Professional Documents
Culture Documents
the MMPI-3
Yossef S. Ben-Porath
Kent State University
ybenpora@kent.edu
Disclosure
• Yossef Ben-Porath is a paid consultant to the MMPI
publisher, the University of Minnesota Press, and
distributor, Pearson.
• He receives research funding from the University of
Minnesota Press.
• As co-author of the MMPI-2-RF and MMPI-3, he
receives royalties on the sales of test materials and
scorings.
Agenda:
- Background and
Development
Introduction to -
-
Scales and Norms
Resources
MMPI-3 Development
Development: Preliminary Studies
• Response format
• True/False versus Polytomous
• Outcome: Retain T/F format
• Item Improvement
• Awkward/dated wording
• Simplification
I love to go to dances dancing.
• MMPI-2-RF-EX
• Brief biographical questionnaire
• 338 MMPI-2-RF items (43 updated)
• 95 trial items
• Booklet and answer sheet
• Q Local EX
• All new material translated into Spanish
• Garcia/Azan MMPI-2/RF translation starting point
• Rewritten and trial items translated by Dr. Antonio E.
Puente and team at UNC–Wilmington
Development Plan
• Data Collection:
• Field Data
• Sites represent settings in which MMPI is used
• Mental health, medical, forensic, public safety
• Used for:
• Scale development
• Validation
• Comparison groups
• College Studies
• Initial psychometric analyses
• Detailed validation analyses
• Normative Data
• English
• Spanish
• Bilingual
Development: Data Collection
Outcome: Scales
• New Scales:
• Combined Response Inconsistency (CRIN)
• Eating Concerns (EAT)
• Compulsivity (CMP)
• Impulsivity (IMP)
• Self-Importance (SFI)
Outcome: Scales
• Substantially Modified:
• Anxiety (AXY) Anxiety-Related Experiences (ARX)
• Stress/Worry (STW) Stress (STR); Worry (WRY)
• Interpersonal Passivity (IPP) Dominance (DOM)
• Dropped:
• Gastrointestinal Complaints (GIC), Head Pain
Complaints (HPC)
• Multiple Specific Fears (MSF)
• Aesthetic/Literary Interests (AES)
• Mechanical/Physical Interests (MEC)
Outcome: Items
• 52 Scales
• 10 Validity Scales
• 3 Higher-Order Scales
• 8 RC Scales
• 26 Specific Problems Scales
• 4 Somatic/Cognitive
• 10 Internalizing
• 7 Externalizing
• 5 Interpersonal
• 5 PSY-5 Scales
MMPI-3 Scales
Validity Scales
• CRIN Combined Response Inconsistency – Combination of variable and
fixed inconsistent responding
• VRIN Variable Response Inconsistency – Variable inconsistent responding
• TRIN True Response Inconsistency – Fixed inconsistent responding
• F Infrequent Responses – Responses infrequent in the general population
• FP Infrequent Psychopathology Responses – Responses infrequent in
psychiatric populations
• Fs Infrequent Somatic Responses – Somatic complaints infrequent in
medical patient populations
• FBS Symptom Validity Scale – Noncredible somatic and cognitive
complaints
• RBS Response Bias Scale – Exaggerated memory complaints
• L Uncommon Virtues - Rarely claimed moral attributes or activities
• K Adjustment Validity – Claims of uncommonly high level of
psychological adjustment
• Somatic/Cognitive
• MLS Malaise – Overall sense of physical debilitation, poor
health
• NUC Neurological Complaints – Dizziness, weakness,
paralysis, loss of balance, etc.
