I fought the Beast (and the Beast won)

[rachelmanija]

I just took the MMPI-2. Taking and scoring the thing took so much time that the in-class explanation of what our results meant, plus any non-scoring class discussion of the test, must wait till next week. But for the record, my scores are below. Please feel free to interpret if you happen to know how. I think everything is in the "normal" range (below 65, IIRC) so I don't know how meaningful they are.



These are corrected T-scores, NOT raw scores. We didn't do all the validity scales, just the F, L, and K. There are ten validity scales. L is for lying. F flags statistically unusual answers. K corrects for unconsciously trying to make yourself look better.

My code-type (two highest scores) is 8/6, schizophrenic-paranoid. Uh-oh? Third-highest is psychasthenia (anxiety.) (Masculinity/femininity and introversion/extroversion don't count for those purposes.)

1 Hs Hypochondriasis Concern with bodily symptoms: 43
2 D Depression Depressive Symptoms: 47.
3 Hy Hysteria Awareness of problems and vulnerabilities: 45.
4 Pd Psychopathic Deviate Conflict, anger, respect for society's rules: 47.
5 MF Masculinity/Femininity Stereotypical masculine or feminine: 40.
6 Pa Paranoia Level of trust, suspiciousness, sensitivity: 56.
7 Pt Psychasthenia Worry, Anxiety, tension, doubts, obsessiveness: 48.
8 Sc Schizophrenia Odd thinking and social alienation: 59.
9 Ma Hypomania Level of excitability: 51.
0 Si Social Introversion People orientation: 55.

Comments

[kore]

They're still using HYSTERIA? AH HA HA HA HA

.....ahem. There's a "how to read T-scores" here: http://www.ehow.com/how_5107363_read-scores.html

Fuzzy on this, but I think a score of 50 is the mean. The average range is 40-60, so I think a score of 70 or 80 would be cause for concern. So I could be TOTALLY WRONG HERE SRSLY but those all look fairly normal?

[vom_marlowe]

I actually did a bunch of research on MMPI. It's really outdated in terminology and some other factors (do you like to read mechanics magazines always cracks me up.) But the research behind it is so enormous that it remains very useful, basically. No other test has that kind of research and it was administered to lots of people who otherwise, ahem, would have gotten to say "Yeah no, fuck off" today so it's got more data than would be gettable in this day and age.

Late to the party

[mme_hardy]

Yeah, I had to take the full MMPI as part of fighting to get disability. The psych I worked with said, yeah, large parts of it are obsolete, but you have to use it because that's what the judge recognizes.

In particular, the Hs score is going to tag just about anybody with chronic pain, headaches in particular. Historically, it stigmatized agreeing with statements like "I have headaches all the time" even if yes, you do have headaches all the time.

It could be much, much worse. The revised MMPI actually has a Lees-Haley "Fake Bad Scale", so called. (Now officially called the FBS.) It was written by a guy who does court work for insutance companies to detect people who were faking disability". It's really good at detecting people who are faking disability. In fact, you'd be amazed how many disabled people are faking disability. Disabled people certainly are.

[rachelmanija]

Thanks! Yeah, they're all within average norms.

The test content has been changed a lot, but for some reason the original names for categories are the same since the 30s. Not just hysteria, but also psychasthenia, which is a word that no one uses at all any more, so far as I know, except on the MMPI.

[vom_marlowe]

It's partly the medical thing--there's actually a lot of good reasons behind keeping the same name, but I won't bore you with the lonnnnnng librarian neep.

[rachelmanija]

I would be curious, if you had the time.

[rachelmanija]

PS. Is T40 averagely stereotypically feminine?

[jinian.livejournal.com]

ODD THINKING.

[rachelmanija.livejournal.com]

"Are you often possessed by ghosts or spirits?"

[klwilliams.livejournal.com]

I took the MMPI about twenty years ago. It discovered I was depressed and had issues with authority. The last one surprised me, because I hadn't made a big deal out of it, so it was kind of cool. (The first one was obvious.)