What Is a Personality Test?

A personality test is a tool used to assess human personality. Personality testing and assessment
refer to techniques designed to measure the characteristic patterns of traits that people exhibit
across various situations.

Personality tests can be used to help clarify a clinical diagnosis, guide therapeutic interventions,
and help predict how people may respond in different situations.

Personality is something that we informally assess and describe every day. When we talk about
ourselves and others, we frequently refer to different characteristics of an individual's
personality. For example, we might refer to someone as adventurous, kind, or moody.
Psychologists do much the same thing when they assess personality but on a more systematic
and scientific level.

History of Personality Tests

One of the earliest forms of personality testing, known as phrenology, emerged during the late
18th century and was popularized during the 19th century. This approach involved the
measurement of bumps on the human skull, which were then attributed to specific personality
characteristics.
Later, psychologists began attempting to determine how many different personality traits there
were. Gordon Allport, for example, proposed that there were more than 4,000. Psychologist
Raymond Cattell used a statistical technique known as factor analysis to whittle this list down
to 16 different personality factors, while Hans Eysenck narrowed the list down to just three.

One of the most popular approaches to personality today is known as the Big Five theory of
personality. This theory suggests that personality is composed of five broad dimensions:
extroversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness.

Today, a wide variety of personality tests have become popular and are often based upon specific
theories of systems of personality. Commonly used personality tests include the Myers-Briggs
Type Indicator (MBTI), the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI),
the HEXACO Personality Inventory, and the Sixteen Personality Factor Questionnaire.
What Are the Big 5 Personality Traits?

Types of Personality Tests

How do personality tests work? Personality testing is designed to elicit responses from
participants about their behaviors, preferences, emotional responses, interactions, and
motivations in order to evaluate personality characteristics and patterns.

There are two basic types of personality tests: self-report inventories and projective tests:
  Self-report inventories involve having test-takers read questions and then rate how well the
question or statement applies to them.1 One of the most common self-report inventories is
the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI).
 Projective tests involve presenting the test-taker with a vague scene, object, or scenario and then
asking them to give their interpretation of the test item. One well-known example of a projective
test is the Rorschach Inkblot Test.2

The greatest benefit of self-report inventories is that they can be standardized and use established
norms. Self-inventories are also relatively easy to administer and have much
higher reliability and validity than projective tests. Projective tests, on the other hand, are most
often used in psychotherapy settings and allow therapists to quickly gather a great deal of
information about a client.
For example, a therapist can look not only at a person's response to a particular test item, but they
can also take into account other qualitative information such as tone of voice and body language.
All of this can be explored in greater depth as people progress through therapy sessions.

Uses of Personality Tests

There are a number of reasons why a person might take a personality test. Personality tests are
administered for a number of different purposes, including:

 Assessing theories
 Evaluating the effectiveness of therapy
 Diagnosing psychological problems
 Looking at changes in personality
 Screening job candidates3

Personality tests are also sometimes used in forensic settings to conduct risk assessments,
establish competence, and in child custody disputes.4 Other settings where personality testing
may be used are school psychology, career and occupational counseling, relationship counseling,
clinical psychology, and employment testing.

Reasons to Take a Personality Test

Impact of Personality Tests

Personality tests can be useful for a number of reasons. These tests can help you learn more
about yourself and better understand both your strengths and weaknesses. And while all
personality tests are different, learning that you might be high on a specific trait can help you
gain greater insight into your own behavioral patterns.

For example, your results on a personality test might indicate that you rate high on the
personality trait of introversion. This result suggests that you have to expend energy in social
situations, so you need to find time alone to recharge your energy. Knowing that you have this
tendency can help you recognize when you are getting drained from socializing and set aside
quiet moments to regain your equilibrium.
Tips for Taking a Personality Test
There is no way to prepare for a personality test, but there are some things that you can do to
make sure that your results are the best reflection of your personality:

 Be honest. Don't try to present an "ideal" version of yourself. Instead, try to just answer in a way
that reflects who you are and how you feel.
 Read the instructions. Your results might not be an accurate reflection of you if you don't
understand the guidelines or questions.
 Don't try to "beat the test." Avoid trying to guess what you think might be seen as the "ideal"
answer. Just respond honestly.

As you start looking at all of the different personality assessments that are available, you will
probably notice one thing quite quickly: There are a lot of "informal" tests out there! Just a
simple online search will turn up an enormous range of quizzes and tests designed to tell you
something about your personality.

