| Scale | Sample Item | What Is Assessed |
|---|
| ? (Cannot Say) | The score is the number of items that were unanswered or answered as both true and false. | An inability or unwillingness to complete the test appropriately, which could indicate the presence of symptoms that interfere with concentration. |
| L (Lie) | Sometimes want to swear (F) | Attempts to present himself or herself in a positive way, not admitting even minor shortcomings. |
| F (Infrequency) | Something wrong with mind (T) | Low scores suggest attempts to try to fake appearing to have “good” mental health or psychopathology; high scores suggest some type of psychopathology. |
| K (Correction) | Often feel useless (F) | More subtle attempts to exaggerate “good” mental health or psychopathology. This scale is also associated with education level—more educated people score higher than those with less education. |
| 1. Hs (Hypochondriasis) | Body tingles (F) | An abnormal concern over bodily functioning and imagined illness. |
| 2. D (Depression) | Usually happy (F) | Symptoms of sadness, poor morale, and hopelessness. |
| 3. Hy (Hysteria) | Often feel very weak (T) | A propensity to develop physical symptoms under stress, along with a lack of awareness and insight about one’s behavior. |
| 4. Pd (Psychopathic Deviate) | Am misunderstood (T) | General social maladjustment, irresponsibility, or lack of conscience. |
| 5. Mf (Masculinity–Femininity) | Like mechanics magazines (T for women) | The extent to which the individual has interests, preferences, and personal sensitivities more similar to those of the opposite sex. |
| 6. Pa (Paranoia) | No enemies who wish me harm (F) | Sensitivity to others, suspiciousness, jealousy, and moral self-righteousness. |
| 7. Pt (Psychasthenia) | Almost always anxious (T) | Obsessive and compulsive symptoms, poor concentration, and self-criticism. |
| 8. Sc (Schizophrenia) | Hear strange things when alone (T) | Delusions, hallucinations, bizarre sensory experiences, and poor social relationships. |
| 9. Ma (Hypomania) | When bored, stir things up (T) | Symptoms of hypomania—elated or irritable mood, “fast” thoughts, impulsiveness, and physical restlessness. |
| 10. Si (Social Introversion) | Try to avoid crowds (T) | Discomfort in social situations and preference for being alone. |
| Note: (T) indicates that when the item is marked as true, it contributes to a high score on the scale; (F) indicates that when the item is marked as false, it contributes to a high score on the scale. The dark green rows above refer to the validity scales, and the light green rows refer to the clinical scales. |
| Source: Excerpted from the MMPI-2 Booklet of Abbreviated Items. Copyright © 2005 by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. All rights reserved. Used by permission of the University of Minnesota Press. “MMPI-2” and “Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory 2” are trademarks owned by the Regents of the University of Minnesota. |