Personality Assessment Set#2

Front 1

What was the normative sample for the MMPI-2 made up of?

Back 1

-2600 subjects
-More women than men
-Included some married couples
Mostly White, some African-American, Hispanic/Native American Asian-American

Front 2

If only the Standard Scales are going to be used at what point can the client stop taking the test and be fine?

Back 2

Item 370

Front 3

What are some strengths of the MMPI-2?

Back 3

-Based on MMPI
-Strong validity indicators
-Ability to differentiate between groups
-Expanded norm sample
-Vast research
-Easy to administer/computer scoring
-Comprehensive data collection
-Strong interpretative guidelines

Front 4

What are some of the weaknesses of the MMPI-2?

Back 4

-Original criterion groups dated
-Overlap of items/scales
-Educational, SES, cultural influences
-Interpretive process quite detailed

Front 5

Where are some places that you may use the MMPI-2?

Back 5

-Inpatient
-Outpatient
-Personnel screening
-Criminal forensic settings
-Damages, compensation claims
-Determination of commitment
-Child custody
-Fitness for police, security duty

Front 6

What are some things that the MMPI-2 help you find out?

Back 6

-Assess self-presentation
-Severity, chronicity of distress
-Assessment of clinical disorders
-Assessment of symptom patterns
-Assessment of social functioning
-Assessment of capacity for change; suitability for therapy

Front 7

What is content non-responsiveness?

Back 7

Content-Nonresponsiveness – degree to which the test taker has responded to items without consideration of their content. Attempts to detect responses that are random in nature or follow a systematic approach (e.g., all true) that is not related to item content.

Front 8

What does ?=30 mean?

Back 8

? = 30 or more items left blank makes protocol highly suspect 

Front 9

What is the VRIN and what does it do?

Back 9

VRIN = Variable Response Inconsistency: Consists of 67 pairs of items which are of either similar or opposite content. Raw scores greater than 13/T=80 probably invalidates the profile.

Front 10

What does High VRIN + High F = ?

Back 10

The subject responding in a random manner.

Front 11

What does Normal VRIN + High F =?

Back 11

Severely disturbed subject.

Front 12

Why was the TRIN created?

Back 12

Because all true/all false responding can result in a normal VRIN + High F. Thus the TRIN scale was produced to help tease this out.

Front 13

What is the TRIN and what does it do?

Back 13

TRIN = True Response Inconsistency:23 item pairs that are opposite in content. Two true responses or two false responses would indicate inconsistent responding. Score ranges from 0-23. High score (raw = 13) may mean a “True” response set/Low scores (raw less than 5) may result in a “False” response set.

Front 14

What/Who are high F scales associated with?

Back 14

F = High F scale scores are usually associated with elevations are Scales 6 & 8. Adolescents, African Americans/American Indians/Hispanics score about 5 T-scale points higher than whites. (60-items) 

Front 15

What is the L scale and who tends to score low on it?

Back 15

L = Assesses for the tendency of people to present themselves in an unusually favorable light. People who are bright, higher SES, more sophisticated tend to score lower. (15-items) 

Front 16

What is the K scale and who tends to score higher on it?

Back 16

K = Items tend to be much more subtle than the L scale items and harder to fake. Better educated people tend to score higher, thus education level needs to be considered when interpreting K. Scores on the K scale determine the degree of K-correction that occurs on various Basic Scales (30-items)

Front 17

What is the S scale and who tends to score high on it?

Back 17

S = Superlative Self-Presentation Scale. Assesses tendency of some people to present themselves as highly virtuous, responsible individuals who are free of maladjustment, have few moral flaws and get along extremely well with others (50-items) 

Front 18

What is the F-K Index?

Back 18

F – K Index = the difference between F & K scales raw scores can be a useful indicator to detect individuals who are faking bad.
 

Front 19

What is the Dissimulation Scale-Revised and what is it used for?

Back 19

used to identify individuals who are simulating or exaggerating psychopathology.

Front 20

What it the FP scale and what is it used for? How is it used?

Back 20

Fp = Infrequent Psychopathology Scale. Items were answered infrequently by both psychiatric inpatients and normal controls. These items are far less likely to reflect true psychopathology and more likely to reflect someone trying to look very maladjusted.

Front 21

What characterized a fake-bad profile?

Back 21

Fake Bad Profiles = characterized by very elevated F-scale/low K-scale. VRIN/TRIN within the average range. If F(raw)-K(raw) = +11 or more, a fake bad profile should be considered. Fake bad profiles are also sometimes calls “cries for help” profiles. 

Front 22

What characterizes a Fake-good profile?

Back 22

Fake Good Profiles = L & K likely to be elevated. F well below 50. Consider L (raw) scores of 4 as being significant. Defensive Profiles

Front 23

Name the scales 1-0?

