A subcultural change of MMPI norms in the 1960s due to adolescent role confusion and glamorization of alienation.

Abstract

College freshmen in 1968 tended to show higher Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) clinical scale scores than freshmen in 1958. The need for periodic MMPI norm revision was noted. Glamorization of an alienated personality style was considered a possible cause of the college student cultural shift. Alienation as one aspect of adolescent role confusion was expected to show behaviorally as lack of commitment. Supporting this interpretation, vocationally uncommitted college students scored higher on MMPI clinical scales than vocationally committed students. Role confusion and premature identity foreclosure were described as pathological only when permanent. Students of the 1970s were expected to be more like those of the 1950s than those of the 1960s.Several investigators have noted that in the 1960s clinical Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) scale scores were higher than in the 1950s (Loper, Robertson, & Swanson, 1968;Rice & Kepecs, 1970;Segal, Walsh, & Weiss, 1966). Compared with subjects in the 1950s, subjects in the 1960s showed an increase in anxiety and cynicism (Wrightsman & Baker, 1969), a decrease in interpersonal trust (Hockreich & Rotter, 1970), a decrease in responsibility and self-control (Wall & Plant, Note 1), and an increase in science interest and decrease in business interest (Campbell, 1969).Why are we seeing these changes? Perhaps the most obvious explanation is offered by Segal et al. (1966) who suggest that psychopathology has actually increased as indicated by MMPI scores. Rice and Kepecs (1970) agree with this explanation. In their study of young female psychiatric patients, they attribute the increase in psychopathology to rapidly changing sexual-asocial roles. However, this does not explain the changes in normal Requests for reprints should be sent to Daniel

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