MINNESOTA MULTIPHASIC

PERSONALITY INVENTORY
AN OVERVIEW

MMPI
ORIGINAL INSTRUMENT DEVELOPED
IN LATE 1930S
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 TS-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
FREQUENCY
CORRECTION

?
L
F
K

MMPI
CLINICAL SCALES

HYPOCHONDRIASIS
DEPRESSION
HYSTERIA
PSYCHOPATHIC DEVIATE
MASCULINITY-FEMININITY

Hs
D
Hy
Pd
Mf

1
2
3
4
5

MMPI

PARANOIA
PSYCHASTHENIA
SCHIZOPHRENIA
HYPOMANIA
SOCIAL INTROVERSION

Pa
Pt
Sc
Ma
Si

6
7
8
9
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 1HYPOCHONDRIASIS
DESIGNED TO INDICATE A VARIETY
OF PERSONALITY CHARACTERISTICS
CONSISTENT WITH BUT NOT
NECESSARILY DIAGNOSTIC OF
HYPOCHONDRIASIS

SCALE 1HYPOCHONDRIASIS
HIGH SCORES SUGGESTIVE OF
HIGH CONCERN WITH ILLNESS OR
DISEASE
SOMATIZATION AS DEFENSE
MECHANISM
SOUR, WHINY, COMPLAINING ATTITUDE;
HOSTILITY/CYNICISM EXPRESSED
INDIRECTLY

SCALE 1HYPOCHONDRIASIS
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 MASCULINITYFEMININITY (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 ACTIVITYPASSIVITY DIMENSION

SCALE 5 MASCULINITYFEMININITY (Mf)

A HIGH SCORE FOR EITHER SEX IS
INDICATIVE OF DEVIATION

SCALE 5 MASCULINITYFEMININITY (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 MASCULINITYFEMININITY (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 INTROVERSIONEXTROVERSION 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