An examination of the applicability of the Substance Abuse Proclivity Scale to young adult males.

The substance abuse proclivity (SAP) scale, which was derived from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) for use with young (16–21 yr old) males, was applied to samples of 69 young adult male substance abusers, 51 college students, 26 psychiatric outpatients, and 1,298 medical outpatients (all Ss aged 20–29 yrs). Analyses demonstrated that the validity shrinkage was very modest when the scale was applied to Ss of this older age range. The correlation between age and SAP scale score was both significant and negative for 363 independently identified substance abusers (aged 13–26 yrs), which suggests that the scale taps something more basic than the accumulated consequences of the chronic use of substances. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI profile constellations in incest families.

Used the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to study the personality characteristics of 4 groups of Ss from incest families: 33 natural father perpetrators (aged 21–64 yrs), 29 stepfather perpetrators (aged 21–64 yrs), 44 nonparticipating mothers (aged 25–69 yrs), and 22 daughter victims (aged 15–20 yrs). Further analyses compared each of the 4 experimental groups to control groups from nonincestuous families that were matched for sex, age, race, education, and socioeconomic status (SES). The daughter victims' mean profile was more elevated and differed significantly from the profiles of the other 3 groups on the Validity, Psychasthenia, and Schizophrenia scales. Although the natural fathers and stepfathers differed significantly, the mean profiles of each group were not pathological (T?     

A cross-cultural comparison of American Indian, Black, and White inpatients on the MMPI and presenting symptoms.

Studied personality differences among 97 Black, 454 White, and 36 American-Indian psychiatric inpatients, aged 16–70 yrs. Comparisons were made both on the total samples and on matched samples of Black–White and American-Indian–White patients according to SES. Data included presenting complaints, diagnoses, demographic information, and the MMPI. Results show that Black inpatients, in both representative and matched comparisons, had significantly higher scores than both other groups on the Validity, Paranoia, Schizophrenia, and Hypomania subscales of the MMPI. Results may reflect actual symptomatic differences between the groups rather than supporting the conclusion that the MMPI "overpathologizes" for Black patients. (27 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of external correlates of MMPI substance abuse scales across sex and race.

Examined the differential predictive accuracy of 7 MMPI Alcoholism scales and 2 Drug Abuse scales across both sex and race in a sample of alcoholic inpatients. Ss included 69 Black males (mean age 33.1 yrs), 43 White males (mean age 33.5 yrs), 25 Black females (mean age 38.1 yrs), and 34 White females (mean age 38 yrs). Results demonstrate considerable variance among the scales in their ability to predict alcohol and other drug use, expectancies, and consequences. Predictive accuracy within scales also varied across the 4 sex–race subgroups. (l9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of standard and abbreviated MMPIs in patients with head injury.

Examined the potential utility of several short-form versions of the standard Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) for patients with head injury. These included the Mini-Mult, Midi-Mult, Maxi-Mult, and the abbreviated MMPI by T. R. Faschingbauer (see record 1975-03125-001), the abbreviated MMPI by J. A. Hugo (1971), and the MMPI-168. The sample studied consisted of 95 males (mean age 27.2 yrs) and 30 females (mean age 27.5 yrs). A standard MMPI was administered at approximately 6.5 mo postinjury in both groups. Significant multivariate profile differences (based on T-scores) were found between the standard MMPI and each individual short-form. Scales on the short-forms showed generally good correlations between themselves and the standard MMPI scales, and T-score means were quite similar in most cases. However, further analysis of individual cases demonstrated relatively poorer correspondence between the standard MMPI and the short-form versions with regard to profile validity, high-point, and 2-point code type. None of the MMPI short-forms examined appeared to be a suitable alternative to the standard MMPI in patients with head injury. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Maternal and adolescent ratings of psychopathology in young offender and non-clinical males.

Compared maternal and youth ratings of the youths' adjustment using the Child Behavior Checklist and Youth Self-Report with 50 young offenders and 51 non-clinical males (aged 12–16 yrs). While delinquent youths were in the clinical range only on the delinquent behavior subscale, maternal ratings were in the clinical range on most subscales. By contrast, maternal and youth reports in controls showed comparable ratings on Internalizing scales, with normal adolescents endorsing significantly more Externalizing behavior problems than their mothers. Maternal and youth ratings in the controls were in the normal range on all scales. Possible causes of these differences between young offenders' and their mothers' reporting of symptoms are discussed, and implications of these findings for forensic assessment of adolescents are presented. (French abstract) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The sensitivity of 11 substance abuse scales from the MMPI to change in clinical status.

Evaluated the sensitivity of 11 scales (for the identification of individuals prone to substance abuse) from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) to current substances abuse. 137 male substance abusers (aged 21–57 yrs) took the MMPI within 48 hrs of admission to a hospital and after 4 wks. Inpatient treatment and abstinence did not result in reliable increases in scores on any substance abuse scales. Therefore, these scales did not appear to be appropriate measures of change as a result of intervention. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Sum of MMPI Scales F, 4, and 9 as a measure of aggression.

