MMPI-3 Overview
The MMPI-3 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-3), published in 2020 by Yossef S. Ben-
Porath and Auke Tellegen, contains 335 items and assesses personality and psychopathology in
adults aged 18+. It builds on the MMPI-2-RF by expanding the item pool, modernizing language,
adding coverage for areas like eating concerns, and using updated norms from 1,620 U.S. adults (810
men, 810 women). Norms match 2020 census data on age, ethnicity, and education; nongendered
norms are also available. Administration takes 45-50 minutes via paper, computer, or audio; scoring
yields T-scores (M=50, SD=10).
Historical Development
The original MMPI (1940s) used empirical keying for 10 Clinical Scales to differentiate patient
groups from nonpatients, but scales showed heterogeneity and high intercorrelations due to
"Demoralization" variance. The MMPI-2 (1989) updated norms and added scales like VRIN/TRIN,
but retained Clinical Scales. MMPI-2 RC Scales (2003) isolated core components by removing
Demoralization (RCd). MMPI-2-RF (2008) restructured into 51 scales for efficiency. MMPI-3
retains 263 MMPI-2-RF items (75 dropped), adds 72 new ones, and relocates scales like Cynicism
(RC3 to Externalizing) and Interpersonal Passivity (now Dominance, reversed).
Scale Structure
MMPI-3 has 52 scales in 8 groups, scored from distributed items to minimize bias.
Validity Scales (9 scales) detect nonresponsiveness, over/underreporting:
• CNS: Unanswered items (≥15 invalidates).
o CNS: Measures the number of items left unanswered or double-marked, indicating
test engagement.
• CRIN/VRIN/TRIN: Inconsistency (random/fixed responding; T≥80 invalid).
o CRIN: Detects global inconsistency in responses, signaling unreliable answering.
o VRIN: Identifies random or careless responding across similar item pairs.
o TRIN: Reveals fixed true/false response bias, indicating acquiescence or counter-
acquiescence.
• F/Fp/Fs/FBS/RBS: Overreporting (infrequent responses; e.g., Fs for somatic exaggeration,
T≥80 suggests malingering).
o F: Captures atypical or infrequent responses suggesting exaggeration or deviance.
o Fp: Detects rare psychopathological responses even among clinical populations,
indicating feigned symptoms.
o Fs: Measures somatic symptom exaggeration beyond typical medical cases.
o FBS: Screens for noncredible somatic or cognitive complaints often seen in forensic
settings.
o RBS: Detects response bias related to cognitive/memory malingering in disability
claimants.
• L/K: Underreporting (virtues/adjustment; T≥80 indicates defensiveness).
o L: Assesses underreporting by endorsing uncommon virtues, signaling defensiveness.
o K: Evaluates self-presentation as overly adjusted or flawless, indicating possible
denial of issues.
Higher-Order (H-O) Scales (3 scales) summarize broad domains (T≥65 elevated):
• EID: Emotional distress (anxiety/depression).
o Summarizes overall emotional/internalizing dysfunction such as anxiety and
depression.
• THD: Disordered thinking (psychosis risk).
o Reflects thought disturbance including psychosis-proneness and perceptual
distortions.
• BXD: Externalizing problems (impulsivity).
o Captures externalizing behaviors like impulsivity, aggression, and rule-breaking.
Restructured Clinical (RC) Scales (9 scales) measure core constructs (T≥65 elevated, T≥80 very
high):
• RCd: Measures demoralization, hopelessness, and lowered morale.
• RC1: Assesses somatic complaints and bodily preoccupation.
• RC2: Captures low positive emotions, including anhedonia and depressive affect.
• RC4: Identifies antisocial behavior patterns, including rule-breaking and empathy deficits.
• RC6: Measures suspiciousness and persecutory beliefs.
• RC7: Reflects dysfunctional negative emotions such as anxiety and irritability.
• RC8: Captures aberrant experiences indicating unusual perceptual or thought patterns.
• RC9: Assesses hypomanic activation with impulsivity and elevated energy.
Specific Problems (SP) Scales (24 scales) detail symptoms:
• Somatic/Cognitive (4): MLS (malaise), NUC (neurological), EAT (eating concerns, new),
COG (cognitive fog).
o MLS: Assesses general health complaints and overall malaise.
o NUC: Measures neurological complaints like dizziness and sensory issues.
o EAT: Screens for eating-related concerns and behaviors.
o COG: Captures cognitive difficulties including memory and concentration problems.
• Internalizing (12): SUI (suicide ideation, critical), HLP (hopelessness), SFD (self-doubt),
NFC (inefficacy), STR/WRY (stress/worry), CMP (compulsivity), ARX (anxiety
experiences), ANP (anger proneness), BRF (restricting fears), MSF (specific phobias).
o SUI: Assesses suicidal and death ideation severity (critical for safety evaluation).
o HLP: Measures feelings of helplessness and hopelessness.
o SFD: Identifies self-doubt and low self-confidence.
o NFC: Reflects perceived inefficacy and inability to meet demands.
o STR/WRY: Assess stress levels and worry or tension symptoms.
o CMP: Measures compulsivity across behaviors/thoughts.
o ARX: Captures anxiety-related experiences and panic symptoms.
o ANP: Measures proneness to anger and irritability.
o BRF: Assesses fears that limit behaviors and activities.
o MSF: Screens for multiple specific phobias.
