The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) test explores the psychopathology of your personality.why it is used so extensively by employers.
The MMPI FAQ: Frequently asked Questions about the MMPI Test and results. We attempted to provide some unbiased answers to questions about the MMPI that the Psychologists who make money from it won’t tell you.
MMPI FAQ: Questions and Answers
There are three main types of MMPI test: two for adults, and a third that is completed by teenagers.
- MMPI-2 – The MMPI-2 test contains a total of 567 questions, all of which require a true or false response. Although this is the oldest of the MMPI tests, it’s still the one used the most and is likely to be the one you are asked to complete. Candidates are expected to complete the test in 60 to 90 minutes.
- MMPI-2-RF – An updated version of the above test, the MMPI-2-RF was introduced in 2008. The number of questions is reduced to 338, but it still requires you to provide a true or false answer. The test is relatively easy if you answer the questions honestly. Candidates will have between 35 and 50 minutes to complete the test.
- MMPI-A – This has been designed specifically for use by teenagers to help to identify behavioural, social or personal problems. As it is aimed at those between 14 and 18 years of age, it’s probably not one that you will encounter during the recruitment process.
Source Wikipedia
If you apply for a job in Government sectors in the USA, it’s likely that you will be asked to take one of the MMPI tests.
The MMPI-2 test is most often used in psychiatric assessments for inpatients and outpatients, though it is also used in a variety of non-clinical settings such as court cases and employment
When it is used in a non-clinical setting, such as during the recruitment process, it can be an effective tool to screen candidates for high-risk positions
The MMPI-2 test is also used for career counseling assessments.
Many of the questions contained within the test allow psychologists to understand how employees are likely to behave in their work environment. Employers in job areas that require mental and emotional stability and good judgment are important.
It is difficult to prepare for the MMPI Test as each time it is administered the operator is looking for different results. For a Job it might be emotional stability, for custody of your children it might be something else. The best way to prepare is to learn how to answer in a neural way so that you do not deviate from a ‘normal person’. You can get a ‘Appearing Normal Cheat Sheet‘ which allows unlimited practice to the MMPI-2 test online for a month.
The MMPI test is designed to assess multiple aspects of a persons personality. This assessment is much more clinical in nature than the average personality test and is built around 10 different clinical scales.
Each of these scales will assess a candidate’s predisposition to abnormal behaviors.
There are also four validity scales which evaluate how honest and accurate the candidate’s answers were.
The MMPI Test also measures how honest a person has been in their answers and presents this as a key component of the results
Scale 1 – Hypochondriasis (Hs)
Within this section, there are 32 questions that focus on how a candidate might perceive various complaints that relate to their health.
Scale 2 – Depression (D)
There are 57 questions in this section, which aim to evaluate whether the candidate is showing signs of clinical depression. This is indicated by signs that include hopelessness, low morale or a general level of dissatisfaction with life.
Scale 3 – Hysteria (Hy)
Through a series of 60 questions, this section is designed to identify people who are overly emotional or display hysteria in stressful situations.
Scale 4 – Psychopathic Deviate (Pd)
Over a total of 50 questions that make up this section, candidates are questioned about issues that relate to social maladjustment, rebelliousness and antisocial behavior. Candidates will be asked about issues they may have with family or authority figures.
Scale 5 – Masculinity/Femininity (Mf)
Through 56 questions, the Masculinity/Femininity scale explores how a candidate might conform to a masculine or feminine stereotype. It looks at activity-passivity, hobbies and career choices, and personal sensitivity.
Scale 6 – Paranoia (Pa)
This scale measures a candidate’s ability or inability to trust others. Through 40 questions, candidates will be questioned on issues such as levels of suspiciousness, self-righteousness and sensitivity. The method of questioning in this section will reveal any tendencies for paranoia or psychotic behavior.
