Normative data for the MMPI-2 in child custody litigation.

Abstract

Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) norms based on 508 child custody litigants are presented. Defensive underreporting and self-favorability were often exhibited along with an elevation on the Over-Controlled Hostility (O-H) scale. Highest mean clinical scale scores were Hysteria, Paranoia, and Psychopathic Deviate. Differences were not found among mothers, fathers, and stepparents, indicating that a single set of norms is suitable. Findings highlight the importance of context specificity in personality assessment. Proper interpretation of personality inventories in child custody disputes needs to consider both the norms of the standardization sample and the litigants' reference norms. It was not possible to determine from the MMPI-2 per se whether a defensive approach overestimates mental health in a psychologically healthy population or conceals symptomatology in psychologically disturbed persons.An important development in the field of psychological assessment is the recognition that psychological test interpretation may be influenced by and contingent on person characteristics and contexts Graham, 1995;Pope, Butcher, & Seelen, 1993). Personality tests such as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) have recently and purposively been revised and restandardized because of outdated verbiage and norms (

Evaluating Parenting Capacity: Validity Problems With the MMPI-2, PAI, CAPI, and Ratings of Child Adjustment.

“…Further, this positive self-presentation has a significant suppressive effect on the clinical scale scores. These findings closely replicate our earlier (unpublished) results from a previous cohort of 76 examinees (Moretti, Carr, & Cue, 2002) and extend similar re- Siegel (1996), Bathurst et al (1997), Posthuma and Harper (1998), and Bagby et al (1999) have found mean L scale scores to be somewhat elevated (t scores of 58, 56, 53, and 52.3, respectively), with elevations on K slightly higher than L in each study (t scores of 60, 58.7, 56, and 57.5, respectively). In contrast, our findings show dominant L scale elevations.…”

“…In contrast, in the postdivorce custody literature, there have been reviews of test utilization, presentations of normative data, and examinations of positive self-presentation by parents. It is noteworthy that the reviews of test utilization have consistently indicated that the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2) is the most commonly used instrument (e.g., Ackerman & Ackerman, 1997;Hagen & Castagna, 2001;Keilin & Bloom, 1986;Quinnell & Bow, 2001), that normative data on the MMPI-2 have been presented (Bagby, Nicholson, Buis, Radovanovic, & Fidler, 1999;Bathurst, Gottfried, & Gottfreid, 1997;Ollendick & Otto, 1984), and that the issue of defensive responding has been specifically addressed (Bagby et al, 1999;Bathurst et al, 1997;Medoff, 1999;Posthuma & Harper, 1998;Siegel, 1996). These authors have generally reported that MMPI-2 measures of positive selfpresentation tend to be slightly or moderately elevated in this population, although the clinical significance of the elevations has been questioned (Medoff, 1999).…”

Marlowe–Crowne Social Desirability Scale and short Form C: Forensic norms

“…Heilbrun (1995) noted the need to assess the individual's response style in making interpretation of assessment information in child-custody cases, and studies have found that parents in custody litigation typically score .5 to 1 standard deviation above the mean on MMPI-2 L and K scales in efforts to present themselves well (Bathurst, Gottfried, & Gottfried, 1997;Miller, Lape-Brinkman, Roche, Cox, & Motheral, 1999). Favorable self-presentation can take many forms, running a gamut from outright lying to "putting one's best foot forward," from being ingratiating with the examiner to simply showing polite manners.…”

An Examination of Positive Impression Management Validity Scales in the Context of Parenting Capacity Assessments

“…The majority of studies have focussed on child custody evaluations with normative MMPI-2 data being published for this population group (Archer, Hagan, Mason, Handel, & Archer, 2012;Bagby, Nickolson, Buis, Radovanovic, & Fidler, 1999;Bathurst, Gottfried, & Gottfried, 1997;Siegel, 1996). Findings from these studies have indicated that those undergoing child custody evaluations generally exhibit defensive responding and heightened efforts at social desirability.…”