MMPI-2 Restructured MMPI-2 Restructured Clinical ScalesClinical Scales(RC) Scales(RC) Scales

William P. WattlesWilliam P. Wattles

Francis Marion UniversityFrancis Marion University

Invalid protocolsInvalid protocols

Cannot say >30Cannot say >30 VRIN or TRIN VRIN or TRIN ≥≥8080 F or F(p) F or F(p) ≥≥100100 Fb Fb ≥≥ 110 110 L L ≥≥ 80 80 K K ≥≥ 75 75

MMPI-2MMPI-2

Good for measuring:Good for measuring:– Personality characteristicsPersonality characteristics– Behavioral tendenciesBehavioral tendencies– Emotional functioningEmotional functioning– Psychopathology symptomsPsychopathology symptoms

Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly intercorrelatedhighly intercorrelated

Hinders construct validityHinders construct validity Empirical keyingEmpirical keying

– convergentconvergent– Discriminant Discriminant

Current TechniquesCurrent Techniques– Code typesCode types– Harris Lingoes scalesHarris Lingoes scales– Supplementary scalesSupplementary scales

Construct ValidityConstruct Validity

The extent to which a measurement The extent to which a measurement method accurately represents a method accurately represents a construct and produces an construct and produces an observation distinct from that observation distinct from that produced by a measure of another produced by a measure of another construct. construct.

Convergent and discriminant Convergent and discriminant validityvalidity

Convergent and discriminant validity Convergent and discriminant validity are both considered subcategories or are both considered subcategories or subtypes of construct validity. subtypes of construct validity.

Convergent and discriminant Convergent and discriminant validityvalidity

In general we want convergent In general we want convergent correlations to be as high as possible correlations to be as high as possible and discriminant ones to be as low as and discriminant ones to be as low as possible.possible.

Discriminant validityDiscriminant validity

To establish discriminant validity,  To establish discriminant validity,  you need to show that measures that you need to show that measures that should should notnot be related are in reality be related are in reality notnot related.  related. 

ConvergentConvergent ValidityValidity

To establish convergent validity, you To establish convergent validity, you need to show that measures that need to show that measures that should be related are in reality should be related are in reality related.related.

Thus, those with elevated scale 4 Thus, those with elevated scale 4 have been shown to have more have been shown to have more arrests.arrests.

Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales significant item overlapsignificant item overlap

The average number of overlapping The average number of overlapping items per pair of the ten clinical sales items per pair of the ten clinical sales is 6.4 items. is 6.4 items.

ExamplesExamples– 7-8 (17)7-8 (17)– 2-7 (13)2-7 (13)– 2-3 (13)2-3 (13)– 6-8 (13)6-8 (13)– 4-0 (11)4-0 (11)

Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales highly intercorrelatedhighly intercorrelated

A factor called anxiety, general A factor called anxiety, general maladjustment or emotion distress maladjustment or emotion distress explains much of the variance among explains much of the variance among scales. scales.

Floating profiles.Floating profiles.

Intercorrelations result in most or all Intercorrelations result in most or all scales being elevated making it scales being elevated making it difficult to determine which scale to difficult to determine which scale to focus on. focus on.

Demoralization Scale (RCd)Demoralization Scale (RCd)

This factor is removed from the other This factor is removed from the other scalesscales

Items selected for relevancy to core Items selected for relevancy to core of each scaleof each scale

Items selected forItems selected for– Convergence, high correlation with scaleConvergence, high correlation with scale– Discrimination, low correlations with Discrimination, low correlations with

other scales.other scales.

Restructured ScalesRestructured Scales

Intercorrelations Intercorrelations

Page 157Page 157 Intercorrelations are reduced.Intercorrelations are reduced. For exampleFor example

– Scale 1 and Scale 2 =.56Scale 1 and Scale 2 =.56– Scale RC1 and RC2 = .27Scale RC1 and RC2 = .27– Scale 7 and Scale 2 = .65Scale 7 and Scale 2 = .65– RC7 and RC2 =.31RC7 and RC2 =.31

MMPI-2 RESTRUCTURED CLINICAL SCALES PROFILE

Clinical Scale 2Clinical Scale 2

After demoralization is removed a After demoralization is removed a low positive emotionality component low positive emotionality component emerged.emerged.– Consistent with theories seeing this as Consistent with theories seeing this as

the core of depression.the core of depression.

Clinical Scale 3Clinical Scale 3

When RCd removed 3 components When RCd removed 3 components left:left:– SomatizationSomatization– ExtraversionExtraversion– NaiveteNaivete

Naivete negatively correlated with Naivete negatively correlated with psychopathologypsychopathology

RC scales evaluationRC scales evaluation They show convergent validity equal to or They show convergent validity equal to or

superior to the clinical scales and the superior to the clinical scales and the content scales. content scales.