Scale 7 – Psychasthenia (Pt)
The term ‘Psychasthenia’ has now been replaced by ‘Obsessive Compulsive Disorder’ (OCD). The test contains 48 questions which aim to evaluate the presence of certain obsessive tendencies as well as anxiety, fear, doubts and guilt.
Scale 8 – Schizophrenia (Sc)
The longest section in the test, candidates will need to progress through a total of 78 questions. During this section, candidates will be assessed for unusual cognitive, emotional and social tendencies that might suggest schizophrenia.
Scale 9 – Hypomania (Ma)
This scale has 46 questions and measures a candidate for elevated energy levels and unstable moods. Candidates will be asked about things that would indicate excitability, such as rapid thoughts, accelerated speech or restless body movements. It also covers elements such as irritability, narcissism or egocentricity.
The tenth and final category in the MMPI-2 test features 69 questions. The Social Introversion scale measures whether a candidate is comfortable around other people and in social situations. For example, introverts might be uncomfortable in large groups or over-stimulating social situations.
For deeper details see MMPI Test Results
In addition to the ten clinical scales, there are several validity scales.
Sometimes, even without realizing, candidates may answer questions based on what they think are supposed to be the right answers, rather than based on an honest analysis of themselves. The validity scales in the test aim to identify whether the candidate is being truthful in their answers or not.
The key validity scales found in the MMPI-2 test are:
Lie (L)
This category aims to highlight anyone who is trying to sway the results of the test by answering the questions in a specific way.
There are 15 questions in this section that aim to identify whether the candidate is altering their answers to make themselves look better.
F
The ‘F’ scale is used to identify if the questions are being answered in an unusual or obscure way.
This will, for example, determine if the candidate is answering questions randomly.
There are 60 questions in the ‘F’ category which are scattered throughout the test.
Back F (Fb)
Containing a total of 40 questions, this will identify the same things as those in the F category but focuses on the second half of the test.
K
Questions in this category will identify defensiveness but in a subtler way than the ‘Lie’ category.
Outside of those who are well educated and in control of their lives, a high score can indicate that the candidate is being defensive.
There are 30 questions in this section.
Scales in the MMPI test are used to measure both clinical spectrums and the validity of a candidate’s answers.
Other Validity Scales
?
The question mark symbol is used to evaluate completeness and consistency. The ‘?’ will calculate the total number of questions that are left blank during the test.
Cause for concern should be raised when more than 30 of the questions are unanswered.
True Response Inconsistency (TRIN)
Some candidates can be quite strategic in their approach to the test, following a pattern such as fixed responding.
If the candidate uses this method, they will simply mark ten questions ‘true’ and then the following ten ‘false’.
This approach can mean that the candidate either doesn’t understand the test or is being defiant about being asked to complete it.
Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN)
Consistency is one of the most important factors when completing the MMPI test. This scale will measure how consistent you are with your responses, identifying those that are inconsistent or even random.
For deeper details see MMPI Test Results
375 true-false Short Test
Very accurate which is why the test is used so often. When presenting the MMPI for the first time the authors stated The over-all hit rate for the entire sample was 71.4%, with a 68% hit rate for correctly identified patients with multiple personality.
The interruption of the MMPI 2 is called the MMPI-2 SCORE. Assigned to each question within the MMPI quiz is a base score of zero which will in total produce a mean score of around 50 for each of the scales being measured. Certain combinations of answers to the questions will add or minus 1 point of your score and at the end your final result is presented.
The score average is around 50 (The test will adjust averages for males and females and a few other different aspects) with a standard deviation of 10 points per deviation Thus, a score of 60 is one standard deviation above the mean, while a score of 30 is two standard deviations below the mean.
For further details read MMPI Scores: What do they Mean
There is no way to really Beat The MMPI as the test is designed to measure personality traits over a wide range of areas. When applying for a job with the Police, the test results looked for will be different from when applying for an Air Traffic controller position.
