Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, Essay Example

The validity and bias using the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

There have been investigations on the validity and biasness, when using the instruments especially with clients from minority cultures by Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The socioeconomic and ethnicity factors account for the differences in MMPI between Anglo-American and Mexican-American male offenders. It has been noted by the researches that they are certain ethnic or racial factors which are affecting the Mexican’s MMPI scores. There was Fake Bad scale that was developed so as to identify the emotional distress malingering within claimants who were seeking personal injuries compensation. There were added to the MMPI scoring materials which resulted to dissemination in all the clinical setting which use MMPI in the psychological evaluation (Dana, 1988).

Fake bad scale (FBS) was mainly developed by the use of Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory so as to detect the personal injuries malingers. Ethnicity has been described in distinctive patterns terms of the cultural communication which contribute to special identity. A group is self identified and does not only share common style in history, but values and behaviors as well. There has been an argument that the thoughts which are determined culturally process bias MMPI although unintentionally by ignoring the differences in groups. These thought processes mainly include the mild ethnocentrism, etic preoccupation and Eurocentric world view. Therefore, whatever taken for granted in assessors and the clients becomes obstacle for interpretation that is inaccurate. Conceptualization of science on positive empiricist has produced methodology which is imperfectly applied in the research published. Many researchers as well as practitioners hold some antiquated beliefs that are scientific, which reinforce the personal bias as it is exposed in the group that is dominant (Irving, Donald, John & Jack, 2003).

The Anglo-American and Mexican-American students in college differed on the MMPI scale scores. Mexican-Americans were found to score higher on L and PA scale. This led to a suggestion that Mexican-Americans are less likely to reveal the pathology. This difference on L and K scales involving Anglo-Americans and Mexican-Americans subjects is mainly attributed to the ethnicity. This may also have been as a result of differences between Mexican-American culture and Anglo-American culture. It was also reported that Anglo-American males scored higher on Masculinity-Femininity scale than Mexican-Americans males. This is a suggestion that Mexican-American men adhere to their traditional male roles, and that, Mexican-American may be uncomfortable to reveal their mental distress. MMPI differences between Anglo-American and Mexican-American male offenders may have been caused by socioeconomic and ethnicity factors. MMPI differences was expected to be caused by or attributed to the cultural factors. These differences were found on the L and K scales. It was concluded by the researchers that certain ethnic or racial factors could have been possible causes that were affecting the scores of Mexicans’ MMPI.

According to some investigation carried out on the variation in the MMPI differences, it was found that, the Mexican-Americans score deviates considerably from that of Anglos due to cultural or ethnic factors. However, it was not due to socioeconomic or even educational factors. It can conclude that the results to get in future by MMPI research with Mexican-Americans are supposed to clarify the ethnicity effect on the performance of MMPI (Richard & Whatley, 1991).

There has been an argument that caution should be taken when using MMPI with Americans racial or ethnic minority groups. An unintended ethnocentric thinking which reduces the differences in culture is likely to result to MMPI incorrect interpretation. Personality awareness of the group may result to independent and separate data on the cultural identification as well as the view of the world in providing some bias mitigation. Eticemic distinction is a prompt that MMPI is an etic tool that has limitations which increase as culture becomes dissimilar from middle class behavior and attitude of Anglo-American. Though there are moral, ethical and professional dilemmas intrinsic in the use of MMPI on people who are culturally diversified, these paradoxes are likely to be overlooked in settings of service that are culture bound, coercive in professional time demand and cultural bounds.

Assessors’ who are thinking about interpretation of MMPI for non-White, middle class people of Anglo origin should begin familiar routines which suggest the ecological and structural properties. Afro-Americans have some alienation symptoms different from the mainstream culture of America. However, they share with one another a formation process of identity as well as several culturally coping styles which may not be distinguished from profile of MMPI as instrument does not tap cultural group consciousness which differ from the original standardization group.

References

Dana, R.H. (1988, May). Culturally Diverse Groups and MMPI Interpretation. Professional psychology: Research and practice, 19(5), 490-495.

Irving, B.W., Donald, K.F., John, R.G. and Jack, A.N. (2003). Handbook of Psychology: Assessment psychology. London: John Wiley and Sons.

Richard, H.D. & Whatley, P.R.(1991, May). When does a difference make a difference? MMPI scores and African-Americans. Journey of clinical psychology, 47(3), 1-420.