MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC PERSONALITY INVENTORY
AN OVERVIEW
MMPI
• ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT DEVELOPED IN LATE 1930’S
• MOST WIDELY USED AND EXTENSIVELY RESEARCHED OF ALL PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
• REVISED IN 1989--MMPI-2
MMPI
• POPULARITY OF THE INSTRUMENT DUE TO 3 ASPECTS OF ITS DEVELOPMENT– MULTIPHASIC NATURE OF THE TEST– FORMAL ASSESSMENT OF TEST TAKING
ATTITUDE– EMPIRICAL BASIS FOR ITEM SELECTION
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• AUTHORED BY HATHAWAY AND S McKINLEY AT THE UNIVERSITY OF MINNESOTA HOSPITALS
• SELECTED A POOL OF OVER 1000 ITEMS FROM A VARIETY OF SOURCES, PSYCH TEXTS, INTERVIEWS, AND THEIR OWN CLINICAL EXPERIENCE
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• DELETED DUPLICATE ITEMS AND ELIMINATED THOSE NOT USEFUL FOR THEIR PURPOSES LEAVING A POOL OF 504 ITEMS
• THESE ITEMS PRESENTED AS FIRST PERSON DECLARATIVE STATEMENTS TO WHICH SUBJECT RESPONDED EITHER TRUE OR FALSE
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• TESTED A GROUP OF “NORMALS” AND COMPARED THEIR RESPONSES WITH THOSE OF CAREFULLY IDENTIFIED GROUPS OF PATIENTS FROM SPECIFIC DIAGNOSTIC CATEGORIES
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• ORIGINAL 8 DIAGNOSTIC COMPARISON CATEGORIES WERE
HYPOCHONDRIASIS, DEPRESSION, HYSTERIA, PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE, PARANOIA, PSYCHASTHENIA, SCHIZOPHRENIA, AND HYPOMANIA
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• THE PROPORTION OF TRUE VS. FALSE RESPONSES GIVEN BY THE PATIENT GROUP WAS COMPARED TO THE PROPORTION OF TRUE VS. FALSE GIVEN BY THE “NORMAL” GROUP
• TESTED FOR SIGNIFICANT DIFFERENCES AT .05 LEVEL
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• RETAINED ITEMS THAT WERE SIGNIFICANT AND CROSS-VALIDATED THEM AGAINST 4 ADDITIONAL REFERENCE GROUPS
• TO BE RETAINED AN ITEM HAD TO DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN THE PATIENT GROUP AND PRIMARY NORMAL GROUP & CROSS VALIDATE
MMPI CLINICAL SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• EACH SCALE WAS THEN NORMED BY CALCULATING THE MEAN AND SD IN THE PRIMARY NORM GROUP
• MASCULINITY-FEMININITY SCALE AND SOCIAL INTROVERSION SCALES WERE DEVELOPED LATER AND DIFFERENTLY THAN THE ORIGINAL 8 SCALES
MMPI Mf SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• 55 ITEMS RELATING TO SEXUAL ORIENTATION OR GENDER INTEREST PATTERNS WERE ADDED TO THE POOL
• TEST WAS ADMINISTERED TO AN IDENTIFIED GROUP OF MALE HOMOSEXUALS AND A GROUP OF MALE SOLDIERS
MMPI Mf SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• FEW ITEMS ACTUALLY DISCRIMINATED BETWEEN THE TWO GROUPS SO ITEMS THAT DISCRIMINATED BETWEEN MEN AND WOMEN WERE USED FOR THE Mf SCALE
MMPI SI SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• MMPI ITEMS THAT DISCRIMINATED BETWEEN STUDENTS SCORING ABOVE THE 65TH PERCENTILE FROM THOSE SCORING BELOW THE 65TH PERCENTILE ON THE MINNESOTA T-S-E, A TEST OF SOCIAL INTROVERSION-EXTRAVERSION WERE INCLUDED ON SI SCALE