The best way to beat the MMPI is to take the test several times and evaluate the results based on the answers you give. With practice you can learn to answer in a way that will produce a desired result. You can do this for only $3.49 here
The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is one of the most commonly used psychological tests in the United States. It’s primarily used to help mental health professionals assess and diagnose mental health conditions, such as schizophrenia, depression, and anxiety.
Although it is also promoted and used in Employment assessment and in Civil Court cases particularly for the custody of children.
The bottom-line is greed. The MMPI has been around for a long time and the owners and promoters of the MMPI test have done extensive work to entrench it into society. Psychologists who train in the MMPI are charged a lot to learn, and in turn charge $800 plus to administer the test and give the results.
With such a profitable market place, those who can administer the MMPI develop an over zealous attitude towards preserving the ability to administer the MMPI within the tight knit community of ‘Approved’ and trained individuals. Pearsons who own the MMPI rights for distribution, will not even make the tool available to Universities for free or at an affordable price.
Pearsons have even taken several people to court who have attempted to liberate the MMPI test and make it free or affordable.
There are many websites that use the term free when searching for how to take the MMPI Personality Test Online. Almost all of them are clickbait and do not provide the MMPI Online Free.
At Pyschtest.net we provide the MMPI 2 Personality Test Online and for Free when you purchase the ‘How to Beat the MMPI Guidebook” for $3.95 While this used to be provided for free, the owners of the MMPI have consistently sued the website for providing it. The way around being able to provide the MMPI for Free Online, was to add it as a bonus free item to a paid product
Why Does the MMPI-2 Ask Similar Questions More Than Once?
You may notice that some MMPI questions appear to cover similar subjects. This is not necessarily accidental repetition. The assessment evaluates patterns across responses, and related questions can contribute information to different scales or help evaluate the consistency of responding.
This is one reason the MMPI-2 should not be approached like a simple questionnaire where each question produces one independent result.
What Are MMPI Validity Questions?
One of the most important features of the MMPI-2 is its validity system. Validity indicators help professionals evaluate whether a profile is interpretable and identify response patterns that may affect interpretation.
The official MMPI-2 includes several validity indicators, including:
Cannot Say (CNS)
VRIN, Variable Response Inconsistency
TRIN, True Response Inconsistency
F, Infrequency
F<sub>B</sub>, Back F
F<sub>P</sub>, Infrequency-Psychopathology
FBS, Symptom Validity
L, Lie
K, Correction
S, Superlative Self-Presentation
These measures are one reason that simply trying to predict which answers will produce a particular personality profile is not a straightforward process.
What Are MMPI Questions Designed to Measure?
MMPI questions contribute to a number of different scales.
The traditional MMPI-2 Clinical Scales include:
Hypochondriasis (Hs)
Depression (D)
Hysteria (Hy)
Psychopathic Deviate (Pd)
Masculinity-Femininity (Mf)
Paranoia (Pa)
Psychasthenia (Pt)
Schizophrenia (Sc)
Hypomania (Ma)
Social Introversion (Si)
The MMPI-2 also includes Restructured Clinical Scales, Content Scales, Supplementary Scales and other measures.
Because multiple scales can contribute to a profile, an individual MMPI question should not normally be interpreted by itself.
What Are MMPI-2 Clinical Scale Questions?
The traditional Clinical Scales are one of the best-known parts of the MMPI-2. The questions associated with these scales cover a broad range of psychological and behavioral characteristics. For example, questions contributing to the Depression scale can relate to emotional functioning, while questions contributing to Social Introversion can relate to social interaction and preferences.
However, the individual questions should not be treated as diagnostic questions. A single response does not establish a diagnosis or determine someone’s score on its own.
What Are MMPI Restructured Clinical Scale Questions?
The MMPI-2 also contains the Restructured Clinical, or RC, Scales.
These include:
RCd, Demoralization
RC1, Somatic Complaints
RC2, Low Positive Emotions
RC3, Cynicism
RC4, Antisocial Behavior
RC6, Ideas of Persecution
RC7, Dysfunctional Negative Emotions
RC8, Aberrant Experiences
RC9, Hypomanic Activation
The RC Scales were introduced as part of the continuing development of MMPI-2 interpretation.
