Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory

From Psy3241


The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was developed in the 1930's by Starke R. Hathaway, PhD, and J.C. Mckinley, MD at Minnesota University and is the most used clinical assessment test. It is used to identify personality and psychopathology. This questionnaire contains 567 true-false statements measuring 14 personality scales. The test is evaluated and analyzed by a trained psychologists who then assess the individuals personality function and determine psychopathologic status. Though this test is not perfect, it is a valuable tool helpful with diagnosis and the treatment of mental illness. It's several uses include, legal cases, criminal defense, custody disputes, screening instrument for high risk jobs and treatment programs.


Contents

Revisions to the MMPI

Accuracy of the MMPI have been questioned since the published date of 1930 regarding the sample group first used. Critics questioned the adequacy possible test biases such as sexist and racist questions. In the late 1980's the MMPI was revised by omitting/changing/adding questions as well as adding new validity scales. In 1989 the revised edition was released as the MMPI-2. In 2001 the test was revised for a third time but maintains the MMPI-2 identification.

Scoring

The test is designed for ages 18+ and the 567 questions take 60-90 minutes to complete. A trained psychologist or psychiatrist gives, scores and interprets results which always should be used in collaboration with other clinical assessment tools. It can be scored by hand or computer.

Scales of the MMPI

Hypochodriasis

Depression

Hysteria

Psychopathic Deviate

Masculinity/Feminitiy

Paranoia

Psychasthenia

Schizophrenia

Hypomania

Social Introversion

Validity Scales

The L Scale Referred to as the "lie scale" this was developed to detect the patients attempts to present themselves favorably. Scoring high on this scale means the person has deliberately tried to present themselves in the most positive way while rejecting characteristics of themselves that might be unfavorable. Scoring low tends to be well-educated people from high social classes.

The F Scale Used to detect "faking good" or "faking bad". People scoring high are usually trying to appear better or worse than they really are.

The K Scale Often reffered to as "defensiveness scale" is another scale used to detect attempts to present oneself in the best possible way.

The ? Scale This is the number of items left unanswered. There must be less than 30 for the test to be considered valid.

TRIN Scale and the VRIN Scale True Response Inconsistency Scale and the Variable Response Inconsistency Scale were developed to detect inconsistent responses.

Fb Scale Composed of 40 items that less than 10% of normal people support. High scores can indicate the person started answering randomly without concern to the actual question.

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