Interpretation of moderately elevated MMPI scores for normal subjects

Two opposing views concerning the interpretation of moderately elevated MMPI scores of normal subjects have appeared in the literature. Whereas some authors have suggested that such scores indicate negative characteristics less severe than those suggested by more extremely elevated scores for psychiatric patients, other authors have suggested that such scores may be indicative of more positive characteristics. The present study attempted to determine the relative validity of these two opposing views. Correlates of MMPI clinical scales were determined for 101 male and 101 female college students who had no clinical T-score greater than 75. Subjects described themselves using the Adjective Check List (ACL), and they were also described by peers using the ACL. Point-biserial correlations between MMPI scores and self and peer endorsements on the ACL were computed. For both self and peer data more significant correlations were found than expected by chance. Most of the correlates involved negative characteristics, offering some support for the interpretive approach based on an attenuation of negative descriptors derived for psychiatric patient samples.