What Are MMPI Content Scale Questions?
The Content Scales provide additional information about specific areas of psychological functioning.
They include areas associated with subjects such as anxiety, fears, depression, health concerns, bizarre thoughts, anger, cynicism, antisocial practices, low self-esteem, social discomfort and family or work difficulties.
These scales provide another level of information beyond the traditional Clinical Scales.
Can You See the Actual MMPI-2 Questions?
The official MMPI-2 is a copyrighted professional psychological assessment. The test materials are distributed through authorized channels, and Pearson currently lists the MMPI-2 as a Qualification Level C assessment.
For that reason, rather than treating an online collection of copied questions as an official version of the assessment, it is important to distinguish between the official MMPI-2 questions and unofficial online reproductions, practice questions or paraphrased examples.
PsychTest.net provides information about the types of questions used by the MMPI-2 and an online practice resource designed to help users become familiar with the True or False format.
MMPI-2 Questions vs. MMPI Practice Questions
There is an important difference between official MMPI-2 questions and practice questions created to familiarize someone with the test format.
Practice questions can demonstrate the general style of the assessment without claiming to reproduce the official copyrighted test materials.
For example, a practice question might present a short statement about mood, social situations, habits or personal experiences and ask the reader to select True or False.
The purpose of a practice question is to demonstrate the format, not to reproduce the official scoring key.
Examples of MMPI-Style Questions
MMPI-style practice questions generally use short statements that ask about the person’s experiences, attitudes or behavior.
Examples of the types of subjects a practice question might address include:
Whether you enjoy being around groups of people
Whether you frequently worry about everyday situations
Whether you have difficulty sleeping
Whether you often feel confident in social situations
Whether you become irritated when other people disagree with you
These examples are illustrative practice questions, not official MMPI-2 items.
The actual MMPI-2 uses its own copyrighted test materials and scoring system.
Why Are MMPI Questions So Broad?
The broad range of questions allows the MMPI-2 to collect information across many different areas rather than focusing on one particular symptom or personality characteristic.
This helps explain why an MMPI questionnaire can move between subjects that appear unrelated.
The inventory was designed as a multidimensional assessment, and its results are interpreted as a profile across multiple scales rather than as a collection of independent answers. The University of Minnesota describes the MMPI-2 as a self-report instrument designed to aid assessment across a wide range of clinical conditions and also notes its use in certain nonclinical and forensic settings.
Do MMPI Questions Have Hidden Meanings?
Some MMPI questions can appear to have a different purpose from their surface wording.
However, it is not useful to assume that every unusual question has one secret meaning.
Different items can contribute to different scales, and the interpretation of the complete profile depends on the overall pattern of responses.
This is also why online lists claiming to reveal the exact meaning of every MMPI question can be misleading.
Can You Prepare for MMPI Questions?
Yes. You can prepare by becoming familiar with the format and understanding how the assessment is structured.
Useful preparation includes:
Learning that the MMPI-2 uses True or False responses
Understanding that the test contains 567 items
Becoming familiar with validity scales
Learning about the different MMPI-2 scales
Allowing enough time to complete the assessment
Practicing with an online MMPI-style test
Understanding how MMPI results are presented
Preparation should focus on understanding the assessment rather than attempting to manufacture a particular profile.
Can You Practice MMPI Questions Online?
Yes. An online practice test can help you become familiar with the experience of answering a large number of True or False personality questions.
PsychTest.net provides an online MMPI practice test for people who want to explore the format, complete a practice assessment and review their results.
The practice test is intended for educational and personal-interest purposes. It is not a professional psychological assessment and does not provide a diagnosis or professional interpretation.
Practice the MMPI Online
For $1.99, you can take the online MMPI practice test and review your results.
Practice the questions. Complete the test. Explore your results.
