MMPI Content and Supplemental Scales 5 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: The MMPI-2 Depression (DEP) content scale, compared to Scale 2 (D), is more likely to capture:
- Somatic features of depression such as psychomotor slowing
- Cognitive and ideational aspects including hopelessness and suicidal ideation (Correct answer)
- Seasonal patterns of depressive episodes
- Anhedonia and vegetative depression symptoms
Correct answer: Cognitive and ideational aspects including hopelessness and suicidal ideation
DEP content items emphasize dysfunctional cognitions, hopelessness, and death ideation more explicitly than the subtle Scale 2 items.
Question 2: Which MMPI-2 supplemental scale was developed to identify adjustment difficulties in college students?
- Social Responsibility (Re)
- College Maladjustment (Mt) (Correct answer)
- Ego Strength (Es)
- Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder Scale (PK)
Correct answer: College Maladjustment (Mt)
The College Maladjustment scale (Mt) was developed by Kleinmuntz to identify students with significant emotional adjustment problems.
Question 3: The Keane PTSD Scale (PK) on the MMPI-2 was originally validated on which population?
- Childhood sexual abuse survivors
- Vietnam War veterans with combat PTSD (Correct answer)
- Victims of natural disasters
- Law enforcement officers with critical incident stress
Correct answer: Vietnam War veterans with combat PTSD
Keane and colleagues developed the PK scale using Vietnam combat veterans diagnosed with PTSD as the criterion group.
Question 4: A high score on the MMPI-2 Addiction Potential Scale (APS) indicates:
- Current substance intoxication at time of testing
- Personality and lifestyle characteristics associated with substance abuse risk (Correct answer)
- Acknowledged heavy use of multiple substances
- Successful abstinence with persistent craving
Correct answer: Personality and lifestyle characteristics associated with substance abuse risk
APS items are subtle and identify personality features associated with addiction vulnerability rather than direct acknowledgment of use.
Question 5: The MMPI-2 content scale measuring discomfort with traditional male assertiveness and competitiveness in women is:
- Low Self-Esteem (LSE)
- Gender Role – Feminine (GF) (Correct answer)
- Social Discomfort (SOD)
- Type A Behavior (TPA)
Correct answer: Gender Role – Feminine (GF)
High scores on GF reflect endorsement of traditionally feminine traits including nurturance, gentleness, and concern for others.
Question 6: When interpreting MMPI-2 content scales, a key advantage over clinical scales is that content scales:
- Are more resistant to faking and socially desirable responding
- Have higher internal consistency because items share obvious face-valid content (Correct answer)
- Were derived empirically from criterion groups, increasing validity
- Include subtle items to detect unconscious symptom patterns
Correct answer: Have higher internal consistency because items share obvious face-valid content
Content scales were rationally constructed with thematically homogeneous items, resulting in higher internal consistency than heterogeneous clinical scales.
Question 7: The Social Responsibility (Re) supplemental scale on the MMPI-2 measures:
- Compliance with social rules and sense of civic duty (Correct answer)
- Responsibility for family members and caretaking behavior
- Guilt and self-blame for personal failures
- Prosocial attitudes toward charity and volunteering
Correct answer: Compliance with social rules and sense of civic duty
High Re scorers endorse strong moral values, sense of duty, reliability, and belief in civic and social obligations.
MMPI Content and Supplemental Scales 5
The MMPI-2 Depression (DEP) content scale, compared to Scale 2 (D), is more likely to capture: