Psychology · Ch 2 — Self and Personality
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI)
The MMPI is one of the most widely used personality assessment tools in clinical and counselling settings. Unlike projective tests that rely on ambiguous stimuli, the MMPI is an objective, self-report inventory that asks direct questions about a person's thoughts, feelings, and behaviours.
Origin and Purpose
Hathaway and McKinley developed the MMPI specifically as a helping tool for psychiatric diagnosis. The test was designed to identify and classify various forms of psychopathology — that is, mental disorders and abnormal patterns of behaviour. Over time, it proved to be highly effective not just for diagnosis but also for understanding the full range of personality disturbances.
The Revised Version: MMPI-2
The original test has been revised and is now available as the MMPI-2. This updated version continues to be the standard for personality assessment in clinical psychology.
Structure and Administration
The MMPI-2 consists of 567 statements. The person taking the test must judge each statement as either 'true' or 'false' for themselves. This forced-choice format reduces ambiguity and makes scoring objective and reliable.
The 10 Clinical Subscales
The test is divided into 10 subscales, each designed to diagnose a specific type of psychological condition or personality characteristic:
| Subscale | What It Diagnoses |
|---|---|
| Hypochondriasis | Excessive concern with physical health and bodily symptoms |
| Depression | Feelings of sadness, hopelessness, and low mood |
| Hysteria | Physical symptoms that arise from psychological distress |
| Psychopathic deviate | Antisocial behaviour, impulsivity, and disregard for rules |
| Masculinity-femininity | Gender-role identification and interests |
| Paranoia | Suspiciousness, distrust, and delusional thinking |
| Psychasthenia | Anxiety, obsessive thoughts, and compulsive behaviours |
| Schizophrenia | Bizarre thoughts, hallucinations, and social withdrawal |
| Mania | Elevated mood, hyperactivity, and grandiosity |
| Social introversion | Shyness, social withdrawal, and discomfort in social situations |