The effects of description clarity and disorder type on MMPI-2 FAKE-BAD validity indices

Simulation research indicates that the MMPI-2 validity scales easily detect faked-bad profiles that follow vague, but not specific, instructions. The present study compared the fake-bad validity scales (i.e., F, F-Back, F-K, Fake-Bad Scale, critical items, and O-S scales) for differences among one authentic and four simulation (fake-bad) groups. The simulation groups differed according to the type of disorder simulated (neurotic or psychotic) and the clarity of the behavioral descriptions they received (clear or unclear descriptions). Results indicated that the validity scales together could discriminate (a) clear from unclear description profiles; (b) neurotic from psychotic simulation profiles; and (c) authentic from simulated profiles. Actuarial analyses indicated that participants given clear character descriptions were more likely to escape detection than were participants given unclear character descriptions. Future research on incentive and punishment is considered.