Back 23

Hypochondriasis-1
Depression-2
Hysteria-3

Psychopathic Deviate-4
Masculinity-Femininity-5
Paranoia-6

Psychasthenia (anxiety)-7
Schizophrenia-8
Hypomania-9

Social Introversion-0

Front 24

What are some problems with MMPI and Adolescents?

Back 24

-Tended to overpathologize normal adolescents
-Underpathologize disturbed adolescents
-Many of the items were not pertinent to adolescents or needed extensive modifications.

Front 25

On the MMPI-A, who is eligable to use it? How many questions are there? Does it have LFK and all the clinical scales?

Back 25

Age: 14-18—can be used with 12-13; never used with 18 or older
478 items (350 abbreviated)
L, F, K, and all clinical scales

Front 26

What are some key differences on the MMPI-A and the content and supplementary scales?

Back 26

-Similar content scales, except:
Alienation; Low Aspiration; School Problems; Conduct Problems
-Similar supplementary except:
Immaturity; Alcohol/Drug Problems; Alcohol/Drug Acknowledgement

Front 27

What is scale one designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 27

Designed to assess a neurotic concern over bodily functioning.
High scores: overly preoccupied with physical health
Low scores: healthy, self-aware, etc.

Front 28

What is scale two designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 28

-Designed to assess symptomatic depression
-High scores: symptoms consistent with clinical depression
-Low scores: normal functioning

Front 29

What is scale three designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 29

-Hysteria
-High scores: relational conflicts converted to physical symptoms, immature, self-centered, superficial
-Low scores: conventional, rigid, distrusting

Front 30

What is scale four designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 30

-Psychopathic Deviance
-High scores: antisocial behaviors, problems with authority, relational conflicts, externalizes blame
-Low scores: conventional, conforming, passive, overly trusting

Front 31

What is scale five designed to assess IN MEN and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 31

-Masculinity/Femininity
-High scores for men: passive, artistic, intelligent, sensitive conflicted sexual identity, insecure in the masculine role
-Low scores (men): narrow range of interests, traditional male interests

Front 32

What is scale five designed to assess IN WOMEN and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 32

-Masculinity/Femininity
-High scores for women: rejects traditional female roles, masculine interests in work, hobbies
-Low scores (females): passive, submissive, sensitive

Front 33

What is scale six designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 33

-Paranoia
-High scores: psychotic behavior, suspicious, disturbed thinking
-Low scores: defensive, shy, insensitive

Front 34

What is scale seven designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 34

-Anxiety
-High score: tense, agitated, high-strung, perfectionist
-Low scores: well adjusted, anxiety free, wide interest range, self-confident

Front 35

What is scale eight designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 35

-Schizophrenia
=High scores: psychotic behavior, confused, disorganized, disoriented, delusions, hallucinations
-Low scores: friendly, practical, conventional

Front 36

What is scale nine designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 36

-Hypomania
-High scores: hyperactive, impulsive, difficulty delaying gratification, may have delusions of grandeur
-Low scores: low energy, fatigue, depression, withdrawn

Front 37

What is scale 0 designed to assess and what are some of the high and low indcators?

Back 37

-Social Introversion
-High scores: socially introverted, timid shy, overly sensitive, rigid, cautious
-Low scores: socially extroverted, talkative, energetic, competitive, superficial, manipulative, may have narcissistic tendencies

Front 38

What are the highs and lows of the Anxiety scale (Content scale)?

Back 38

-High scores: excessive worry
-Low scores: absence of a normal amount of worry

Front 39

What are the highs and lows of the fears scale?

Back 39

-High scores: excessive fearfulness
-Low scores: fearless
-Content Components: Generalized Fearfulness, Multiple Fears

Front 40

What are the highs and lows of the obsessions scale?

Back 40

-High: overly busy but inefficient
-Low: normal functioning, unless extremely low scores—

Front 41

What are the highs and lows of the depression scale (Content)?

Back 41

-High: despair,
-Low: may indicate denial of normal emotional responses
-Content Components: Lack of Drive, Dysphoria, Self-Deprecation, Suicidal Ideation

Front 42

What are the highs and lows of the health concerns scale?

Back 42

-High: numerous physical, neurological symptoms
-Low: lack of concern about health
-Content Components: Gastrointestinal, Neurological, General Health Concerns

Front 43

What are the highs and lows of the bizzare mentation scale?

Back 43

-High: overtly psychotic symptoms
-Low: not reporting any unusual experiences
-Content Components: Psychotic Symptomatology , Schizotypal Characteristics

Front 44

What are the highs and lows of the anger scale?