They often offer a substantial They often offer a substantial improvement over clinical scales improvement over clinical scales discriminant validity. (not being discriminant validity. (not being significantly correlated to unrelated significantly correlated to unrelated characteristics.) characteristics.)

The RC scales provide a more clearly The RC scales provide a more clearly focused assessment of the primary focused assessment of the primary distinctive components of the Clinical distinctive components of the Clinical Scales. Scales.

Interpretation of RC scalesInterpretation of RC scales

RC scale tells about elevations in the RC scale tells about elevations in the core construct.core construct.

Clinical scale may include other Clinical scale may include other characteristics as wellcharacteristics as well

RCd DemorilizationRCd Demorilization

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65)– DiscouragedDiscouraged– Poor self-esteemPoor self-esteem– PessimisticPessimistic– Expect to failExpect to fail– OverwhelmedOverwhelmed– incapableincapable

RC1 Somatic complaintsRC1 Somatic complaints

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65)– Large number of physical complaintsLarge number of physical complaints– Chronic painChronic pain– Preoccupied with bodily functionsPreoccupied with bodily functions– Resistant to psychological explanationsResistant to psychological explanations– Develop physical symptoms in response Develop physical symptoms in response

to psychological difficultiesto psychological difficulties

RC2 Low Positive EmotionsRC2 Low Positive Emotions

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65)– Lack of positive emotional engagement Lack of positive emotional engagement

in lifein life– Lack energyLack energy– Difficulty taking charge or making Difficulty taking charge or making

decisionsdecisions– Inroverted, passive, withdrawnInroverted, passive, withdrawn– Bored isolatedBored isolated– Low expectations of successLow expectations of success

RC3 CynicismRC3 Cynicism

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) See others as:See others as:

– untrustworthyuntrustworthy– UncaringUncaring– exploitiveexploitive

Low scores (Low scores (≤40)≤40) NaïveNaïve GullibleGullible Overly trustingOverly trusting

RC4 Antisocial BehaviorRC4 Antisocial Behavior

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) Difficult to conform to societal normsDifficult to conform to societal norms Difficulties with the lawDifficulties with the law Increased risk for substance abuseIncreased risk for substance abuse AggressiveAggressive Conflictual relationshipsConflictual relationships Seen as critical, argumentative, angry, Seen as critical, argumentative, angry,

antagonistic.antagonistic. Problems in school and workProblems in school and work

RC6 Ideas of persecutionRC6 Ideas of persecution

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) Feel targeted, controlled and Feel targeted, controlled and

victimized by others. victimized by others. Suspicious, difficulty trustingSuspicious, difficulty trusting

RC7 Dysfunctional Negative RC7 Dysfunctional Negative EmotionsEmotions

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) Anxiety and irritabilityAnxiety and irritability Often have intrusive, unwanted thoughtsOften have intrusive, unwanted thoughts InsecureInsecure Sensitive to perceived criticismSensitive to perceived criticism Ruminate and brood about failuresRuminate and brood about failures Passive and submissive in relationshipsPassive and submissive in relationships

RC8 Aberrant experiencesRC8 Aberrant experiences

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) Sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and Sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and

motor disturbances suggestive of motor disturbances suggestive of psychosis.psychosis.

HallucinationsHallucinations DelusionsDelusions Scores above 75 suggest Scores above 75 suggest

schizophrenia, delusional disorder.schizophrenia, delusional disorder.

RC9 Hypomanic activationRC9 Hypomanic activation

High scores (THigh scores (T≥65)≥65) Thought racingThought racing High energy levelsHigh energy levels Heightened mood & irritabilityHeightened mood & irritability Aggressive, poor impulse controlAggressive, poor impulse control Sensation seekers, risk takersSensation seekers, risk takers Above 75 suggest bipolar, manic episodeAbove 75 suggest bipolar, manic episode 60-70 extraverted with energy60-70 extraverted with energy

ValidityValidity

The restructured clinical scales The restructured clinical scales provide the most parsimonious provide the most parsimonious assessment of psychopathic assessment of psychopathic personality traits. personality traits.

Incremental ValidityIncremental Validity

Some overlap of present content and Some overlap of present content and supplementary scales.supplementary scales.– RC1 Correlates .95 with health concernsRC1 Correlates .95 with health concerns– RC3 correlates .93 with cynicism content RC3 correlates .93 with cynicism content

scalescale– RCd correlates .95 with Welsh’s Anxiety RCd correlates .95 with Welsh’s Anxiety

ScaleScale

SummarySummary

The RC scales represent a modest The RC scales represent a modest psychometric improvement over the psychometric improvement over the standard clinical scalesstandard clinical scales

Partial success at removing Partial success at removing nonspecific distress variance makes nonspecific distress variance makes profiles easier to interpretprofiles easier to interpret

New scales need no data for New scales need no data for interpretationinterpretation