Examined the relationship between scores on the MMPI and both concurrent and prior aggression with 426 19-yr-olds from the general population. Aggression was measured through peer nominations obtained concurrently and 10 yrs earlier. Correlation and regression analysis indicated that the sum of T scores for Scales F, 4, and 9 was a valid measure of aggression. The composite was also shown to have a higher reliability than its component scales. Using an additional 283 12.9–17.1 yr old Ss from delinquent populations, it was demonstrated that the composite was an excellent discriminator between delinquent and general populations of males and females even when intelligence and social status were controlled. (20 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Use of the MMPI to identify malingering and exaggeration of psychiatric symptomatology in male prison inmates.

In the first of two studies it was determined that special Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scales (e.g., the Dissimulation scale and the Obvious and Subtle subscales) were slightly more effective in discriminating between malingering and genuinely disturbed male prison inmates (N?=?72) relative to the standard MMPI validity and clinical scales. The second study in this series evaluated the decision-making abilities of students (N?=?20), clinicians (N?=?16), and experts (N?=?24) using MMPIs generated by a subsample of inmates from Study 1. Clinical judges did no better, and in many cases did worse, than the actuarials obtained in Study 1. Furthermore, prior clinical experience, training, and perceived expertise had little impact on performance. Judges utilizing a linear or a combined linear-configural interpretive approach did slightly better than judges relying exclusively on configural strategies. Surprisingly, many of the clinical judges seemed to experience difficulty making effective use of base-rate information. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Psychological effects of intestinal bypass surgery.

In 2 experiments 117 preoperative and postoperative intestinal bypass female patients (mean age 35.2 yrs) were administered the MMPI, Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, Rotter's Internal–External Locus of Control Scale, and the Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale 4 mo before, and 1 or 2 yrs after, surgery. Postoperative Ss showed a significant increase in physical self-concept though it was significantly below normative values. There was a general elevation of scores of MMPI scales before surgery. Scores on the Depression and Hysteria scales decreased significantly, and scores on most other MMPI scales declined toward normative values after surgery. Before and after surgery, Ss did not differ from normative groups in degree of externality or in their willingness to make socially desirable responses. (39 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of MMPI scores of White and Japanese-American medical patients.

Compared the MMPI scores of 164 patients (mean age 40.3 yrs) classified by sex, diagnostic group (somatization disorder or organic brain syndrome), and race (White or Japanese-American). MANOVA revealed effects for sex and diagnostic group, as well as a sex by race interaction. Male Ss scored significantly higher than females on 9 clinical scales; thus, factors other than race (e.g., sex) appear to be critical in the interpretation of MMPI scores. Implications for the use of the MMPI with non-White patients are discussed. (9 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The MMPI and chronic pain.

112 chronic pain patients (mean age 48.4 yrs) completed the MMPI upon entering either an anesthesiologic or a psychiatric treatment program. Pretreatment MMPI performance was found to be successful in predicting patient outcome an average of 20 mo following treatment, with the K (Test-Taking Attitude), Hypochondriasis, Hysteria, and Masculinity and Femininity scales accounting for most of the variance. The strength of this relationship varied as a function of the measure of outcome and type of treatment received. Substantial MMPI differences were found when Ss with only one part of their body in pain were compared with those with multiple pain complaints. Significant MMPI differences were also found in comparisons based on Ss' sex, type of pain (e.g., head vs back), and type of treatment for which was referred (i.e., psychiatric vs anesthesiologic). Clinical implications of the observed MMPI differences are discussed. Results are seen as demonstrating the value of the MMPI as a clinical and research instrument within this population. (14 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

The Child Behavior Profile: II. Boys aged 12–16 and girls aged 6–11 and 12–16.

Based on the overall rationale and methodology described previously by the 1st author (see record 1979-12316-001), the present article reports the construction of editions of the Child Behavior Profile for boys aged 12–26 and girls aged 6–21 and 12–26 yrs. Scored from the Child Behavior Checklist, the profile consists of social competence and behavior problem scales derived from factor analysis of the checklists filled out by parents of 450 children of each sex and age group referred for mental health services. Second-order factor analyses showed that the behavior problem scales for each sample could be divided into broad-band groupings called "internalizing" and "externalizing." Normalized T scores for the social competence scales, behavior problem scales, internalizing, and externalizing were derived from nonclinical samples. Comparison of clinical and nonclinical samples showed significant differences on all social competence and behavior problem scores. Test–retest (1 wk) correlations averaged .87, and interparent correlations averaged .67. Comparison with findings for boys aged 6–11 yrs are reported. Computerized and hand-scored versions of the profile can be used to display item and scale scores for individual children. (7 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Evaluation apprehension on psychological inventories in a prison-based setting.

Administered the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) validity scales, the Hopkins Symptom Checklist, and a sexual fantasy questionnaire to 120 incarcerated male sex offenders (aged 19–55 yrs) either without prior cuing or following exposure to experimental cues that identified psychological health and growth with either positive or negative self-disclosure. Ss' responses were obtained from either bogus pipeline testing or open format testing conditions. Results show that positively cued Ss achieved significantly higher F scale scores and lower K scale scores, and they reported significantly more anxiety symptoms and interpersonal problems. Sexual fantasy disclosures did not differ significantly across conditions, nor did the bogus pipeline apparatus facilitate self-disclosure. (6 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the clinical utility of the MMPI basic scales and specific MMPI state-trait scales: A test of Dahlstrom's hypothesis.

