Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsHistoryTypesUsesTaking the MMPIWhat It MeasuresValidity ScalesAccuracyThings to Consider

Table of ContentsView All

View All

Table of Contents

History

Types

Uses

Taking the MMPI

What It Measures

Validity Scales

Accuracy

Things to Consider

Close

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is psychology’s most widely used clinical assessment tool, helping psychologists recognize and diagnosemental health disorders.Developed in the late 1930s, the test has been revised and updated several times to improve accuracy and validity. The MMPI-2, for example, has 567 true-false questions and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete; the MMPI-2-RF has 338 true-false questions, taking 35 to 50 minutes to finish.

This article discusses the MMPI’s development, applications, and versions.

History of the MMPI

In response, the pair developed the test for the University of Minnesota’s Department of Psychology as an objective tool for assessingpsychiatric conditions. The MMPI became one of the most widely usedpsychological assessments, finding use in psychology clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, and pre-employment screenings.

Today, it remains the most frequently used clinical testing instrument and is one of the most valuable, well-researched tools used in the diagnosis and treatment ofmental illness.

RecapThe MMPI was developed in the 1930s to help mental health professionals evaluate people with psychiatric disorders. It is widely used today in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Recap

The MMPI was developed in the 1930s to help mental health professionals evaluate people with psychiatric disorders. It is widely used today in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Types of MMPI Tests

In the years after the MMPI was first published, clinicians and researchers began to question its accuracy. Critics pointed out that the original sample group was inadequate. Others argued that the results indicated possible test bias, while others felt the test itself contained sexist and racist questions.

In response to these issues, the MMPI underwent a revision in the late 1980s. Many questions were removed, reworded, or added. Additionally, newvalidityscales were incorporated in the revised test.

How the MMPI Is Used

Clinical psychologyprofessionals use the test to assess and diagnose mental illness, but it’s used in other areas, such as:

Taking the MMPI Test

The MMPI test should be used with other assessment tools as well. A diagnosis should never be made solely on the results of the MMPI.

The MMPI can be administered individually or in groups and computerized versions are available as well. Both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-2-RF are designed for individuals age 18 years and older.

What the MMPI Test Measures

The MMPI-2 and MMPI-A have 10 clinical scales that are used to indicate different psychological conditions, though the MMPI-2-RF and the MMPI-A-RF use different scales.

Here’s a brief overview of the clinical scales on the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A.

Scale 1—Hypochondriasis

This scale was designed to assess a neurotic concern over bodily functioning. The items on this scale concern physical symptoms and well-being. It was originally developed to identify people displaying the symptoms of hypochondria, or a tendency to believe that one has an undiagnosed medical condition.

Scale 2—Depression

Scale 3—Hysteria

The third scale was originally designed to identify those who display hysteria or physical complaints in stressful situations. Those who are well-educated and of a high social class tend to score higher on this scale. Women also tend to score higher than men on this scale.

Scale 4—Psychopathic Deviate

Originally developed to identify psychopathic individuals, this scale measuressocial deviation, lack of acceptance of authority, and amorality (a disregard for morality). This scale can be thought of as a measure of disobedience andantisocial behavior.

High scorers tend to be more rebellious, while low scorers are more accepting of authority. Despite the name of this scale, high scorers are usually diagnosed with apersonality disorderrather than apsychotic disorder.

Scale 5—Masculinity-Femininity

Scale 6—Paranoia

This scale was originally developed to identify individuals withparanoid symptomssuch as suspiciousness, feelings ofpersecution, grandioseself-concepts, excessive sensitivity, and rigid attitudes. Those who score high on this scale tend to have paranoid or psychotic symptoms.

Scale 7—Psychasthenia

This diagnostic label is no longer used today and the symptoms described on this scale are more reflective of anxiety, depression, andobsessive-compulsive disorder.This scale was originally used to measure excessive doubts, compulsions, obsessions, and unreasonable fears.

Scale 8—Schizophrenia

This scale was originally developed to identify individuals withschizophrenia. It reflects a wide variety of areas including bizarre thought processes and peculiar perceptions, social alienation, poor familial relationships, difficulties in concentration and impulse control, lack of deep interests, disturbing questions of self-worth and self-identity, and sexual difficulties.