MMPI VALIDITY SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• ? CANNOT SAY SCALE IS NOT ACTUALLY A SCALE BUT SIMPLY THE NUMBER OF TEST ITEMS EITHER OMITTED OR DOUBLE MARKED
• L (LIE) SCALE CONSIST OF 15 ITEMS ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED TO DETECT DELIBERATE LYING, USING A RATIONAL SELECTION PROCESS
MMPI VALIDITY SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• F SCALE CONSISTS OF 60 ITEMS ENDORSED ONLY RARELY BY NORMALS
• SCALE DERIVED BY INCLUDING THOSE QUESTIONS FROM THE NORMING SAMPLE THAT WERE RESPONDED TO IN THE SCORED DIRECTION BY < 10% OF NORMALS
MMPI VALIDITY SCALE DEVELOPMENT
• K (CORRECTION SCALE) CONSISTS OF 30 ITEMS TO DETECT MORE SUBTLE ATTEMPTS TO DENY FAULTS OR PRESENT ONESELF FAVORABLY
• DERIVED FROM THOSE QUESTIONS THAT COULD DISCRIMINATE BETWEEN “NORMALS” AND PATIENTS WITH KNOWN PATHOLOGY WHO PRODUCED NORMAL PROFILES
MMPI
• FINAL VERSION OF MMPI CONSISTED OF 566 ITEMS ON 10 CLINICAL SCALES AND FOUR VALIDITY SCALES
MMPI
• VALIDITY SCALES– CANNOT SAY ?– LIE L– FREQUENCY F– CORRECTION K
MMPI
• CLINICAL SCALES– HYPOCHONDRIASIS Hs 1– DEPRESSION D 2– HYSTERIA Hy 3– PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE Pd 4– MASCULINITY-FEMININITY Mf 5
MMPI
– PARANOIA Pa 6– PSYCHASTHENIA Pt 7– SCHIZOPHRENIA Sc 8– HYPOMANIA Ma 9– SOCIAL INTROVERSION Si 0
MMPI-2
AN OVERVIEW
MMPI-2
• NORMING SAMPLE PROBLEMATIC
• MINNESOTA “NORMALS”– WHITE– RURAL BACKGROUND– FARMERS/BLUE COLLAR WORKERS– PROTESTANT– SCANDANAVIAN BACKGROUND– 35 YEARS OLD W/ 8TH GRADE EDUC
MMPI-2
• ORIGINAL ITEMS OBSOLETE, POLITICALLY INCORRECT, OR OFFENSIVE
• ELIMINATED AND/OR REWORDED ITEMS; ADDED ITEMS TO INCLUDE AREAS SUCH AS SUBSTANCE ABUSE AND MARITAL RELATIONSHIPS TO GET POOL OF 704 ITEMS
MMPI-2
• EXPERIMENTAL FORM WAS ADMINISTERED TO NEW STANDARDIZATION SAMPLE
• NEW SAMPLE– AGE 18-90– WIDE GEOGRAPHIC AREA– GENERALLY COMPARES WELL WITH US
CENSUS DATA
MMPI-2
• FINAL VERSION CONSISTS OF 567 ITEMS
• ORIGINAL 4 VALIDITY SCALES AND 10 CLINICAL SCALES (ALL IN FIRST 370 ITEMS) IN ADDITION TO NEW VALIDITY SCALES
• RESULTS ARE EXPRESSED AS UNIFORM T SCORES
MMPI-2
• ADMINISTRATION– RECOMMENDED FOR USE WITH
PERSONS 18 YEARS OLD OR OLDER– NEED AT LEAST 8 YEARS OF
EDUCATION– MOST ITEMS WRITTEN 6TH-8TH GRADE
READING LEVEL– NORMAL TESTING TIME 60-90 MINUTES
MMPI-2
• SUBECTS SHOULD BE INFORMED WHY THE TEST IS BEING ADMINISTERED
• SHOULD BE GIVEN FEEDBACK RE/ RESULTS
• AVOID PROVIDING DIRECT HELP• EMPHASIZE THAT THEY SHOULD
RESPOND IN WAY THAT REFLECTS THEIR CURRENT THOUGHTS, FEELINGS, BEHAVIORS, AND EXPERIENCES
MMPI-2
• SCORING– HAND SCORING INVOLVES USE OF
SEMI-TRANSPARENT TEMPLATES PLACED OVER THE ANSWER SHEET
– EXAMINE ANSWER SHEET FOR DOUBLE MARKED OR OMITTED ITEMS & CIRCLE
– SEPARATE ANSWER SHEETS BY SEX– COUNT # OF RESPONSES IN BOXES
MMPI-2
– THIS BECOMES THE RAW SCORE FOR THAT SCALE WHICH IS ENTERED IN APPROPRIATE SPACE ON PROFILE SHEET
– PROFILE SHEETS ARE TWO SIDED-M/F– PLOT VALIDITY SCALE SCORES BY
MARKING AT THE ELEVATION THAT REFLECTS THE RAW SCORE. CONNECT VALIDITY SCALES WITH A LINE
MMPI-2
– BEFORE PLOTTING CLINICAL SCALES ADD APPROPRIATE “K CORRECTION” TO SCALES 1,4,7,8, AND 9.
