Evaluating response set styles on the MMPI with prisoners: Faking good adjustment and maladjustment.

Told 24 prison inmates (mean age = 23 yr) to fake good adjustment and maladjustment on the MMPI. Results were compared with Ss' normal or "honest" MMPI profiles. Ss were easily able to fake maladjustment and, contrary to theory, were also able to fake good adjustment. The adequacy of various indices of faking were compared and recommendations are made for the applied use of some of these indices for the detection of faked responses in correctional settings. Previous role-playing vs "real-life" studies are contrasted and the inmates' results are compared with previous findings. (French summary) (27 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

A unidimensional depression scale for the MMPI.

To develop a depression scale that differentiates consistently not only between normal and abnormal samples but also within such samples, items from the MMPI D scale were selected on the basis of consistent relationship to the major dimension or factor underlying the 60 items as determined by a contextual analysis of responses in each of 4 normative samples of 40 Ss (normal and abnormal divided also by sex). The final 30-item scale, called the D30 scale, showed greatly improved within-group distinctions, particularly among normals, dimensionality coefficients (rd) of .97, .95, and .98 being obtained in cross validation in contrast to values of .67, .45, and .87 for the original. Split-half reliability showed improvement despite shorter length, and test-retest estimates in 2 normal samples were .88 and .92. Since part-whole correlations indicated that D30 scale scores account for the systematic differences in scores on the 60-item scale, the D30 scale was recommended for general use in lieu of the original. T score norms based on 424 Ss were presented and scale content discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Ambiguity in the MMPI.

MMPI items were rated for ambiguity on a 5-point scale and were also answered under standard instructions by male and female introductory psychology students. Lower ambiguity ratings of female Ss were interpreted in terms of role or habit patterns of females in our culture. Mean ambiguity values for selected MMPI scales revealed high ambiguity for both sexes, independent of order effects, for items keyed on the K, Pd, Pt, Ma, and Welsh A scales, and low ambiguity for items on the L, F, Hs, Mf, and Welsh R scales. Significant intercorrelations were found between total ambiguity scores of individual Ss and scores on Hs, Si, and Sc, with a negative relationship between ambiguity and K. These results suggest a relationship between ego control and perceived ambiguity in the items. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-validation of the Short Category Test—Booklet Format.

Used scores from 69 Ss referred for neuropsychological assessment to cross-validate the Short Category Test—Booklet Format (SCT). 45 Ss had closed head injury, and the rest had various other neurological or psychiatric diagnoses. The correlations of the SCT with the other neuropsychological measures were similar to correlations obtained by L. Wetzel and T. J. Boll (1987) for the original Category Test. The SCT error scores and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test perseverative response scores were not correlated, suggesting that the 2 tests are not interchangeable. The SCT appears to have some utility as a measure of novel problem solving and reasoning. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Broadening the typology of false confessions.

Comments that S. M. Kassin's (see record 1997-07781-003) attempt to provide a theoretical framework for conceptualizing the various types of false confessions is of value to the clinician who is called on in applied settings to evaluate issues pertaining to the voluntariness of confession or related issues. An attempt is made to broaden this conceptual framework to include other coercive factors that may impact on a particular case, in order that research might begin to focus on additional variables so that the framework will have even broader practical utility. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-validation of the Jesness Inventory with delinquents and nondelinquents.

Using the Jesness Inventory (JI), personality patterns of 2 groups of 12–16 yr old institutionalized delinquents—those formally adjudicated by the courts for 2 or more charges and those not formally charged—were compared with a socially acting-out group and a matched control group. The Asocial Index of the JI was significant across and between all groups with a progressive increase in T scores directly related to delinquent involvement. The JI scales of Social Maladjustment, Value Orientation, Autism, Manifest Aggression, and Denial all demonstrated significant differences between controls and various delinquent Ss. Findings demonstrate that the JI is a valid personal instrument for both gross and specific aspects of delinquency differentiation. (25 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using the Megargee MMPI-based classification system with the MMPI-2s of female prison inmates.

This study extends Megargee's Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)-based classification system to female offenders. MMPI-2s of 400 women in state and federal prisons were rescored and reconfigured to estimate their original MMPI profiles. Their MMPIs and MMPI-2s were classified according to the rules devised for the original MMPI. Next, the MMPI-2s were reclassified using new rules for classifying the MMPI-2s of male offenders. Neither approach led to satisfactory agreement between MMPI and MMPI-2. A major problem was that Scale 5 was more prominent in the women's MMPI-2 profiles than on their MMPIs. Using revised rules for classifying the original MMPIs and the MMPI-2s of female offenders, 386 of the 400 women (97%) could be classified on both versions of the MMPI, of whom 336 (87%) were classified identically. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-validation of an abbreviated form of the Halstead Category Test.

