Posted by Dinah on December 7, 2001, at 10:14:37
In reply to Re: Has anyone taken the MMPI? » Dinah, posted by mair on December 7, 2001, at 9:29:04
> Dinah - what is the test supposed to reveal, a particular diagnosis or a personality type? What do the scores mean - not yours specifically but how is the scoring done generically.
>
> MairIt doesn't correspond exactly to a DSM-IV diagnosis (I think it predates DSM), although there is some statistical correlation between certain results and certain diagnoses. It measures components of personality, mainly pathological components, based on 9 (or 10 if you count introversion) scales each designed to measure certain traits. Some of the multiple choice questions are obvious, others are more subtle. The questions were chosen on the basis of a statistical relationship between the answers to a given question by a person already determined to have a certain characteristic and a control group. I'm sure I'm not explaining this well.
Your elevations both on specific scales and on groups of scales is supposed to reveal something about your personality. And elevations on the group of scales 2-7-8 means something different than merely the elevation of 2 and 7 and 8, because of the overlap of the questions. Tons of research work has been done on the MMPI because it has been around forever and over time, various subscales and supplementary scales have been developed.
Very simplistically (and perhaps not perfectly accurately) and using my own results as an example- An elevation in scale 2 indicates a depressive, pessimistic, guilt prone style. An elevation in scale 7 would indicate a ruminative, anxious, perfectionistic style. Scale 8 is a measure of alienation, idiosyncratic thinking, and a tendency to fantasize. But put together they mean something a little different, although similar to the three added together. And the description of the 2-7-8 type is far too extensive and nuanced to easily summarize. That's why I was so amazed at its accuracy. It does have some relationship to schizotypal personality style and also to OCD. It has been suggested that I have both of these.
I'll bet you are sorry you asked. :-)
poster:Dinah
thread:15071
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/social/20011207/msgs/15157.html