An interpersonal analysis of Rorschach aggression variables in a normal sample.

This study investigated the relationship between Rorschach aggression variables and a self-report measure of interpersonal control and aggression (Structural Analysis of Social Behavior), rated for best and worst states, with 50 college students using forward stepwise regression analyses. Aggressive Movement (AG) was related to the report of self-attack for the best state ratings. The following findings were significant for the worst state ratings. AG was related to viewing the other as reacting as if attacked but the self as acting more affiliatively to the other. Aggressive Past (AgPast) was related to reacting to the other more submissively. A combined Aggressive Potential (AgPot)/Aggressive Content (AgC) variable was related to viewing the other as reacting less submissively and acting more dominantly. AgC was related to viewing the other as reacting less submissively. Methodological limitations are discussed, including potential problems regarding social desirability for the self-report aggression measure.

Are the MMPI subtle subscales subtle measures of their scales?

This study investigated the ability of the MMPI Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales (on scales D. Hy, Pd, Pa, and Ma) to serve as subtle or unobtrusive measures of their scales. Forty outpatients completed the MMPI under standard instructions, followed by a fake-good or fake-bad instructional set. First, we investigated the paradoxical effect found in the MMPI faking literature (in which, overall, the subtle subscale T-scores change in a direction opposite of the faking instructions) and found that not every subtle subscale shows this effect. Secondly, the subtle subscale T-scores achieved under faking conditions showed no significant relationship to their respective full-scale T-scores achieved under standard conditions. Therefore, our results do not support the Wiener-Harmon subtle subscales as subtle measures of their scales.

Instructed faking and MMPI-2 response latencies: the potential for assessing response validity.

Differences in Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) response latencies between groups instructed to respond honestly or fake were explored. There were 120 undergraduate students who completed a computer administered MMPI-2 with instructions to either respond honestly, to underreport psychopathology, or to overreport psychopathology. Results showed that subjects required significantly more time to respond in a manner that was inconsistent with their response set when pattern of endorsement (acceptance vs. rejection) was considered and less time when pattern of endorsement was not considered. The differential response of subjects across groups suggests that response latencies are related to response styles and that future research may indicate a methodology for utilizing response latencies in assessing response validity.