The vast majority of quizzes that you'll encounter online are just for fun. They can be
entertaining and they might even give you a little insight into your personality, but they are in no
way formal, scientific assessments of personality.

Potential Pitfalls
While personality tests may be useful at times, this does not mean that they are not without
drawbacks and possible pitfalls.

Deception Is Possible
One of the biggest disadvantages of self-report inventories is that it is possible for people to
engage in deception when answering questions. Even though techniques can be used to detect
deception, people can still successfully provide false answers often in an effort to "fake good" or
appear more socially acceptable and desirable.5

Introspection Is Needed
Another potential problem is that people are not always good at accurately describing their own
behavior.6 People tend to overestimate certain tendencies (especially ones that are viewed as
socially desirable) while underestimating other characteristics. This can have a serious impact on
the accuracy of a personality test.
Tests Can Be Long
Self-report personality tests can also be quite long, in some cases taking several hours to
complete. Not surprisingly, respondents can quickly become bored and frustrated. When this
happens, test-takers will often answer questions as quickly as possible, often without even
reading the test items.

Scoring Can Be Subjective

Projective tests also have a number of disadvantages and limitations. The first problem lies in the
interpretation of the responses. Scoring test items are highly subjective and different raters might
provide entirely different viewpoints of the responses.

Results May Be Inconsistent

Not all personality tests are reliable or valid. Reliability refers to the consistency of a test while
validity involves whether the test is really measuring what it claims to measure

Self-Report Inventories
Self-report inventories are a kind of objective test used to assess personality. They
are standardized questions with fixed response categories that the test-taker completes
independently. They typically use multiple-choice items or numbered scales, which
represent a range from one (strongly disagree) to five (strongly agree). They often are
called Likert scales after their developer, Rensis Likert (1932). Self-report inventories
are generally easy to administer and cost-effective. There is also an increased
likelihood of test-takers being inclined to answer in ways that are intentionally or
unintentionally more socially desirable, exaggerated, biased, or misleading.
What Is the MMPI Test?
What to Know About the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) is the most widely used and
researched clinical assessment tool utilized by mental health professionals to help diagnose
mental health disorders.1

Originally developed in the late 1930s, the test has been revised and updated several times to
improve accuracy and validity. The MMPI-2 test questions consist of 567 true-false and take
approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete; the MMPI-2-RF has 338 true-false questions,
taking 35 to 50 minutes to finish.

This article discusses how the MMPI was developed, how it is used, and the different versions of
the instrument that are available.

History of the MMPI

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was developed in 1937 by clinical
psychologist Starke R. Hathaway and neuropsychiatrist J. Charnley McKinley at the University
of Minnesota.2

They originally developed the test to be used in the Department of Psychology at the University
of Minnesota. The goal was to develop an instrument that could be used as an objective tool for
assessing different psychiatric conditions and their severity.
The creators of the test felt that the self-report inventories of the time were too transparent.
Because respondents could easily guess the intent of these inventories, they could also
manipulate the results with ease.

Test items were originally developed by selecting questions that have been endorsed by people
diagnosed with different mental health conditions.

The test grew to become one of the most widely used psychological assessments. It was utilized
in psychology clinics, hospitals, correctional facilities, and pre-employment screenings.

Today, it's the most frequently used clinical testing instrument and is one of the most researched
psychological tests in existence. While the MMPI is not a perfect test, it remains a valuable tool
in the diagnosis and treatment of mental illness.
Recap

The MMPI was developed in the 1930s to help mental health professionals evaluate people with
psychiatric disorders. It is widely used today in both clinical and non-clinical settings.

Types of MMPI Tests

In the years after the test was first published, clinicians and researchers began to question the
accuracy of the MMPI. Critics pointed out that the original sample group was inadequate. Others
argued that the results indicated possible test bias, while others felt the test itself contained sexist
and racist questions.

In response to these issues, the MMPI underwent a revision in the late 1980s. Many questions
were removed or reworded while a number of new questions were added. Additionally,
new validity scales were incorporated in the revised test.

