) (a)
14
-