[TAKE THE MMPI-2 PRACTICE TEST ONLINE]
MMPI Questions and Answers
People searching for “MMPI questions and answers” are often looking for one of several different things.
They may want to know what the questions look like, understand why certain questions are included, find practice questions or learn how responses contribute to MMPI scales.
There is an important distinction between learning about the questions and obtaining an answer key designed to produce a particular result.
The MMPI-2 is designed as a psychological assessment rather than a conventional exam with a universal set of correct answers. Validity indicators are also part of the assessment, which makes the idea of a simple answer key misleading.
Can You Pass the MMPI by Knowing the Questions?
Knowing the wording or general subject of MMPI questions does not provide a universal method for obtaining a particular result.
The MMPI-2 uses multiple scales and validity indicators, and the meaning of a response depends on the overall response pattern.
If you are preparing for an MMPI-2 assessment, understanding the structure of the test is generally more useful than trying to memorize answers.
For more information, see our guide:
How to Prepare for and Pass the MMPI-2
MMPI Questions for Employment
Some people search for MMPI questions because they have been asked to complete an assessment as part of an employment or public-safety evaluation.
The MMPI-2 is used in some nonclinical settings, including assessment of candidates for certain high-risk public safety positions. It is also used in forensic and clinical contexts.
The meaning of an MMPI profile depends on the purpose of the assessment and the professional context in which it is interpreted.
There is therefore no universal set of MMPI answers that guarantees employment or a particular outcome.
MMPI Questions for Psychological Assessment
The MMPI-2 is primarily used as part of professional psychological assessment.
The University of Minnesota describes it as a self-report instrument designed to aid assessment of a wide range of clinical conditions. It is also used in certain forensic and nonclinical settings.
Professional interpretation considers the complete profile rather than treating individual answers as standalone diagnoses.
Frequently Asked Questions About MMPI Questions
How many questions are on the MMPI-2?
The official MMPI-2 contains 567 True or False items.
Are MMPI questions True or False?
Yes. The MMPI-2 uses a True or False response format.
What kind of questions are on the MMPI?
MMPI questions cover a broad range of subjects, including thoughts, feelings, behavior, relationships, physical experiences, attitudes and personal experiences.
Are there correct answers to MMPI questions?
The MMPI-2 is not a conventional knowledge test and does not have a universal answer key of correct responses.
Why does the MMPI ask unusual questions?
The assessment evaluates patterns across many responses and uses multiple scales. Questions that appear unusual individually may contribute information to the overall profile.
Can I practice MMPI questions?
Yes. Practice questions can help you become familiar with the True or False format and the experience of completing a long personality inventory.
Does the MMPI-2 have validity questions?
Yes. The MMPI-2 contains multiple validity indicators, including VRIN, TRIN, F, F<sub>B</sub>, F<sub>P</sub>, FBS, L, K and S.
How long does the MMPI-2 take?
The official MMPI-2 has an administration time of approximately 60–90 minutes.
Can MMPI questions diagnose a mental disorder?
Individual questions cannot establish a diagnosis. Professional interpretation considers the complete assessment and relevant clinical information.
Learn More About the MMPI
If you are researching MMPI questions, the following guides provide additional information:
About the MMPI – history, development and different versions of the MMPI
How to Prepare for and Pass the MMPI-2 – preparation, validity scales and the testing process
MMPI Test Results – understanding MMPI results and profiles
MMPI Scores – understanding T-scores and scale elevations
MMPI Scales – an overview of the different MMPI-2 scales
MMPI-2 Practice Test Online – take an online practice assessment and review your results
Important Information About MMPI Questions
The official MMPI-2 is a professional psychological assessment. PsychTest.net’s online resources are provided for educational and personal-interest purposes and should not be considered a substitute for a professionally administered and interpreted MMPI-2.
If you have been instructed to take an official MMPI-2 for employment, legal, medical or another professional purpose, follow the instructions provided by the organization or qualified professional administering the assessment.