• EAT Eating Concerns – Problematic eating behaviors
• COG Cognitive Complaints – Memory problems, difficulties
concentrating
Specific Problems Scales
• Externalizing
• FML Family Problems – Conflictual family relationships
• JCP Juvenile Conduct Problems – Difficulties at school and at
home, stealing
• SUB Substance Abuse – Current and past misuse of alcohol and
drugs
• IMP Impulsivity – Poor impulse control and nonplanful behavior
• ACT Activation – Heightened excitation and energy level
• AGG Aggression – Physically aggressive, violent behavior
• CYN Cynicism – Non-self-referential beliefs that others are bad
and not to be trusted
• Interpersonal
• SFI Self-Importance – Beliefs related to having special talents
and abilities
• DOM Dominance – Being domineering in relationships with others
• DSF Disaffiliativeness – Disliking people and being around them
• SAV Social Avoidance – Not enjoying and avoiding social events
• SHY Shyness – Feeling uncomfortable and anxious in the presence
of others
PSY-5 Scales
MMPI-3 Norms
MMPI-3 Norms
• Normative Data
• Collected:
• September 2017 - December 2018
• Recruited via social media, ads, word of mouth
• Thousands screened by phone
• 3,000+ tested
• Paid $50 (per session)
• ~98% tested by computer
• Data available to development team in real
time
MMPI-3 Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by
the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
MMPI-3 Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of
Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
MMPI-3 Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of
Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
MMPI-3 Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of
Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Have the norms changed?
MMPI-3 Normative Sample Men and Women
Scored on MMPI-2-RF Scales and Norms
Men (n=810) Women (n=810)
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
VRIN-r
VR IN -r TTRIN-r
R IN -r F-r
F-r Fp-r
Fp-r Fs
Fs FBS-r
FBS-r RRBS
BS L-r
L-r K-r
K-r
Mean - Men 51 50 56 55 55 51 54 55 50
Standard Dev 10 10 13 11 13 11 11 12 10
Mean - Women 51 51 T 56 53 55 56 55 55 49
Standard Dev 9 10 13 10 14 12 12 12 10
MMPI-3 Normative Sample Men and Women
Scored on MMPI-2-RF Scales and Norms
Men (n=810) Women (n=810)
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
EID THD BXD RCd RC1 RC2 RC3 RC4 RC6 RC7 RC8 RC9
EID T H D BXD R Cd R C1 R C2 R C3 R C4 R C6 R C7 R C8 RC9
Mean - Men 51 53 56 53 54 51 53 56 56 49 54 52
Standard Dev 11 11 11 11 11 12 11 11 12 11 11 10
Mean - Women 53 53 49 54 57 52 53 52 55 52 53 48
Standard Dev 12 11 10 11 11 12 11 11 11 11 11 10
MMPI-3 Normative Sample Men and Women
Scored on MMPI-2-RF Scales and Norms
Men ( n=810) Wome n (n=810)
120
Somatic/Cognitive Internalizing
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
MLS GIC HPC NUC COG SUI HLP SFD NFC STW AXY ANP BRF MSF
120
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
AGGR-r PSYC-r DISC-r NEGE-r INTR-r
AGGR-r PSYC-r DISC-r NEGE-r INTR-r
Mean - Men 55 53 56 51 51
Standard Dev 11 11 11 11 11
Mean - Women 51 52 48 53 52
Standard Dev 10 11 9 11 11
Have the norms changed?
• Yes:
• Largest Validity Scale changes (5-6 T score points
difference in means) on F-r, Fs, FBS-r (women), and L-r
• However these are offset, to some extent, by the larger SDs (12-14
versus 10)
• Nevertheless, T scores are lower on the updated and re-normed F,
Fs, FBS (women), and L scales
• Largest Substantive Scale changes (6-8 T score points
difference in means) on BXD (men), RC1 (women), RC4
(men), RC6 (men), MLS, NUC (women), DISC (men)
• These are less offset by larger SDs
• T scores are lower on updated re-normed Somatization scales
Spanish-Language Norms
Spanish-Language Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual Supplement for the U.S. Spanish-language Translation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Auke Tellegen, and Antonio E.
Puente. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Spanish-Language Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual Supplement for the U.S. Spanish-language Translation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Auke Tellegen, and Antonio E.
Puente. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Spanish-Language Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual Supplement for the U.S. Spanish-language Translation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Auke Tellegen, and Antonio E.
Puente. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Spanish-Language Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual Supplement for the U.S. Spanish-language Translation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Auke Tellegen, and Antonio E.