 MMPI-2: The revised edition of the test was released in 1989 as the MMPI-2.3 The test received
revision again in 2001 and updates in 2003 and 2009, and it's still in use today as the most
frequently used clinical assessment test.
 MMPI-2-RF: Another edition of the test, published in 2008, is known as the Minnesota
Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2-Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF), an alternative to the
MMPI-2.4
 MMPI-A: There is also an MMPI, published in 1992, that's geared toward adolescents aged 14 to
18 years old called the MMPI-A. With 478 questions, it takes about an hour to complete.5
 MMPI-A-RF: In 2016, the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-Adolescent-
Restructured Form (MMPI-A-RF) was published. Like the MMPI-2-RF, it's shorter, with just 241
questions that take 25 to 45 minutes to answer.6
 MMPI-3: The latest version of the instrument, MMPI-3, was released in 2020. The test takes 25
to 50 minutes to complete and is available in English, Spanish, and French for Canada formats. 7
How the MMPI Is Used
The MMPI is most commonly used by mental health professionals to assess and diagnose mental
illness, but it has also been utilized in other fields outside of clinical psychology. The MMPI-2 is
often used in legal cases, including criminal defense and custody disputes.

The test has also been used as a screening instrument for certain professions, especially high-risk
jobs, although using it in this manner has been controversial. It's also used to evaluate the
effectiveness of treatment programs, including substance use programs.

Taking the MMPI Test

The MMPI-2 contains 567 test items and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete.8 The
MMPI-2-RF contains 338 questions and takes around 35 to 50 minutes to finish. The MMPI-3
contains 335 self-report items and takes 25 to 35 minutes to administer by computer and 35 to 40
minutes to administer by paper and pencil.7

Additionally, the MMPI is copyrighted by the University of Minnesota, which means clinicians
must pay to administer and utilize the test.

The MMPI should be administered, scored, and interpreted by a professional, preferably

a clinical psychologist or psychiatrist, who has received special training in MMPI use.
The MMPI test should be used with other assessment tools as well. A diagnosis should never be
made solely on the results of the MMPI.

The MMPI can be administered individually or in groups and computerized versions are
available as well. Both the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-2-RF are designed for individuals age 18
years and older.

The test can be scored by hand or by a computer, but the results should always be interpreted by
a qualified mental health professional that has had extensive training in MMPI interpretation.

What the MMPI Test Measures

The MMPI-2 and MMPI-A have 10 clinical scales that are used to indicate different
psychological conditions, though the MMPI-2-RF and the MMPI-A-RF use different scales.9

Despite the names given to each scale, they are not a pure measure since many conditions have
overlapping symptoms. Because of this, most psychologists simply refer to each scale by
number.

Here's a brief overview of the clinical scales on the MMPI-2 and the MMPI-A.9
Scale 1—Hypochondriasis
This scale was designed to assess a neurotic concern over bodily functioning. The items on this
scale concern physical symptoms and well-being. It was originally developed to identify people
displaying the symptoms of hypochondria, or a tendency to believe that one has an undiagnosed
medical condition.

Scale 2—Depression
This scale was originally designed to identify depression, characterized by poor morale, lack of
hope in the future, and general dissatisfaction with one's own life situation. Very high scores may
indicate depression, while moderate scores tend to reveal a general dissatisfaction with one’s
life.9
Scale 3—Hysteria
The third scale was originally designed to identify those who display hysteria or physical
complaints in stressful situations. Those who are well-educated and of a high social class tend to
score higher on this scale. Women also tend to score higher than men on this scale.

Scale 4—Psychopathic Deviate

Originally developed to identify psychopathic individuals, this scale measures social deviation,
lack of acceptance of authority, and amorality (a disregard for morality). This scale can be
thought of as a measure of disobedience and antisocial behavior.

High scorers tend to be more rebellious, while low scorers are more accepting of authority.
Despite the name of this scale, high scorers are usually diagnosed with a personality
disorder rather than a psychotic disorder.9
Scale 5—Masculinity-Femininity
This scale was designed by the original authors to identify what they referred to as "homosexual
tendencies," for which it was largely ineffective. Today, it is used to assess how much or how
little a person identifies how rigidly an individual identifies with stereotypical male and female
gender roles.

Scale 6—Paranoia
This scale was originally developed to identify individuals with paranoid symptoms such as
suspiciousness, feelings of persecution, grandiose self-concepts, excessive sensitivity, and rigid
attitudes. Those who score high on this scale tend to have paranoid or psychotic symptoms.
Scale 7—Psychasthenia
This diagnostic label is no longer used today and the symptoms described on this scale are more
reflective of anxiety, depression, and obsessive-compulsive disorder.9 This scale was originally
used to measure excessive doubts, compulsions, obsessions, and unreasonable fears.
Scale 8—Schizophrenia
This scale was originally developed to identify individuals with schizophrenia. It reflects a wide
variety of areas including bizarre thought processes and peculiar perceptions, social alienation,
poor familial relationships, difficulties in concentration and impulse control, lack of deep
interests, disturbing questions of self-worth and self-identity, and sexual difficulties.