– MARK THE ELEVATION OF THE 10 CLINICAL SCALES ON PROFILE SHEET.
– CONNECT WITH A LINE– RECORD THE UNIFORM T SCORE FOR
EACH SCALE (ON FAR LEFT AND RIGHT COLUMN OF PROFILE SHEET)
MMPI-2 INTERPRETATION
• FIRST, DETERMINE THE VALIDITY OF THE PROFILE ( TEST TAKING ATTITUDE OF THE SUBJECT)
• EXAMINE BASIC SCALES FOR CLINICAL MEANING
• T>65 IS ELEVATED
• T<40 LOW
MMPI-2-CANNOT SAY SCALE
• NOT A SCALE BUT THE # OF ITEMS DOUBLE MARKED OR OMITTED
• > 30 ITEMS INVALIDATES PROFILE
• HIGH SCORE– READING PROBLEM
– CARELESSNESS
– OCD/INDECISIVENESS
– QUESTIONS DO NOT APPLY/LACK INFO
MMPI-2 LIE (L) SCALE
• ORIGINALLY CONSTRUCTED TO DETECT A DELIBERATE AND UNSOPHISTICATED ATTEMPT TO PRESENT ONESELF IN A POSITIVE LIGHT
• 15 ITEMS
• HIGH SCORE INDICATES DENIAL AS A PROMINENT DEFENSE MECHANISM
MMPI-2 LIE (L) SCALE
• HIGH SCORES– CLERGY– LIMITED SOCIAL AWARENESS– SOCIOPATHS– LIMITED INSIGHT, DENIAL, POOR
TOLERANCE FOR STRESS– PRESENTING SELF IN
UNREALISTICALLY POSITIVE LIGHT
MMPI-2 LIE (L) SCALE
• LOW SCORES– BETTER EDUCATED, BRIGHTER, MORE
SOPHISTICATED PERSONS TEND TO SCORE LOWER
– SCORES <45 SUGGEST THAT SUBJECT RESPONDED FRANKLY TO ITEMS AND WAS COMFORTABLE ENOUGH TO ADMIT TO MINOR FAULTS AND SHORTCOMINGS
MMPI-2 INFREQUENCY (F) SCALE
• ELEVATIONS ON F > 65– SCORING ERRORS– POOR READING ABILITY– FAKING BAD (T>95)– EXAGGERATING SYMPTOMS– EXPRESSION OF DEFIANCE, HOSTILITY,
NEGATIVITY– T 70-95 MOST SIGNIFICANT PATHOLOGY
MMPI-2 INFREQUENCY (F) SCALE
• LOW SCORES– ABSENCE OF BIZARRE OR UNUSUAL
THINKING– MAY BE ATTEMPT TO FAKE GOOD
MMPI-2 CORRECTION (K) SCALE
• ITEMS DETECT MORE SUBTLE OR SOPHISTICATED ATTEMPTS TO DENY FAULTS AND PRESENT ONESELF FAVORABLY
• HIGH SCORES NOT CORRELATED WITH SPECIFIC BEHAVIORS BUT INSTEAD REFLECT A RELUCTANCE TO ADMIT TO PSYCHOPATHOLOGY
MMPI-2 CORRECTION (K) SCALE
• HIGH SCORES >65 INDICATIVE OF PERSONS WHO ARE VERY GUARDED AND DEFENSIVE AND SHOW MARKED RESISTENCE TO PSYCHOLOGICAL PROBING AND ASSESSMENT
• MINIMIZE AND OVERLOOK FAULTS IN SELF AND FAMILIES
MMPI-2 CORRECTION (K) SCALE
• K SCALE SCORES INFLUENCED BY SETTING, SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS, AND EDUCATION LEVEL. HIGHER SCORES OCCUR NORMALLY IN– WELL EDUCATED PERSONS– HIGH SOCIOECONOMIC STATUS
• LOW SCORES MAY BE FAKE BAD OR DETERIORATED DEFENSES
MMPI-2 NEW VALIDITY SCALES
