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Interpretation of moderately elevated MMPI scores for normal subjects
Journal of Personality Assessment
|October 1, 1985
Summary
This study examined moderately elevated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores in healthy individuals. Findings suggest these scores correlate more with negative characteristics, supporting an attenuated interpretation for non-clinical populations.
Area of Science:
- Psychological Assessment
- Personality Psychology
Background:
- Interpretation of moderately elevated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scores in non-clinical populations is debated.
- Some researchers suggest these scores indicate milder negative traits, while others propose they reflect positive characteristics.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the validity of interpreting moderately elevated MMPI scores in normal subjects.
- To determine if these scores are associated with negative or positive characteristics.
Main Methods:
- 101 male and 101 female college students with no MMPI clinical T-scores above 75 participated.
- Subjects and their peers completed the Adjective Check List (ACL).
- Point-biserial correlations analyzed MMPI scores against ACL self- and peer-reported adjectives.
Main Results:
- Statistically significant correlations between MMPI scores and ACL endorsements were observed beyond chance levels for both self and peer data.
- The majority of these correlations indicated associations with negative characteristics.
- Results provide support for an interpretive approach viewing elevated MMPI scores as an attenuation of negative descriptors.
Conclusions:
- Moderately elevated MMPI scores in healthy individuals appear to be associated with negative characteristics.
- This finding supports an interpretive framework that considers these scores as a less severe manifestation of traits seen in clinical populations.
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