Download Running head: MMPI-2 1 How was the MMPI

Running head: MMPI-2
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How was the MMPI-2 developed?
The development of the MMPI-2 was first used and developed at the University of Minnesota
Hospital. Some of the first people to have an experience with taking the MMPI-2 was patients, their
relatives, and some visitors of the university. According to (Schatz, N.D., pg. 1), “The MMPI-2 was
introduced by two psychologists by the names of Starke R. Hathaway who was a clinical psychologist
and J. Charnley McKinley who was a neurological psychiatrist.” These two men started testing their
work with the MMPI-2 in the 1930's. According to (Schatz, N.D., pg. 1), “The test was meant to
evaluate subjects from the ages of 16 and 65 who possessed the criteria of being married, living in
small towns and rural areas, and who had only an eight-grade education level.”
They put together over 1,000 potential items, or questions, to use on their inventory but after
their testing during the first round was completed they eliminated some questions that was either
similar or considered to be poorly worded statements. This made the test only visible to 504 questions
to be assessed. All of the questions that had been posed had the effect to seem like they were not being
too formal or have the appearance that they person taking the test was being interrogated.
Starke R. Hathaway and J. Charnley McKinley developed this test to find if a person had a
disorder that was based upon several different disorders. The three categories that would be considered
to reflect upon a patient is either a psychiatric, medical, or neurological disorder, or possibly more than
one category could be considered. These disorders that would be evaluated according to (Schatz, N.D.,
pg. 1) are, “hypochondriacs, depressed patients, hysterics, psychopathic deviates, paranoids,
psychasthenics, schizophrenics, and hypo-manics.”
What are some advantages of using a disorders-based objective personality measure, such as the
MMPI-2?
The advantages of using a disorder-based objective personality measure is that they are
considered to be (Pomerantz, 2011, pg. 207), “extremely well supported by research on its
Running head: MMPI-2
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psychometric characteristics.” There have been many people who have tested the outcomes of the
MMPI-2 on several different subjects and they have yielded a reliable and valid result every time. The
MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A have the advantage to cover a larger area of different settings and it is very
useful in helping a psychologist to form a DSM diagnoses and/or suggesting a place for the patient to
receive treatment. The test is used in many different settings such as in schools, forensics, and other
settings, this gives an advantage of the psychologist to evaluate different people in different settings.
What are some disadvantages?
Some of the disadvantages are that (Pomerantz, 2011, pg. 207), “they have been criticized for
being too lengthy, requiring reading ability and prolonged attention beyond the ability of some clients,
and being susceptible to “faking” by sophisticated clients who can outwit the validity scales.” Another
factor that is considered to be a disadvantage to the use of the MMPI-2 is that their has been an
emphasis placed upon the forms of psychopathology. It is believed that this can cause a comprise of a
person's personality. Whereas it should focus on the emphasizing other aspects of a person's
personality, which could be considered as their normal strengths and traits.
What experiences have you had with psychological testing for diagnostic purposes?
I have taken the MMPI-2 when I was in prison. This test was given to me to try and diagnose
my symptoms of depression correctly. After taking the test it was verified that I did have a depression
disorder and the psychologist set up treatment with a prescribed medication to control the depression.
What do you think about the usefulness of testing you have had, if any?
I feel that the testing helped the psychologist to evaluate me better and to diagnose me correctly.
Without the testing he could have just made a guess and found out that I was suffering from anxiety
instead of depression.
References
Pomerantz, Andrew M. (2011). Clinical psychology science, practice, and culture 2nd Ed.
Running head: MMPI-2
Thousand Oaks, CA.: SAGE Publications, Inc.
Schatz. (N.D.). History and development of the MMPI. Retrieved from.
http://schatz.sju.edu/psycheval/personality/mmpi/mmpi_history.html
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