Back 44

-High: irritable, volatile, physically aggressive
-Low: capable of feeling angry
-Content Components: Explosive Behavior, Irritability

Front 45

What are the highs and lows of the cynicism scale?

Back 45

-High: others not to be trusted
-Low: overly trust others
-Content Components: Misanthropic Beliefs, Interpersonal Suspiciousness

Front 46

What are the highs and lows of the antisocial practices scale?

Back 46

-High: disregard for social norms
-Low: abide by the rules, trusting, conventional
-Content Components: Antisocial Attitudes, and Behaviors

Front 47

What are the highs and lows of the type A scale?

Back 47

-High: urgency to get things done
-Low: more relaxed—lower scores may indicate some dysphoria
-Content Components: Impatience, Competitive Drive

Front 48

What are the highs and lows of the low self esteem scale?

Back 48

-High: feel inadequate, unattractive
-Low: feel capable, adequate—very low scores may indicate narcissistic tendencies
-Content Components: Self-Doubt, Submissiveness

Front 49

What are the highs and lows of the social discomfort scale?

Back 49

-High: uneasy around others
-Low: gregarious, outgoing
-Content Components: Introversion, Shyness

Front 50

What are the highs and lows of the family problems scale?

Back 50

-High: feel deprived, mistreated by their family
-Low: see their family as free from discord
-Content Components: Family Discord, Alienation

Front 51

What are the highs and lows of the work interference scale?

Back 51

-High: variety of work problems,
-Low: adequate energy, capability, capacity for cooperative interactions

Front 52

What are the highs and lows of the negative treatment indicators scale?

Back 52

-High: helpless, hopeless,
-Low: no emotional distress, confident in abilities,-Content Components: Low Motivation, Inability to Disclose

Front 53

What are the highs and lows and other details of the repression scale? R

Back 53

-Content: health/physical symptoms, emotionality, violence, family/relationship problems, social dominance, personal/vocational pursuits
-High: suppression, unwillingness to disclose,
-Low: open, willing to disclose
-Age impacts: older = scores increase

Front 54

What are the highs and lows and other details of the Ego strength scale? ES

Back 54

-Predictive of psychotherapy outcome?
-High: few physical symptoms, little emotional distress,
-Low: significant emotional distress,-Age and education impact: scores decrease slightly

Front 55

What are the highs and lows and other details of the MacAndrew Alcoholism-revised scale? MAC-R

Back 55

-Caution against using with nonwhite ethnic groups
-High: impulsive, risk-taking
-Low: depressed, inhibited,
-Gender and education impact: males score higher, more education = lower scores

Front 56

What are the highs and lows and other details of the Overcontrolled hostility Scale? OH

Back 56

-High: excessive hostility
-Low: acknowledge nervousness and worry

Front 57

What are the highs and lows and other details of the dominance scale? DO

Back 57

-High: poised, self-assured,
-Low: reliance on others, dependency needs
-Education impacts: more education = higher scores

Front 58

What are the highs and lows and other details for the anxiety scale (supplementary scale)? A

Back 58

-Captures problems with attention/concentration, negative emotional tone/dysphoria, lack of energy, pessimism, negative self-evaluation, hypersensitivity, obsessions, and ruminations
-High scores: emotional distress, anxiety
-Low scores: well adjusted,
-Education impacts: more education, less anxiety

Front 59

What are the highs and lows and other details for the social responsibility scale? Re

Back 59

-High: concern for social/moral issues
-Low: antisocial attitudes
-Age and education impact: older = higher scores, more education = higher scores

Front 60

What are the highs and lows and other details for the college maladjustment scale? Mt

Back 60

-High: emotionally distressed, anxious, lacking confidence
-Low: well adjusted, not overly anxious, may be impulsive, but their behaviors are not upsetting
-Education impacts: more education = lower maladjustment

Front 61

What are the highs and lows and other details for the gender roles scale in terms of MEN? GM

Back 61

-High scores: self-confident, stereotypical masculine interests
-Low: significant emotional distress, non-traditional masculine interests

Front 62

What are the highs and lows and other details for the gender roles scale in terms of WOMEN? GF

Back 62

-Feminine (GF)—high: stereotypical feminine interests, socially responsible
-Low: non-traditional feminine activities

Front 63

What are the highs and lows and other details for the Post Traumatic Stress Disorder Scales? PK & PS?