Puente. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Spanish-Language Norms
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual Supplement for the U.S. Spanish-language Translation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath, Auke Tellegen, and Antonio E.
Puente. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Spanish-Language MMPI-3 Normative Sample Scored Using English-Language
MMPI-3 Norms
Men (n=275) Women (n=275)
120
Validity
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
CRIN VRIN TRIN F Fp Fs FBS RBS L K
CRIN VR IN T R IN F Fp Fs FBS R BS L K
M - Men 55 52 51 F 51 57 51 50 54 61 53
SD 13 12 16 12 16 10 9 9 12 10
M - Women 53 52 52 F 50 55 52 51 55 60 53
SD 12 12 14 12 15 10 9 10 12 10
Spanish-Language MMPI-3 Normative Sample Scored Using English-Language
MMPI-3 Norms
Men (n=275) Women (n=275)
120
Higher-Order Restructured Clinical
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
EID THD BXD RCd RC1 RC2 RC4 RC6 RC7 RC8 RC9
EID THD BXD R Cd R C1 R C2 R C4 R C6 R C7 R C8 R C9
M - Men 47 53 45 46 50 49 45 51 48 53 46
SD 7 10 8 7 9 9 8 10 9 11 9
M - Women 47 52 42 46 51 49 41 50 48 51 45
SD 9 10 7 9 10 10 7 9 9 11 9
Spanish-Language MMPI-3 Normative Sample Scored Using English-
Language MMPI-3 Norms
Men (n=275) Women (n=275)
120
Somatic/Cognitive Internalizing
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
MLS NUC EAT COG SUI HLP SFD NFC STR WRY CMP ARX ANP BRF
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
FML JCP SUB IMP ACT AGG CYN SFI DOM DSF SAV SHY
120
PSY-5
110
100
90
80
70
60
50
40
30
20
AGGR PSYC DISC NEGE INTR
AGGR PSYC D ISC N EGE IN T R
Mean 49 53 45 48 50
SD 8 11 7 7 7
Mean 48 52 42 49 50
SD 7 10 7 8 7
Spanish-Language Norms
• Most means fall within 5 T score points of
English-language normative sample
• Exceptions:
• L (10 T score points higher – both genders)
• BXD, RC4, JCP, DISC (7-9 points lower – women only)
• MLS (6-7 points lower – both genders)
• BRF (9-13 points higher – both genders)
• Somewhat reduced variability
• Separate norms are needed
MMPI-3 Resources
Manual for Administration, Scoring, and
Interpretation
• User qualifications
• Normative sample
• Administration and scoring
• Comprehensive interpretive guidelines
• Case illustrations
• Scoring keys and T score conversions
• Itemmetrics
Technical Manual
• Test development
• Reliability and SEM data
• Appendix B (Externalizing Scales)
Technical Manual
Technical Manual
• Test development
• Reliability and SEM data
• Appendix B (Externalizing Scales)
• Appendix C (Normative Sample)
Technical Manual
Technical Manual
• Test development
• Reliability and SEM data
• Appendix B (Externalizing Scales)
• Appendix C (Normative Sample)
• Appendix D (Empirical Correlates)
Technical Manual
Appendix D
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Technical Manual
Appendix D
Technical Manual
• Test development
• Reliability and SEM data
• Appendix B (Externalizing Scales)
• Appendix C (Normative Sample)
• Appendix D (Empirical Correlates)
• Appendix E (Comparability with MMPI-2-RF
correlates)
Technical Manual
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota.
Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Technical Manual by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota.
Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Technical Manual
• Test development
• Reliability and SEM data
• Appendix B (Externalizing Scales)
• Appendix C (Normative Sample)
• Appendix D (Empirical Correlates)
• Appendix E (Comparability with MMPI-2-RF
correlates)
• Appendix F (Comparison Groups)
• 20 at release
Technical Manual
• Score Report
• Clinical Interpretive Report
• Includes annotation and references
User’s Guide for the Score and
Clinical Interpretive Reports
• Score Report
• Clinical Interpretive Report
• Includes annotation and references
• Customization options
• Comparison groups
• Item-level information
User’s Guide for the Score and
Clinical Interpretive Reports
• Score Report
• Clinical Interpretive Report
• Includes annotation and references
• Customization options
• Comparison groups
• Item-level information
• Interface with Pearson software
Interpretive Guidelines
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the
Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press. All rights reserved.