• BACK F (Fb) SCALE– designed to identify a “fake-bad” mode of
responding for last 197 items• TRUE RESPONSE INCONSISTENCY SCALE
(TRIN)– designed to detect yeasaying/naysaying
• VARIABLE RESPONSE INCONSISTENCY SCALE (VRIN)– designed to detect inconsistent responding
INTERPRETATION OF VALIDITY
• K > 65 MAY SUGGEST A DEFENSIVE PROFILE
• FAKE BAD (OVERREPORTING PSYCHOPATHOLOGY)– T SCORE > 95 ON F (T SCORES > 85 ON
6,7,AND 8) WITH L AND K < 45
INTERPRETATION OF VALIDITY
• FAKING GOOD (UNDERREPORTING PSYCHOPATHOLOGY)– K > 65 AND MOST CLINICAL SCALES
AND F < 45
• F-K INDEX– RAW F SCORE - RAW K SCORE– +11OR MORE SUGGESTS FAKING BAD– -11 OR LESS SUGGEST FAKING GOOD
SCALE 1-HYPOCHONDRIASIS
• DESIGNED TO INDICATE A VARIETY OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS CONSISTENT WITH BUT NOT NECESSARILY DIAGNOSTIC OF HYPOCHONDRIASIS
SCALE 1-HYPOCHONDRIASIS
• HIGH SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF– HIGH CONCERN WITH ILLNESS OR
DISEASE– SOMATIZATION AS DEFENSE
MECHANISM– SOUR, WHINY, COMPLAINING
ATTITUDE; HOSTILITY/CYNICISM EXPRESSED INDIRECTLY
SCALE 1-HYPOCHONDRIASIS
• LOW SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF– CHEERFUL, OPTIMISTIC ATTITUDE– NON ENDORSEMENT OF SOMATIC
COMPLAINTS
SCALE 2-DEPRESSION
• DESIGNED TO MEASURE SYMPTOMATIC DEPRESSION, AN ATTITUDE CHARACTERIZED BY POOR MORALE, LACK OF HOPE FOR THE FUTURE, AND A GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH LIFE
SCALE 2-DEPRESSION
• ITEMS DEAL WITH VARIOUS ASPECTS OF DEPRESSION- DENIAL OF HAPPINESS & PERSONAL WORTH, PSYCHOMOTOR RETARDATION, LACK OF INTEREST, SOCIAL WITHDRAWAL, PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS, & EXCESSIVE WORRY
• STATE MEASURE--SITUATIONAL
SCALE 2-DEPRESSION
• HIGH SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF– DEPRESSED– WORRY– PESSIMISM– INDECISION, DOUBT– HOPELESSNESS, SUICIDAL IDEATION
SCALE 2-DEPRESSION
• LOW SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF – LACK OF DEPRESSION, WORRY,
PESSIMISM– TENDENCY TO FEEL COMFORTABLE
WITH LIFE– CHEERFULNESS, BUOYANCY, OPTIMISM
SCALE 3-HYSTERIA
• ITEMS TAP TWO BROAD AREAS: SPECIFIC SOMATIC COMPLAINTS AND DENIAL OF PSYCHOLGICAL OR EMOTIONAL PROBLEMS AND OF DISCOMFORT IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS
SCALE 3-HYSTERIA