The scale can also show potential substance abuse, emotional or social alienation, eccentricities, and a limited interest in other people.

Scale 9—Hypomania

This scale was developed to identify characteristics ofhypomaniasuch as elevated mood, hallucinations,delusionsof grandeur, accelerated speech and motor activity, irritability,flight of ideas, and brief periods of depression.

Scale 0—Social Introversion

This scale was developed later than the other nine scales. It’s designed to assess a person’s shyness and tendency to withdraw from social contacts and responsibilities.

MMPI Test Validity Scales

All of the MMPI tests use validity scales of varying sorts to help assess the accuracy of each individual’s answers. Since these tests can be used for circumstances like employment screenings and custody hearings, test takers may not be completely honest in their answers.

Validity scales can show how accurate the test is, as well as to what degree answers may have been distorted.The MMPI-2 uses the following scales.

The L Scale

People who score high on this scale deliberately try to present themselves in the most positive way possible, rejecting shortcomings or unfavorable characteristics.

The F Scale

This scale is used to detect attempts at overreporting. Essentially, people who score high on this scale are trying to appear worse than they really are, they may be in severe psychological distress, or they may be just randomly answering questions without paying attention to what the questions say.

This scale asks questions designed to determine if test-takers are contradicting themselves in their responses.

The K Scale

People may underreport because they’re worried about being judged or they may be minimizing their problems or denying that they have any problems at all.

The ? Scale

Also known as the “cannot say” scale, this validity scale assesses the number of items left unanswered. The MMPI manual recommends that any test with 30 or more unanswered questions should be declared invalid.

TRIN Scale

The True Response Inconsistency (TRIN) scale was developed to detect people who use fixed responding, a method of taking the test without regard to the question, such as marking ten questions “true,” the next ten as “false,” and so on.

Fixed responding could be used due to not being able to read or comprehend the test material well or being defiant about having to take the test. This section consists of 20 paired questions that are the opposite of each other.

VRIN Scale

The Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN) scale is another method developed to detect inconsistent, random responses. Like fixed responding, this can be intentional or it can be due to not understanding the material or not being able to read it.

The Fb Scale

High scores on this scale sometimes indicate that the respondent stopped paying attention and began answering questions randomly. It can also be due to over or underreporting, fixed responding, becoming tired, or being under severe stress.

The Fp Scale

This scale helps detect intentional overreporting in people who have a mental health disorder of some sort or who were using random or fixed responding.

The FBS Scale

The “symptom validity” scale is used for people who are taking the test because they’re claiming that they had a personal injury or disability. This scale can help establish the credibility of the test taker.

The S Scale

The “superlative self-presentation” scale was developed in 1995 to look for additional underreporting. It also has sub-scales that assess the test taker’s belief in human goodness, serenity, contentment with life, patience/denial of irritability, and denial of moral flaws.

RecapWhile different versions of the test vary in construction, the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A are made of 10 scales that are used to indicate different psychological conditions. The test also contains validity scales that can be helpful for detecting issues with the results such as conscious or unconscious attempts to manipulate the results of the assessment.

While different versions of the test vary in construction, the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A are made of 10 scales that are used to indicate different psychological conditions. The test also contains validity scales that can be helpful for detecting issues with the results such as conscious or unconscious attempts to manipulate the results of the assessment.

How Accurate Is the MMPI Test?

The MMPI is considered reliable; however, it is just one tool of many to diagnose mental health conditions.

Although the MMPI provides useful information, a health professional shouldn’t rely on just one tool in order to make a full diagnosis.

Is There a Mental Illness Test?

Things to Consider When Taking the MMPI Test

If you’re taking the MMPI test, the following are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

You may be able to take the MMPI online. Alternatively, research localpsychologists and/or psychiatristsand other health professionals who can administer the test in person.

Things to Remember

You may feel apprehensive about the test and the possibility of being diagnosed with a mental health condition. But remember: The MMPI is just one of the tools your therapist might use to provide the accurate assessment, diagnosis, and treatment you need to feel your best.

