Running Head: MMPI TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

MMPI: Testing For Personality

Katherine Roberts
University of North Texas

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

Abstract
In this paper you will find information about the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory and its various other forms. A summary of the
assessments, examples, and evaluation will be discussed. The validity
and reliability of the MMPI can also be found here, as well as the
strengths and weaknesses of this particular psychopathology
evaluation. This is a compilation of information from various peerreviewed articles found in the University of North Texas Library
databases and from the Internet including information from several
psychology encyclopedias. Explanations and examples of the MMPI will
be given throughout the paper, as well as the authors personal
feelings about exploring the world of the Minnesota Multiphasic
Personality Inventory.

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory is notably the

most frequently used test in psychology clinics. Starke Hathaway, PhD
and J.C. McKinley, MD created the first edition of the MMPI in 1939 to
measure psychopathology and the structure of a persons personality.
Pearson distributes the test and University of Minnesota Press is the
publisher. The MMPI was developed to assess symptoms that come
with social and personal maladjustment, provide back up for clinical
psychiatric evaluations, or even provide insight for family counseling.
(Butcher, 2001) People with potential mental problems are the
targeted population for the MMPI, suspects for crimes may also be
given this test prior to conviction.
Specific theories were not used to develop the original MMPI,
which made it different than any other test of the time period. By not
having any theories to follow, the MMPI was presumably better at
capturing information from the human psyche. The 567 True or False
questions of the MMPI can be given electronically, on a CD, or by pen
and pencil and can take anywhere from 60 minutes to 90 minutes to
complete. (Butcher, 2001) To complete the test, the test taker is
required to have at least a 5th grade reading level and it is best that the
test taker and the person administering the test have had at least one
meeting prior to the test time to reassure the test taker. (Sundberg,
1973) The MMPI has had very good reviews since its development, but

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

not enough to keep it from being revised. Early reviews of the original
test showed that the scales were not reliable or pure measures for
diagnostic purposes, which led to the beginnings of revision for MMPI2.
Robert M. Gordon researches the sensitivity of the MMPI-2 clinical
scales and how clients are rated on the Psychodiagnostic Chart. He
studied research from many other researchers and found that the
revised scales on the MMPI-2 are not made to assess the issues
associated with Hysteria, Post Traumatic Stress Disorder, or Borderline
personality. (Gordon, 2013) Gordons research backs up revisions made
to the tests hysteria scale. The revised MMPI is one of the most
frequently used tests in clinics today. The MMPI has been revised and
changed into the MMPI-2 for adults over the age of 18, as well as the
MMPI-A, which is a test designed specifically for adolescents under the
age of 18. Closely related tests are the Millon Clinical Multiaxial
Inventory III or MCMI-III that looks at personality structures, but takes
half the time of the MMPI-2. The PAI, 16PF, and Myers-Briggs tests are
personality structure tests similar to the MMPI-2, but they are more
commonly used for people who are not potentially psychotic. The
original MMPI was revised only once because the scales were not
measuring pure personality. (Karp, 2001)
While there are many strengths and weaknesses of the MMPI-2,
the strengths seem to outweigh the weaknesses due to its very wide

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

usage. Being the most widely used test also means it is the most
researched psychopathology test on the market. More research means
that more people are learning about the test and the test will likely be
used for many more years because of its validity that has come from
the 60 years it has been used. Another strength is that this test cannot
be obtained without a license or a graduate level psychology degree.
This eliminates the possibility of a person being able to look up the test
prior to taking it and altering their results. However, there are several
weaknesses that cannot be overlooked. One of those weaknesses is
the length, at 567 questions the MMPI-2 is the longest personality
inventory. The test was also developed using only psychiatric patients
rather than medical patients. Psychiatric patients will not likely have a
medical issue causing pain or disability causing their focus to wane or
keep them from completing the very long MMPI-2. A medical patient
might also be impaired due to medications they are given, but the
administrator of will be able to correct the issues when scoring the test
should this situation occur. The future looks very good for the
Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory because it has prevailed
through almost 60 years of use with only one true revision and
remained on top despite the length and other weaknesses. (Munley,
2002) The content has held up through the changing times and held
true to the population taking the exam, since the population has
changed so very much since the 1930s, the MMPI will obviously be

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

able to stand up against others in the future, no matter what the

changes that occur in people.
Learning about the MMPI, MMPI-2, and MMPI-A has been very
interesting for me. Digging through many sources that were traced
back to Wikipedia and actual reliable sources was a challenge, as well
as finding answers to the rubric questions in some of the research
articles. Seeing as I hope to be a family counselor after graduation, I
will likely be using the MMPI-2 when domestic issues occur and police
become involved. I will need to be able to understand what the test
shows and be able to explain it to others when need be to help the
family in question. This research assignment has opened up my mind
to what this test entails and what other therapists and scientists think
of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory. I am looking
forward to using the MMPI and all of its various forms and similar tests
in my career, as they will allow me to delve deeper into what goes on
in peoples minds.
References
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Boone, D. (1994). Reliability of the MMPI-2 Subtle and Obvious scales
with
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Early 21st
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Butcher, J. N. & Williams, C. L. (2012). Problems with Using the MMPI-2RF in

MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY

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MMPI: TESTING FOR PERSONALITY