• HIGH SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF – IMMATURITY, EGOCENTRICITY,
DEMANDING– HISTRIONIC CHARACTERISTICS AND
REPRESSIVE DEFENSIVES– VANITY, LACKING IN INSIGHT– SHALLOW INTERPERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
SCALE 3-HYSTERIA
• LOW SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF– CONSTRICTED, CONFORMING, OVERLY
CONVENTIONAL SUSPICIOUS INDIVIDUAL
– REALISTIC, LOGICAL, LEVEL HEADED– NOT PRONE TO IMPULSIVE DECISIONS
SCALE 4-PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE
• ITEMS REFLECT A PRIMARY DIMENSION RANGING FROM CONSTRICTED SOCIAL CONFORMITY TO ANTISOCIAL ACTING-OUT IMPULSES
SCALE 4-PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE
• HIGH SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF – GENERAL MALADJUSTMENT– ANGRY DISIDENTIFICATION WITH
CONVENTION AND NORMS– IMPULSE CONTROL PROBLEMS– DISREGARD FOR RIGHTS OF OTHERS– UNWILLING TO ACCEPT
RESPONSIBILITY FOR BEHAVIORS
SCALE 4-PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE
• LOW SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF – OVERLY CONVENTIONAL,
CONFORMING, & MORALISTIC– AVOID COMPETITIVE SITUATIONS– STRONG GUILT OVER MINOR
INFRACTIONS
SCALE 5 MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (Mf)
• 56 ITEMS MEASURE THE EXTENT TO WHICH SUBJECT ENDORSES OR IDENTIFIES WITH CULTURALLY STEREOTYPIC MASCULINE OR FEMININE INTEREST PATTERNS, VOCATIONAL CHOICES, ASTHETIC INTERESTS AND AN ACTIVITY-PASSIVITY DIMENSION
SCALE 5 MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (Mf)
• A HIGH SCORE FOR EITHER SEX IS INDICATIVE OF DEVIATION
SCALE 5 MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (Mf)
• MALES WITH HIGH SCORES TEND TO BE RATHER PASSIVE, DEPENDENT, AMBITIOUS, SENSITIVE, AND INTERESTED IN CULTURAL AND AESTHETIC PURSUITS
• MALES WITH LOW SCORES TEND TO BE STEREOTYPICALLY MASCULINE AND PLACE GREAT EMPHASIS ON TRADITIONALLY MASCULINE BEHAVIORS
SCALE 5 MASCULINITY-FEMININITY (Mf)
• FEMALES WITH HIGH SCORES HAVE REJECTED TRADITIONAL FEMININE ROLE. DESCRIBED AS ACTIVE, AGGRESSIVE, ASSERTIVE, COMPETITIVE, UNINHIBITED, AND DOMINEERING
• FEMALES WITH LOW SCORES ARE PASSIVE, SUBMISSIVE YIELDING AND DEMURE
SCALE 6-PARANOIA (Pa)
• 40 ITEMS MEASURES IDEATION RANGING FROM OBVIOUSLY PSYCHOTIC TO SUSPICIOUSNESS AND SELF-RIGHTEOUSNESS.
