Assess Personality Testing - Essay Example

Personality Assessment There are two different way to assess personality. The most accepted way is objective testing. This included such well instruments as the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI). The other way to look at personality is subjectively using such well known test as the Rorschach Ink Blot test. This writer will look at each of these tests in more detain in this writing. MMPI The MMPI was developed about 65 years ago at the University of Minnesota. It was published in 1943. It was authored by Starke Hathaway, Ph.D. and J Charnley McKinley, MD. It was written using the empirical keying approach which requires the writer to determine empirically items that differentiate groups. This is different from the logical keying approach that had been used previously. Using an empirical approach requires an objective assessment of the items included rather than the logical approach which was a subjective choice of included items (Plotnik, 2005). The MMPI can be administered to people 18 years of older. There has been a second version written for adolescents (MMPI-A). This version can be used at 12 years of age to 18 years. It is a true and false test written at an eighth grade reading level. It can only be interpreted by a person who has been trained in test theory, personality theory and dynamics and psychopathology and psychodiagnosis. In the United States this would be a licensed psychologist. Even Psychiatrists can not interpret this instrument (Graham, 1990) There are several scales the show if the test is valid. These scales detect whether or not the individual answering the question is lying or faking that they are functioning better than they really are or faking that they are worse then they really are. It also shows if the individual answered all of the tests or sections of the test all true or all false or in a pattern such as false, false, true, true (1990). The clinical scales are the ones that give information about the personality of the individual taking the test. The first scale is hypochondriasis. This basically measures how much the individual is pre-occupied with the body and fears of illness or disease. These may also be individuals who are self centered or selfish (1990). Scale 2 measures symptoms of depression. These are people who have low morale, a lack of hope in their future and general dissatisfaction with their present place in life. Only very high scores indicate a full diagnosis of depression. Scale 3 finds individuals who tend to over react to a stressful situation. These over reactions need to be such that they would cause problems in the individual’s life progression. Scale 4 identifies people who seem to be having a difficult time incorporating the values and morals of society into their life style and belief systems. Scale 5 finds individuals who are identifying themselves as very masculine or very feminine. This scale was originally developed to identify homosexuality however it did not work for that. It does show the sexually bias values of an individual. It is most influenced by education levels. Scale 6 is looking for paranoia. It locates psychosis, suspiciousness, delusions of persecution and grandiosity. Scale 7 measures somatic symptoms. It also indicates such things as obsessive compulsive thinking and physical complaints. Scale 8 was originally developed to help therapist diagnose schizophrenia. It shows disturbances in thinking, misinterpretations of reality and ambivalent or constricted emotional responsiveness. Scale 9 helps to identify manic episodes. It generally measures the amount of energy and individual has. Scale 0 gives and indication of how extroverted or how introverted a person is. (Graham, 2000) It is very important that this test be interpreted by a well trained individual that is able to look at over all patterns in the profile. There are computer programs that can interpret this instrument but that program looks at each scale individually which is the wrong way to do it. Some employers are now using the test to find good workers and to keep their mental health insurance rates lower. The employee should be sure that the profile is interpreted by a qualified individual before taking the test or it may not be accurate. Now one wants an inaccurate test on file. Psychologist use the test often for diagnosis and to pin point appropriate therapeutic interventions (Plotnik,2005). Rorschach The Rorschach is a well known example of a subjective personality assessment. The difference between a subjective and objective test is that the objective test like the MMPI comes up with numerical scores for each section based on a clear true or false answer. The subjective test is interpreted by the interpreters experience with what the person is saying. For example the professional may have learned that when a person talks about a red image it means aggression. That becomes part of the findings of the test (Plotnik, 2005). Hermann Rorschach did not originally think of his original ink blots as a test. In 1921 when it was first published Rorschach reported that he used the ink blots to find how the individual looks at things. He is not the first to use this method as Binet had attempted to incorporate them into his original intelligence test. Rorschach kept record of everyone with whom he used the ink blots and began to see a patter of responses that indicated the same behaviors and beliefs repeatedly. At that point, there was normative data so the ink blots were published as a test of personality. This test uses the idea that and individual project her internal beliefs and thoughts onto a stimulus. While several well know leaders in the field of psychology believed in the method it was exploited by those that did not understand it or wanted it at a way to manipulate a situations. Thus, the concern about subjective instruments becomes apparent. It is very important that anyone using the Rorschach test understand how it works. The subject is aware that the blot in not identical to objects that are stored in their memory. As a result the subject must be willing to work with the therapist giving the test. It should also be understood that imagination has little to do with the outcome because an individual bases everything in her imagination on what she knows. Imagination only embellishes something that already has been experienced. The response is then showing the individual’s problem solving process. It highlights the individual’s decision making style. The testing process is to simply handing a card with an ink blot on it and asking the individual what they see in each individual card. The response is scored on how they used the image rather than on what they see. Was the whole image used or a small part? What side of the card was used? Were there multiple small images identified or one big thing? Was color used? The card can be turned in any direction and any space is open for interpretation. Some folks may use the white spaces rather than the black space like a gestalt. The examiner asks several questions in response to the individual’s responses. She may say were do you see that. Show me where it is. What did you use to see that? Because the test was criticized for being so subjective, it was not allowed as evidence in court. However, several practitioners found the test to be very helpful both in understanding the client and in diagnoses and treating that individual exactly as needed that Exner came up with a method of scoring the test to make if more objective. He used the norms to find patterns in how the responses corresponded to illnesses and behaviors. He then developed a scoring for that is extremely intricate but it has brought the test much closer to the objective personality test yet it has kept the unique projective information that practitioners have found to be so valuable. It takes a year of study and supervision to be qualified to use the Exner method of scoring however it is now being taught in most graduate schools. There are Rorschach societies or groups that meet regularly to constantly improve their skills of interpretation. With the John Exner method courts are not allowing this test as a measure of personality to help them in making decisions. Practitioners no longer need to use it only as a therapeutic measure. Many practitioners feel that this is the best instrument available to predict violence. In an increasingly violent society where psychologists are asked more frequently to predict behavior this instrument is a positive tool. (Exner, 1993) Conclusion In the struggle to understand an individual’s personality both for diagnostic purposes as well as therapeutic purposes personality tests are helpful. It appears that each kind of test, subjective or objective can be helpful in this process. . References Exner, J. E. (1993). The Rorschach: A Comprehensive System, third edition. New York: John Wiley and Sons. Graham, J. R. (1990). MMPI-2 Asserssing Personality and Psychopathology. New York: Oxford University Press. Plotnik, R. (2005). Introduction to Psychology, seventh edition. New York: Thomson.   Read More