MMPI-2 Flashcards
The research has found that child custody litigants often respond to MMPI-2 items in a defensive way that’s indicated by:
A. a higher than normal score on the F scale and lower scores on the L and K scales.
B. a lower than normal score on the S scale and higher scores on the F and L scales.
C. higher than normal scores on the L and K scales and a lower score on the F scale.
D. higher than normal scores on the S and F scales and lower scores on the L and K scales.
Answer C is correct. Even if you’re unfamiliar with research on the MMPI-2 scores of child custody litigants, you would have been able to identify answer C as the correct answer as long as you noticed that the question states that these individuals often respond to items in a defensive way and know that high scores on the L, K, and S scales suggest defensiveness (an attempt to “fake good”), while a high score on the F scale suggests an attempt to “fake bad.”
Theo, age 35, lost sensory and motor functioning in his left hand after being in a car accident that killed his best friend. His physician has found no medical explanation for Theo’s symptoms. On the MMPI-2, Theo is most likely to obtain which of the following?
A. elevated scores on scales 1 and 3 with a lower score on scale 2
B. elevated scores on scales 6 and 8 with a lower score on scale 7
C. elevated scores on scales 2, 4, and 7
D. elevated scores on scales 2, 7, and 8
Answer A is correct. The presence of neurological symptoms without a physical explanation for them is characteristic of conversion disorder and individuals with conversion disorder often obtain the conversion V pattern on the MMPI-2, which is the pattern described in Answer A. Answer B is the psychotic V pattern and is associated with delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and disordered thought. Answer C is the pattern associated with alcohol and drug abuse, vague somatic complaints, and relationship- and work-related problems. It isn’t the best answer because Theo has a specific somatic complaint rather than vague somatic complaints and the question doesn’t indicate that he has an alcohol or drug problem or interpersonal- or work-related problems. And answer D is the pattern associated with chronic psychological maladjustment, anxiety, depression, internal conflict, and poor self-esteem.
A psychologist interviews 28-year-old Jack who was recently incarcerated. Jack is forthcoming during the interview and is willing to disclose the behaviors that led to his incarceration and other problematic behaviors, and he seems to have previously undiagnosed psychopathology. On the MMPI-2, Jack is most likely to obtain which of the following?
A. high L and high K scale scores
B. high F and low VRIN scale scores
C. low F and low Fb scale scores
D. high S and high TRIN scale scores
Answer B is correct. Of the answers given, answer B is the best answer: Individuals who have genuine psychopathology are likely to obtain the combination of a high F scale score and a low VRIN scale score. Answers A and D can be eliminated because high L and high K scale scores indicate an attempt to “fake good,” and a high S scale score similarly indicates denial or defensiveness – but the question indicates that Jack is willing to disclose his problems. Answer C can be eliminated because low F and low Fb scale scores do not indicate that an examinee has answered in a way that suggests actual or faked psychopathology.
The three-point code known as the psychotic valley consists of which of the following?
A. elevated scores on scales 1 and 3 with a lower score on scale 2
B. elevated scores on scales 6 and 8 with a lower score on scale 7
C. elevated scores on scales 1, 2, and 3
D. elevated scores on scales 6, 7, and 8
Answer B is correct. The psychotic valley is also known as the psychotic V, and these names suggest that the code consists of two high scores and one lower score, which eliminates answers C and D. Answer A is the conversion V code which is associated with the expression of psychological symptoms as somatic complaints. Answer B (the correct answer) is the psychotic V code and is associated with delusions, hallucinations, paranoia, and disordered thought. Even if you’re unfamiliar with the psychotic V, knowing that the V refers to the presence of two high scores with a lower score and that scale 8 is the Schizophrenia scale would have helped you identify the correct answer to this question.
A 21-year-old man is extraverted and talkative and has a history of impulsive and criminal behaviors that began during his pre-adolescent years. He will most likely obtain elevated scores on which of the following MMPI-2 clinical scales?
A. 1(Hs) and 3(Hy)
B. 1(Hs) and 6(Pa)
C. 0(Si) and 4(Pd)
D. 4(Pd) and 9(Ma)
Answer D is correct. It makes sense that a person with a history of criminal behaviors will obtain an elevated score on scale 4, which is the Psychopathic Deviate (PD) scale. This narrows the choices to answers C and D: Answer C can be eliminated because scale 0 is the Social Introversion scale. A high score on this scale indicates social discomfort and withdrawal, but this young man is extraverted and talkative. That leaves answer D which is elevated scores on the Psychopathic Deviate and Hypomania scales. Individuals with high scores on these scales have antisocial tendencies and are manipulative, impulsive, and extraverted.
