What is the Difference Between MMPI and MMPI 2?

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The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and MMPI-2 (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2) are both psychological tests used to assess the personality of individuals. However, there are some key differences between the two:

  1. Purpose: MMPI was designed specifically for clinical psychology, while MMPI-2 can be used in other fields as well, such as industrial contexts for screening high-risk positions and in legal settings for criminal and custodial care cases.
  2. Publication: MMPI was published in 1942 by Starke R. Hathaway and John C. McKinley, while MMPI-2 is a revised version of the original test.
  3. Usage: MMPI-2 is more widely used than MMPI, especially in fields outside of clinical psychology.
  4. Comparability: A study comparing MMPI and MMPI-2 in the assessment of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) found a high degree of association between the two tests, suggesting a high degree of comparability.

In summary, while both MMPI and MMPI-2 are psychological tests used to assess personality, MMPI-2 is a revised version of the original test and can be used in a wider range of contexts. Both tests have a high degree of comparability, especially in assessing PTSD.

Comparative Table: MMPI vs MMPI 2

The MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and MMPI-2 (the second version of the test) are personality assessment tools used to measure various aspects of a person's character. The MMPI-2 is an updated version of the original MMPI, with some differences and improvements. Here is a table highlighting the differences between MMPI and MMPI-2:

Feature MMPI MMPI-2
Scales 10 clinical scales 10 clinical scales, with some changes and restructuring
Validity Scales Fewer validity scales More advanced validity scales, including V, Fb, Fp, Sn, Ma, and supplementary scales
Interpretation Interpretation focuses on code types, with at least five T-score points between the lowest scale in the code type and the next highest clinical scale (excluding scales 5 and 0) Restructured Clinical (RC) scales available in the MMPI-2 Extended Score Report, providing more specific and detailed information
Development Developed earlier Developed later, with some changes and improvements

Please note that the MMPI-2 is an updated version of the MMPI, and the differences mentioned above are not exhaustive. The MMPI-2 includes restructured clinical scales, which provide more specific and detailed information for interpretation, while the original MMPI uses code types for interpretation. The MMPI-2 also has more advanced validity scales compared to the original MMPI.