Recent research has revealed the existence of individual differences in how preexisting schemata (versus cues from the outside world) affect
encoding processes, which can be reliably assessed with the internal and external encoding style questionnaire (ESQ) [Lewicki, P. Internal and
External Encoding Style and Social Motivation. In: J. P. Forgas, K. D.Williams, S. M. Laham, (Eds.), Social Motivation: Conscious and Unconscious
Processes. Psychology Press, New York (2005). pp. 194–209]. The present study was designed to (1) test the psychometric properties of a French
version of the ESQ and (2) explore in-depth its relationship with impulsivity – a trait of central importance in the understanding of emotional
psychopathology, and which has been previously related to the internal encoding style. Sixty-three participants were tested using the French
versions of the ESQ and the UPPS impulsive behavior scale. The UPPS identifies four distinct facets of impulsivity: urgency, lack of premeditation,
lack of perseverance, and sensation seeking. The results showed (1) that the French version of the ESQ has good psychometric properties and (2)
that consistent with theoretical considerations, internal encoding style is related to two specific out of the four components of impulsivity: high
urgency and low perseverance.