Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)

---

 Introduction

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)is one of the most widely used psychological assessment tools, designed to assess various psychological conditions and personality traits. Developed by Starke R. Hathaway and J.C. McKinley in 1943, the MMPI-2 (published in 1989) is the most commonly used version for individuals aged 18 to 80. The test consists of 567 true/false items aimed at measuring a broad spectrum of psychological functioning, including mood disorders, personality disorders, and behavioral tendencies (Hathaway & McKinley, 1943). The MMPI uses a criterion-keyingmethod for item selection, where items are chosen based on their ability to differentiate clinical groups.

Time Required for Administration

The MMPI-2 generally takes 60 to 90 minutes, depending on the individual's reading speed. It is typically administered in either paper-and-pencil or computer-based formats (Butcher, 2009).

Scoring Criteria and Subscales

The MMPI-2 includes validity scales and clinical scales. The validity scales assess the reliability of responses, such as the Lie Scale (L) and Frequency Scale (F). The clinical scales assess psychological conditions, including:

• Scale      1 (Hypochondriasis, Hs): Health concerns.
• Scale      2 (Depression, D): Measures depressive symptoms.
• Scale      3 (Hysteria, Hy): Emotional reactivity.
• Scale      4 (Psychopathic Deviate, Pd): Social deviance.
• Scale      5 (Masculinity-Femininity, Mf): Gender role behaviors.
• Scale      6 (Paranoia, Pa): Suspiciousness.
• Scale      7 (Psychasthenia, Pt): Anxiety and obsessive behaviors.
• Scale      8 (Schizophrenia, Sc): Thought disorders.
• Scale      9 (Hypomania, Ma): Elevated mood and energy.
• Scale      10 (Social Introversion, Si): Social withdrawal (Butcher, 2009).

Population Applicability

The MMPI-2 applies to adults aged 18-80 and is used in clinical, forensic, and research settings. It is particularly effective in assessing conditions like depression, schizophrenia, anxiety, and personality disorders. It is also employed in forensic evaluations (e.g., mental competency) and pre-employment screenings (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2008).

Conclusion

The MMPI-2 remains a cornerstone in psychological assessment due to its comprehensive coverage of psychological functioning, strong psychometric properties, and broad applicability across clinical and forensic settings.