Cross-validated the use of a short form of the Halstead Category Test as suggested by D. A. Calsyn et al (see record 1981-02450-001). For 60 Ss (mean age 36.72 yrs), it was found that the total score estimated from their formula (based on the 1st 4 subtests of the Category Test) correlated .88 with the overall score. The formula was cross-validated in 3 samples with all correlations above .83. It was found that the formula could reliably predict who would exceed the cutoff of the entire test, with an overall accuracy across the 4 samples of 184 out of 205. (3 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability of MMPI configurations for psychiatric inpatients.

Investigated the stability of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) code types. Ss were 405 psychiatric patients (mean age 37 yrs) who had completed 2 valid MMPIs and some of whom had been rated twice on the Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale. Test–retest agreements for high-point, low-point, and 2-point codes were 42.72%, 43.95%, and 27.65%, respectively. Code types were somewhat more stable when scales in the codes had more extreme scores initially and when scores on the scales in the codes were considerably different from other scales in the profile. When MMPIs were classified as neurotic, psychotic, or characterological according to 2-point codes, many of the 2-point codes that changed from test to retest remained within the same diagnostic categories. For a subsample of 72 Ss, behavioral ratings of psychosis were compared with stability and change in 2-point code types. Results suggest that at least some changes in code types over time may be associated with meaningful behavioral changes. (18 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Contextual effects on the MMPI.

This study was designed to determine in what ways and to what extent MMPI scores are influenced by the ordering of their items. 12 shortened forms of the MMPI were developed, using 4 different scales (paranoia, social desirability, physical health, and acquiescence) and 3 different patterns of ordering (all items appearing first, being scattered throughout, or appearing last in the test). Ss included 473 college students, 108 neurotics, and 54 paranoid schizophrenics. Each S was administered 2 of the test forms, each of which contained a different ordering schema of the same items, with a 1-week interval between test administrations. Findings indicated no significant contextual effects on any of the scales. (42 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Abbreviating MMPI item administration: What can be learned from the MMPI for the MMPI—2?

Some researchers concerned over the length of theMinnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), have attempted to reduce item administration yet provide equivalent, interpretable scales. This article reviews the research on reduced item-administration procedures for the MMPI, addressing issues related to the use of shortened forms. The MMPI has recently undergone a major revision, and the MMPI—2 is available; however, the issues discussed here have relevance to the revised instrument, as it is about the same length as the original. Three basic strategies for reducing item administration have been developed: abbreviating the administration by having the S respond only to items on the basic validity and clinical scales (about 399 in the original MMPI and 370 in the MMPI—2); actually reducing the number of items on the standard scales (short form); and using adaptive item-administration strategies to reduce the number of items presented. Future item-abbreviation issues and strategies are discussed. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparisons of the MMPI and Mini-Mult.

Compared the MMPI with 2 forms of the Mini-Mult test, 1 extracted from the full MMPI and 1 administered separately. Across 6 samples of psychiatric patients (N = 252), correlations between comparable scales ranged from .33-.96, with the extracted form having a higher median correlation. High-point codes derived from both forms of the Mini-Mult yielded poor agreement with MMPI codes, especially for the separately administered Mini-Mult. It is concluded that the Mini-Mult is not a reliable substitute for the MMPI, but can be used to estimate global pathology. (French summary) (15 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Using the Megargee MMPI-based classification system with MMPI-2s of male prison inmates.

To determine the impact of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory—2 (MMPI-2; J. N. Butcher, W. G. Dahlstrom, J. R. Graham, A. Tellegen, & B. Kaemmer, 1989) on the Megargee offender classification system, 1,213 male offenders' responses on the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) were rescored and reprofiled as MMPI-2s, and the MMPI-2s of 422 male prisoners were used to estimate their original MMPIs. When classifications based on the original MMPIs were compared with those from MMPI-2s, less than two thirds were classified identically. Therefore, the original Megargee rules should not be used to classify MMPI-2s. A new set of classifactory rules was devised for the MMPI-2 which, on cross-validation, agreed with the original MMPI classifications in 82% of the cases. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Validity of the MMPI scales for measuring twenty psychiatric dimensions.

Tested the individual validities of the 13 standard mmpi scales for predicting psychiatric symptoms. Scores on the 13 mmpi scales for 138 cooperative psychiatric patients in a general hospital were correlated with ratings of 20 symptoms made by the patients' therapists. Canonical correlation demonstrated that the mmpi and rating data intercorrelated significantly better than chance (p     

Testing a typology of batterers.

A. Holtzworth-Munroe and G. L. Stuart (1994) proposed a tripartite typology of men who batter their female partners based on the severity of violence, extent of violence, and personality disorder characteristics. The current study attempts to empirically validate this typology using data from 75 domestically violent (DV) men and their partners, and 32 maritally distressed, nonviolent (DNV) comparison couples. Mixture analysis results generally supported the model, although 2 types were not distinguishable on personality disorder characteristics as predicted. Generally violent batterers were significantly more violent within and outside the relationship. The pathological group was moderately violent within and outside the relationship and endorsed numerous psychological symptoms. Family-only batterers endorsed fewer symptoms and were less violent. Violence in the family of origin, attachment, and communication skills also differentiated the 3 types and DNV men. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)