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Psychometric characteristics of the MMPI-2 Cook-Medley Hostility scale

K Han1, N C Weed, R F Calhoun

  • 1Department of Psychology, University of Mississippi, 38677, USA.

Journal of Personality Assessment
|December 1, 1995
PubMed

Insights

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) Hostility (Ho) scale measures cynicism and negative affectivity. It relates to psychopathology and spouse-rated hostility, particularly in men, revealing four underlying dimensions.

Area of Science:

  • Psychological assessment
  • Personality psychology
  • Clinical psychology

Background:

  • The Cook-Medley Hostility scale (Ho) of the original Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is linked to coronary disease.
  • Limited research exists on the Ho scale within the revised MMPI-2.
  • Understanding the psychometric properties of the MMPI-2 Ho scale is crucial for its accurate application.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the psychometric characteristics of the MMPI-2 Hostility (Ho) scale.
  • To assess the relationship between the MMPI-2 Ho scale and other MMPI-2 scales.
  • To explore the dimensions underlying the MMPI-2 Ho scale.

Main Methods:

  • Analysis of the MMPI-2 Ho scale items, noting minimal changes from the original MMPI.
  • Correlational analyses between Ho scores and other MMPI-2 scales (CYN, K, TPA, ASP).
  • Principal components analysis (PCA) of the Ho scale items.

Main Results:

  • MMPI-2 Ho scores showed high correlations with scales measuring cynicism, general psychopathology, and negative affectivity.
  • Spouse ratings indicated that male Ho scorers were perceived as hotheaded and argumentative.
  • For women, Ho scores were less associated with overt hostility ratings.
  • PCA identified four dimensions: Cynicism, Hypersensitivity, Aggressive Responding, and Social Avoidance.

Conclusions:

  • The MMPI-2 Ho scale functions as a measure of cynicism and is associated with negative affectivity and psychopathology.
  • The scale's relationship with overt hostility differs between genders.
  • The MMPI-2 Ho scale encompasses distinct dimensions of personality and response patterns.

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