• Externalizing (7): FML (family problems), JCP (conduct issues), SUB (substance abuse,
critical), IMP (impulsivity), ACT (activation), AGG (aggression, critical), CYN (cynicism).
o FML: Reflects family-related problems and dysfunction.
o JCP: Captures juvenile conduct problems and early antisocial traits.
o SUB: Measures substance use and abuse behaviors (critical).
o IMP: Assesses impulsivity and acting without forethought.
o ACT: Captures activation and emotional intensity.
o AGG: Reflects aggression and hostility (critical for risk assessment).
o CYN: Measures cynicism and mistrust of others.
• Interpersonal (5): SFI (self-importance), DOM (dominance), DSF (disaffiliativeness), SAV
(social avoidance), SHY (shyness).
o SFI: Assesses inflated self-importance and entitlement.
o DOM: Measures assertiveness and controlling interpersonal style.
o DSF: Reflects social detachment and lack of interest in others.
o SAV: Measures social avoidance and discomfort in social interactions.
o SHY: Captures social anxiety and fear of embarrassment.
PSY-5 Scales (5 scales) assess traits:
• SFI: Assesses inflated self-importance and entitlement.
• DOM: Measures assertiveness and controlling interpersonal style.
• DSF: Reflects social detachment and lack of interest in others.
• SAV: Measures social avoidance and discomfort in social interactions.
• SHY: Captures social anxiety and fear of embarrassment.
MMPI-3 Scoring and Interpretation
MMPI-3 scoring converts 335 true/false responses into T-scores (M=50, SD=10) across 52 scales
using gender-based or nongendered norms from a 1,620-adult U.S. sample, preferably via computer
software to minimize errors on 51+ scales.
Interpretation follows a structured 5-step process outlined in the MMPI-3 Manual:
(1) Score and plot the profile;
(2) Evaluate validity—discard if CNS ≥15 (unanswered items), CRIN/VRIN/TRIN ≥80T
(inconsistent responding), F-family ≥99T (overreporting, e.g., Fs for somatic malingering), or L/K
≥80T (underreporting/defensiveness);
(3) Analyze substantive scales via clusters (e.g., somatic: RC1+MLS+NUC+COG; emotional:
EID+RCd+RC7+NEGE) for symptom patterns;
(4) Form diagnostic impressions aiding DSM-5 formulations without direct diagnoses;
(5) Derive treatment recommendations, noting high EID motivates engagement while elevated
RC4/BXD/DISC predicts resistance.
This empirical approach leverages MMPI-3's continuity with MMPI-2-RF correlates, validated in
clinical/forensic settings (Ben-Porath & Tellegen, 2020). Always integrate demographics, history,
and critical items (e.g., SUI, SUB) for context-specific insights.
Follow 5 steps, considering demographics/context:
1. Score/plot profile (computer preferred; 51+ scales).
2. Validity: Rule out CNS≥15, CRIN/VRIN/TRIN≥80 (invalid); F-family≥99 (overreport);
L/K≥80 (underreport).
3. Substantive scales: Cluster for patterns (e.g., somatic: RC1+MLS+NUC; emotional:
EID+RCd+RC7+NEGE-r).
4. Diagnostic impressions (aids DSM-5, not diagnostic).
5. Treatment: Predict engagement (e.g., high RC4/BXD resists; high EID motivates).
Clinical Applications
• Clinical: Diagnose mood/anxiety/psychosis; monitor outcomes.
• Forensic/Public Safety: PCIR for police (stability/impulse control); detect defensiveness.
• Medical: Presurgical (bariatric/spine); predict pain/adherence via RC1/somatic scales.
• Treatment Planning: High RC4/RC9 predicts dropout; CBT for internalizing, skills for
externalizing.
Strengths Weaknesses
Comprehensive psychopathology assessment
Administration time (45-50 minutes) may be
with 52 scales covering broad psychological
lengthy in some clinical/forensic settings.
domains and specific problem areas.
Updated item pool and language for modern Requires proper training and experience for
relevance, including new scales for eating accurate scoring and interpretation due to
concerns and cognitive complaints. complexity.
Normative sample (1,620 adults) is
Validity depends heavily on respondent
representative and includes nongendered
engagement; high CNS or invalidity indices can
norms to improve validity across diverse
render protocols uninterpretable.
populations.
Computerized scoring reduces human scoring Some scales can be influenced by situational
errors and facilitates profile plotting and factors, limiting specificity without clinical
interpretation. correlation.
Incorporates improvements over MMPI-2 and Certain clinical scales (e.g., psychoticism) can
MMPI-2-RF, preserving continuity with be elevated for neurological rather than
established research and interpretation guides. psychiatric reasons, complicating interpretation.
Strong external validation in clinical, forensic, Risk of misinterpretation if used outside of
and medical applications supporting diagnostic intended adult population or without considering
and treatment planning utility. cultural, demographic, and contextual factors.
