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A number of recent studies on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory have dealt with the problem of response sets inherent in that test (1, 6, 7) and with the effects of experimentally induced instructional sets on test performance (4,8,10,11). These studies were undertaken to specify those variables which may influence patterns of response apart from the content of the test items and to determine whether these systematic effects can be utilized to improve the diagnostic and prognostic merit of the instrument.The present study investigated the effects of an "ideal self" instructional set on test performance. The following hypotheses were put forth: (a) the introduction of an "ideal self" set produces changes in the MMPI patternings of psychiatric patients relative to the values obtained under the customary instructional procedures; (6) the changes in MMPI patterns are in the direction of fewer elevated scale scores; (c) the more deviant the original MMPI record, the more marked the change; (d) the interindividual variability is significantly less on the "ideal self" pattern than on the "real self" pattern.A study by Grayson & Olinger (10) closely paralleled the present design. Employing the novel instructional set "typical well-adjusted adult on the outside," the authors found that the ability to improve MMPI performance on the second testing was a favorable prognostic

Using the Minimal Social Behavior Scale to assess regression, 162 patients were evaluated on a chronically regressed ward. The scale demonstrates that it is a valid device to select regressed patients. A test-retest reliability measure indicates highly stable and consistent results. This scale is simple to administer which suggests that little training is indicated in the employment of the MSBS to assess patients. 1. FARXNA, A., ARENBERG, D., and GUSKIN, S. A scale for measuring minimal social behavior. 2. LUCERO, R. J. and MEYER, B. T. A behavior rating scale suitable for use in mental hospitals. 3. NOYES, A. P. Modern Clinicul Psychiatry.