13 SourcesVerywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sellbom M, Anderson JL.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. In R. P. Archer & E. M. A. Wheeler (Eds.).Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. 2013:21-62.University of Minnesota Press.MMPI History: A Brief History of the MMPI Instruments.Butcher JN, Graham JR, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A, Dahlstrom WG, Kaemmer B.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Pearson Assessments; 1989.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Pearson.Butcher JN, Williams C, Graham JR, Archer RP, Tellegen A, Ben-Porath YS.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent.Archer RP, Handel RW, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent-Resctructed Form (MMPI-A-RF). Pearson.Pearson.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3).Schilling R, Casper ST.Of psychometric means: Starke R. Hathaway and the popularization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.Sci Context. 2015;28(1):77-98. doi:10.1017/S0269889714000337University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Clinical Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, Univerity of Minnesota Press; 2015.Floyd AE, Gupta V.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. In:StatPearls[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Validity Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, University of Minnesota Press; 2015.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.MMPI-3: Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation. Pearson; 2020.Mayo Clinic.Mental illness.

13 Sources

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Sellbom M, Anderson JL.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. In R. P. Archer & E. M. A. Wheeler (Eds.).Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. 2013:21-62.University of Minnesota Press.MMPI History: A Brief History of the MMPI Instruments.Butcher JN, Graham JR, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A, Dahlstrom WG, Kaemmer B.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Pearson Assessments; 1989.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Pearson.Butcher JN, Williams C, Graham JR, Archer RP, Tellegen A, Ben-Porath YS.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent.Archer RP, Handel RW, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent-Resctructed Form (MMPI-A-RF). Pearson.Pearson.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3).Schilling R, Casper ST.Of psychometric means: Starke R. Hathaway and the popularization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.Sci Context. 2015;28(1):77-98. doi:10.1017/S0269889714000337University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Clinical Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, Univerity of Minnesota Press; 2015.Floyd AE, Gupta V.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. In:StatPearls[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Validity Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, University of Minnesota Press; 2015.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.MMPI-3: Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation. Pearson; 2020.Mayo Clinic.Mental illness.

Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.

Sellbom M, Anderson JL.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. In R. P. Archer & E. M. A. Wheeler (Eds.).Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. 2013:21-62.University of Minnesota Press.MMPI History: A Brief History of the MMPI Instruments.Butcher JN, Graham JR, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A, Dahlstrom WG, Kaemmer B.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Pearson Assessments; 1989.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Pearson.Butcher JN, Williams C, Graham JR, Archer RP, Tellegen A, Ben-Porath YS.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent.Archer RP, Handel RW, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent-Resctructed Form (MMPI-A-RF). Pearson.Pearson.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3).Schilling R, Casper ST.Of psychometric means: Starke R. Hathaway and the popularization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.Sci Context. 2015;28(1):77-98. doi:10.1017/S0269889714000337University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Clinical Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, Univerity of Minnesota Press; 2015.Floyd AE, Gupta V.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. In:StatPearls[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Validity Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, University of Minnesota Press; 2015.Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.MMPI-3: Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation. Pearson; 2020.Mayo Clinic.Mental illness.

Sellbom M, Anderson JL.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. In R. P. Archer & E. M. A. Wheeler (Eds.).Forensic Uses of Clinical Assessment Instruments. Routledge/Taylor & Francis Group. 2013:21-62.

University of Minnesota Press.MMPI History: A Brief History of the MMPI Instruments.

Butcher JN, Graham JR, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A, Dahlstrom WG, Kaemmer B.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2. Pearson Assessments; 1989.

Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form. Pearson.

Butcher JN, Williams C, Graham JR, Archer RP, Tellegen A, Ben-Porath YS.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent.

Archer RP, Handel RW, Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—Adolescent-Resctructed Form (MMPI-A-RF). Pearson.

Pearson.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3 (MMPI-3).

Schilling R, Casper ST.Of psychometric means: Starke R. Hathaway and the popularization of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory.Sci Context. 2015;28(1):77-98. doi:10.1017/S0269889714000337

University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Clinical Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, Univerity of Minnesota Press; 2015.

Floyd AE, Gupta V.Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. In:StatPearls[Internet]. Treasure Island (FL): StatPearls Publishing.

University of Minnesota.Interpretation of MMPI-2 Validity Scales. MMPI-2 Training Slides, University of Minnesota Press; 2015.

Ben-Porath YS, Tellegen A.MMPI-3: Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation. Pearson; 2020.

Mayo Clinic.Mental illness.

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