• CONTENT OF ITEMS IS OBVIOUS MAKING IT EASIER TO FAKE THAN MOST
SCALE 6-PARANOIA (Pa)
• HIGH SCORES IN RANGE OF T>60-70 INDICATES HYPERSENSITIVITY TO CRITICISM, BASIC MISTRUST, TENDENCY TO HARBOR GRUDGES, ANGER, HOSTILITY, E.G. PARANOID TENDENCES AND /OR PARANOID PERSONALITY DISORDER
SCALE 6-PARANOIA (Pa)
• HIGH SCORES BEYOND 75 THE POSSIBILITY OF PSYCHOSIS BECOMES MORE LIKELY
• LOW SCORES <35 SUGGEST 1) SELF CENTERED, STUBBORN, UNAWARE; 2) COLD AND CALLOUS PRESENTATION; 3) OVERTLY PARANOID, DELUSIONAL, DEFENSIVE, AND EVASIVE
SCALE 7 PSYCHASTHENIA (Pt)
• 48 ITEMS REFLECTING CHRONIC ANXIETY, GENERAL DISSATISFACTION WITH LIFE, INDECISIVENESS, DIFFICULTY WITH CONCENTRATION, SELF DOUBT, RUMINATION AND AGITATED CONCERN ABOUT SELF AND THE OBSESSIONAL ASPECTS OF OCD
SCALE 7 PSYCHASTHENIA (Pt)
• GOOD INDEX OF PSYCHOLOGICAL TURMOIL AND DISCOMFORT
• HIGH SCORES ARE DESCRIBED AS RIGID, METICULOUS, MORALISTIC AND DISSATISFIED WITH THEIR PRESENT LIFE SITUATION. ANXIETY IS PRONOUNCED. GENERALIZED PHYSICAL COMPLAINTS ARE COMMON
SCALE 8 SCHIZOPHRENIA (Sc)
• 78 ITEMS TAP DIMENSIONS OF SCHIZOID MENTATION, FEELINGS OF BEING DIFFERENT, ISOLATED, BIZARRE THOUGHT PROCESSES, POOR FAMILY RELATIONSHIPS, SEXUAL IDENTITY CONCERNS, TENDENCY TO WITHDRAW INTO WISH FULFILLING FANTASY
SCALE 8 SCHIZOPHRENIA (Sc)
• HIGH SCORES INDICATIVE OF THOUGHT DISTURBANCES , LOOSE ASSOCIATIONS, POOR JUDGEMENT, MISINTERPRETATION OF REALITY
• OTHER NON-PSYCHOTIC HIGH SCORERERS TEND TO FEEL LONELY ALIENATED, ISOLATED, MISUNDERSTOOD, NOT PART OF SOCIAL GROUP
SCALE 8 SCHIZOPHRENIA (Sc)
• LOW SCORES TEND TO BE INTERESTED IN PEOPLE AND PRACTICAL MATTERS TO THE EXCLUSION OF THEORETICAL AND PHILOSOPHICAL CONCERNS, CONCRETE THINKERS, COMPLIANT, SUBMISSIVE, OVERLY ACCEPTING OF AUTHORITY
SCALE 9 HYPOMANIA (Ma)
• 46 ITEMS THAT ARE A DIRECT MEASURE OF ENERGY LEVEL
• T SCORES >85 SUGGESTIVE OF MANIC DISORDER.
• T SCORES IN RANGE OF 70-85 ARE RESTLESS, ENTHUSIASTIC, IMPATIENT, ENERGETIC, GREGARIOUS, EXAGGERATED SENSE OF SELF WORTH AND IMPORTANCE
SCALE 9 HYPOMANIA (Ma)
• LOW SCORES <40 ARE LISTLESS, LETHARGIC, LOW IN DRIVE, DIFFICULT TO MOTIVATE, LACK INTEREST, INITIATIVE AND INVOLVEMENT; SHOW CHRONIC FATIGUE AND EVEN PHYSICAL EXHAUSTION
SCALE 0-SOCIAL INTROVERSION (Si)
• 69 ITEMS ASSESSING INTROVERSION-EXTROVERSION DIMENSION WITH HIGH SCORES INDICATIVE OF INTROVERSION
• HIGH SCORES INTROVERTED, SHY, SOCIALLY INEPT WITH TENDENCY TO WITHDRAW
• LOW SCORES ADEPT IN SOCIAL SITUATIONS, GREGARIOUS, EXTROVERTED