Scale-by-Scale Interpretive Recommendations:
Substantive Scales
Excerpted from the MMPI-3 Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by
the Regents of the University of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Adapted from Interpreting the MMPI-2-RF by Yossef S. Ben-Porath. Copyright © 2012 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota.
Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press.
Validity Scale Interpretation
MMPI-3 Manual for Administration, Scoring, and Interpretation by Yossef S. Ben-Porath and Auke Tellegen. Copyright © 2020 by the Regents of the University
of Minnesota. Reproduced by permission of the University of Minnesota Press. All rights reserved.
Substantive Scale Interpretation
• Substantive Scales
• Begin with Higher-Order (H-O) Scales
• If only one H-O Scale is elevated, use it as a starting
point then interpret all RC, SP, and PSY-5 scales in that
domain
• Substantive Scales
• Once all H-O and RC Scales have been
interpreted:
• Interpret any remaining elevated SP Scales
• Interpret Interpersonal and Interest scales
• If relevant, add diagnostic and treatment
considerations
Substantive Scale Interpretation
• Substantive Scales
• Once all H-O and RC Scales have been
interpreted:
• Interpret any remaining elevated SP Scales
• Interpret Interpersonal and Interest scales
• If relevant, add diagnostic and treatment
considerations
When to use the worksheet
• When first learning to interpret the MMPI-3
• If you do not routinely use the MMPI-3
• When you want to be sure not to miss any important
interpretive information
• If you want all the interpretive guidance available in
the MMPI-3 Interpretive Report for Clinical Settings
Case Illustrations
Ms. T
• 21-year-old, single woman
• Presented at college counseling clinic with complaints of
low self-esteem, sadness, and anxiety
• Diagnosed with ADHD and prescribed medication in
childhood
• Occasional heavy drinking results in “loss of control”
• Infidelity during one such episode led to recent end of
relationship
• Sadness associated with recent breakup
• Anxiety primarily limited to interpersonal situations
Ms. T: Protocol Validity
• Ms. T responded to all 335 MMPI-3 items.
• There is some evidence of fixed, content-
inconsistent True responding.
• This may reflect an uncooperative test-taking
approach or difficulties with double negatives.
• Scores on the Substantive Scales should be
interpreted with some caution.
Ms. T: Analysis
• Sadness/depression are mild and appear to be
situationally-caused
• Low self-esteem, social anxiety, interpersonal
passivity are likely long-standing
• Drinking may be secondary to social anxiety
• Aggression may be secondary to drinking
• Refer for neuropsychological evaluation of
cognitive complaints and possible ADHD
• Follow up on likely unreported eating disorder
Mr. S
• 26-year-old, single male
• Seen at outpatient mental health clinic be referral
of his employer following complaints by co-workers
about increasingly erratic behavior
• Presentation at intake included:
• very labile mood, ranging from elation to tearfulness
• pressured speech and agitation
• difficulty maintaining attention and concentration
• Mr. S. acknowledged some suicidal ideation but
denied having a plan to harm self or desire to
harm others
Mr. S
• Reported that father died by suicide 10 years
prior to the evaluation, following years of
outpatient and occasional inpatient treatment for
“manic depression.”
Mr. S: Validity Scales
• Mr. S responded to the MMPI-3 items in a relevant
and consistent manner.
• There is no evidence of over- or under-reporting.
• Hus substantive scale scores should provide
accurate information about his psychological
functioning.
Mr. S: Analysis
• MMPI-3 findings combined with referral
information and intake observations point to a
manic or hypomanic episode
• Suicide risk assessment should be conducted
immediately
• Refer for psychiatric evaluation of need for
hospitalization and/or medication
• Need to determine whether grandiosity and
domineering behavior are manifestations of
hypomanic or manic episode versus more enduring
patterns of behavior
Q&A