Back 63

-High: emotionally distressed
-Low: well adjusted,
-Education impacts: more education = less distress

Front 64

What are the highs and lows and other details for the Addiction Admission Scale? AAS

Back 64

-High: acknowledging widespread use/abuse of substances
-Low: no report of substance abuse/use
-Age and education impacts: older = lower scores, more education = less abuse/use

Front 65

What are the highs and lows and other details for the Addiction Potential Scale? APS

Back 65

-High: distressed, upset, angry, resentful, concerned about what others think, prone to abuse
-Low: not distressed, not angry, not reporting use/abuse
-Age and education impact: older = lower scores, more education = lower scores

Front 66

What are the highs and lows and other details for the Marital Distress Scale? MDS

Back 66

-High: significant distress in romantic relationships, alienated from others
-Low: absence of general distress and romantic relationship distress
-Age and education impacts: older = lower scores, more education = less distress

Front 67

What are the highs and lows and other details for the Hostility Scale? Ho

Back 67

-High: (Men) hotheaded, bossy, demanding, argumentative
-(Women) nervous, fearful, depressed, paranoid tendencies
-Low: conventional, relate easily to others, trusting, naïve
-Education impacts: more education = less hostility

Front 68

What does AGGR stand for and what does that scale assess?

Back 68

Aggressiveness (AGGR): assesses offensive aggression

Front 69

What scales are the Personality Psychopathology Five?

Back 69

-AGGR
-PSYC
-DISC
-NEGE
-INTR

Front 70

What does PSYC stand for and what does it assess?

Back 70

Psychoticism (PSYC): ability to model the external, objective world

Front 71

What does DISC stand for and what does it assess?

Back 71

Disconstraint (DISC): rule following vs. rule breaking

Front 72

What are the critical items and what are they used for?

Back 72

-Normal individuals endorse a moderate number of critical items
-Purpose is to provide additional information about specific experiences/symptoms represented by the clinical, content, and supplementary scales
-Suicide items should be examined and verified

Front 73

What does NEGE stand for and what does it assess?

Back 73

Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism (NEGE): disposition to experience negative emotions

Front 74

What does INTR stand for and what does it assess?

Back 74

Introversion/Low Positive Emotionality(INTR): disposition to experience positive affects, enjoy social experiences

Front 75

What are the most common codetypes?

Back 75

-1-3/3-1
-2-3/3-2
-2-4/4-2
-2-7/7-2
-4-9/9-4
-6-8/8-6

Front 76

What are the most rare codetypes?

Back 76

-1-0/0-1
-2-9/9-2
-3-0/0-3
-5-0/0-5
-9-0/0-9

Front 77

Which codetypes are most common with men?

Back 77

- 1-2/2-1
- 7-8/8-7

Front 78

What are some codetypes that are most common with women?

Back 78

2-3/3-2 and spike 5

Front 79

What is the most common codetype overall?

Back 79

WNL

Front 80

Which codetypes were studied for stability?

Back 80

2-3, 2-4, 4-8, 4-9, 6-8, 7-8, 8-9

Front 81

Which codetypes are very consistent with diagnoses?

Back 81

6-8/8-6 , 2-7/7-2, 6-9/9-6

Front 82

What is something very important to remember about MMPI-2 Results?

Back 82

A substantial percentage of common code types are not accurate reflections; rather result from inconsistent responding and overreporting

Front 83

Any time scales 5 and 0 are highest elevations what do you do?

Back 83

look to other scales to improve accuracy of interpretation

Front 84

What is something important to remember about WNL profiles?

Back 84

WNL profiles can actually reflect chronically ingrained symptomatology

Front 85

What are the ten steps to attaining results?

Back 85

-Interpretative steps
Well-defined vs. not well-defined codetypes
1st Step: Codetype serves as basis of interpretation
-Requires at least one or two scales to be elevated above a T score of 65
-Criterion group comparison
-Profile elevation: In general, the higher the elevation, the more distress, more ingrained, and resistant to change
2nd Step: Examine the factor scales (Welsh Anxiety & Repression represent how much distress and level of coping)
3rd Step: Configural analysis of Validity and Clinical Scales (L, F, K, & 1, 2, 3, & 6, 7, 8, 9)
Remember: It’s not the behaviors/symptoms, but rather whether they are distressing
Slopes: Zero, positive, negative
4th Step: Scores on Validity, Clinical Scales
5th Step: Low-point scales

Front 86

What is important to remember about demographic information?

Back 86

-Age: Scales assessing physical symptoms—scores increase; Scales assessing psychopathology decrease
-Gender: Women more willing to report; Men more likely to have higher raw scores on alcohol/drug, antisocial, and hostility scales
-Education: Greatest impact—more education, fewer symptoms, more positive attributes
-Marital Status: No impact

Front 87

More info about demographics?

Back 87

Occupation and income: Consistent with education
Race/Ethnicity: No viable differences between African Americans and Whites; Differences between Hispanic & white adolescents; Native Americans score higher than whites; less acculturated Asian Americans more differences than whites
All demographic variables together account for about 10% of the variance in any MMPI-2 scale.
Finally, impact of setting should be considered.