Tested W. G. Dahlstrom's (1972) hypothesis that the clinical utility of the MMPI could be improved through the use of dimensionally pure personality trait and psychopathological state scales to supplant the present dimensionally complex clinical and validity scales. 508 male psychiatric patients (mean age, 37.7 yrs) were diagnostically categorized using a structured classification algorithm; discriminant functions were then computed first for a relatively untainted set of symptom, characterological, and validity scales, then for the basic MMPI clinical and validity scales as independent variates. Results fail to confirm Dahlstrom's hypothesis. The MMPI clinical scales distinguished diagnostic categories better than did the state and trait scales. Possible reasons for lack of confirmation of Dahlstrom's hypothesis are discussed, and alternative modes of analysis are suggested. (34 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Age, education, and the internal consistency of personality scales.

Investigated whether the internal consistencies of personality scales increase with age and education and, if so, what causes these increases. Between 96 and 106 respondents in each of the age groups 13–24 yrs, 15–26 yrs, 17–28 yrs, and 19–20 yrs and 198 adults (aged 21–25 yrs) with varying amounts of formal education completed the Taylor Manifest Anxiety Scale, the California F-Scale, the Marlowe-Crowne Social Desirability Scale, a dogmatism scale, the Extraversion subscale of the Eysenck Personality Inventory, a self-monitoring scale, and a private self-conscious scale. Results show that age and education were both linearly related to the internal consistency with which Ss responded to all 8 personality scales. The relations were stronger for education than for age, the correlations between individuals' consistency scores across scales revealed a strong consistency response set. Stepwise regression showed that this internal consistency was related to age, education, the failure to understand items, and private self-consciousness. These last 2 contributions suggest that lower consistencies are partly a measurement problem and partly due to real lower personality consistencies on trait constructs. It is suggested that, because most personality research has used nonadults, the lower internal consistency of the younger Ss has contributed to the limited predictive power of personality scales. (35 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Developmental genetic studies of adult personality.

Investigated genetic determinants of personality development and vulnerability to environmental influences during young adulthood, using a longitudinal twin study design. 133 college-age twin pairs completed an abbreviated MMPI twice over a period of 4.5 yrs at ages 20 and 25 yrs. Of the 6 MMPI scales investigated, significant genetic variance was found for 4 at both time periods (Wiggins's Social Maladjustment, Schizophrenia, Welsh A, and D?? scales). Two scales (Psychopathic Deviate and Wiggins's Religiosity) showed significant genetic variance at age 20 but not at age 25. There were no significant genetic influences on directional developmental change over time, and instead, idiosyncratic environmental influences appeared most important for the developmental profiles. In contrast, significant genetic influences were present for generalized vulnerability, or instability, for the Sc scale. (61 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Structural stability of the MMPI in adult males.

Examined the higher-order structure of 15 Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) factor scales across the variables of age, cohort, and time of measurement. 459 men in 2 cohorts (ages 17–25 and 43–53 yrs when first tested in 1947) were retested at various times up to 1977. These measurements met the requirements for an approximate cross-sequential design. Across all 3 independent variables, the higher-order structure of the MMPI was best fit by a 2-factor solution, representing dimensions of Negative vs Positive Affectivity and Constraint. Congruence and comparability coefficients were extremely high between corresponding factors in different solutions and very low between factors expected to be discriminant. The high-order factors extracted closely resemble the Factors A and R known to underly the traditional MMPI clinical scales. Cumulative evidence from existing studies suggests that in adult men in this century the higher-order structure of self-report personality measures is highly stable. (38 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

MMPI discrimination of defensive and nondefensive felony sex offenders.

90 indicted sex offenders (aged 21+ yrs) were divided into no-, part-, and full-denial groups and were administered the MMPI to examine the utility of MMPI validity indicators in successfully identifying Ss known to have engaged in defensive denial in real-life situations involving serious personal consequences. Part- and full-denial Ss were similar enough to be combined into a single-denial group. Group membership was predicted with 83% accuracy by a discriminant function involving the validity scales alone. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ego control and criminal behavior.

Contends that the personality assessment literature using deviant and antisocial S populations contains an interesting anomaly—that persons representing major criminal offense categories can be only weakly distinguished from one another by using standard scales of the best conventional inventories (e.g., the MMPI and the California Psychological Inventory). This may reflect the fact that existing inventories are designed principally to predict maladjustment or social competence, and most criminal groups tested are found to be equally maladjusted and socially immature. The construct of ego control is not strongly related to adjustment or competence, but rather appears to underlie preference for different life-styles and occupations. The present article demonstrates the ability of ego control to distinguish between the offense categories of murder and drug related crimes. A sample of 59 murderers (20–50 yrs) was found to score significantly higher than a group of 56 drug offenders (19–29 yrs) on a rudimentary measure of ego control. (44 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)