The scale can also show potential substance abuse, emotional or social alienation, eccentricities,
and a limited interest in other people.

Scale 9—Hypomania
This scale was developed to identify characteristics of hypomania such as elevated mood,
hallucinations, delusions of grandeur, accelerated speech and motor activity, irritability, flight of
ideas, and brief periods of depression.
Scale 0—Social Introversion
This scale was developed later than the other nine scales. It's designed to assess a person’s
shyness and tendency to withdraw from social contacts and responsibilities.9

MMPI Test Validity Scales

All of the MMPI tests use validity scales of varying sorts to help assess the accuracy of each
individual's answers. Since these tests can be used for circumstances like employment screenings
and custody hearings, test takers may not be completely honest in their answers.

Validity scales can show how accurate the test is, as well as to what degree answers may have
been distorted.10 The MMPI-2 uses the following scales.

The L Scale
Also referred to as the lie scale, this "uncommon virtues" validity scale was developed to detect
attempts by individuals to present themselves in a favorable light.

People who score high on this scale deliberately try to present themselves in the most positive
way possible, rejecting shortcomings or unfavorable characteristics.11
The F Scale
This scale is used to detect attempts at overreporting. Essentially, people who score high on this
scale are trying to appear worse than they really are, they may be in severe psychological
distress, or they may be just randomly answering questions without paying attention to what the
questions say.

This scale asks questions designed to determine if test-takers are contradicting themselves in
their responses.11

The K Scale
Sometimes referred to as the "defensiveness scale," this scale is a more effective and less
obvious way of detecting attempts to present oneself in the best possible way by underreporting.

People may underreport because they're worried about being judged or they may be minimizing
their problems or denying that they have any problems at all.12

The ? Scale
Also known as the "cannot say" scale, this validity scale assesses the number of items left
unanswered. The MMPI manual recommends that any test with 30 or more unanswered
questions should be declared invalid.12

TRIN Scale
The True Response Inconsistency (TRIN) scale was developed to detect people who use fixed
responding, a method of taking the test without regard to the question, such as marking ten
questions "true," the next ten as "false," and so on.

Fixed responding could be used due to not being able to read or comprehend the test material
well or being defiant about having to take the test. This section consists of 20 paired questions
that are the opposite of each other.12

VRIN Scale
The Variable Response Inconsistency (VRIN) scale is another method developed to detect
inconsistent, random responses. Like fixed responding, this can be intentional or it can be due to
not understanding the material or not being able to read it.
The Fb Scale
This scale is designed to show changes in how a person responded in the first half of the test
versus how they responded in the second half by using questions that most normal respondents
didn't support.

High scores on this scale sometimes indicate that the respondent stopped paying attention and
began answering questions randomly. It can also be due to over or underreporting, fixed
responding, becoming tired, or being under severe stress.11

The Fp Scale
This scale helps detect intentional overreporting in people who have a mental health disorder of
some sort or who were using random or fixed responding.

The FBS Scale

The "symptom validity" scale is used for people who are taking the test because they're claiming
that they had a personal injury or disability. This scale can help establish the credibility of the
test taker.

The S Scale
The "superlative self-presentation" scale was developed in 1995 to look for additional
underreporting. It also has sub-scales that assess the test taker's belief in human goodness,
serenity, contentment with life, patience/denial of irritability, and denial of moral flaws. 11

Recap

While different versions of the test vary in construction, the MMPI-2 and MMPI-A are made of
10 scales that are used to indicate different psychological conditions. The test also contains
validity scales that can be helpful for detecting issues with the results such as conscious or
unconscious attempts to manipulate the results of the assessment.

How Accurate Is the MMPI Test?

The MMPI is considered reliable; however, it is just one tool of many to diagnose mental health
conditions.

Although the MMPI provides useful information, a health professional shouldn't rely on just one
tool in order to make a full diagnosis.
Diagnoses should be made by taking a number of things into account such as a physical and
psychological exam, a thorough health history, and, if necessary, lab tests to rule out substance
use and/or other illnesses that may produce symptoms of mental health conditions.13

Things to Consider When Taking

the MMPI Test
If you're taking the MMPI test, the following are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

 It's not a pass/fail test: There is no way to get the test questions right or wrong. The test is a tool
used to assess personality and mental illnesses.
 You can take an MMPI test online for free: Some sites offer a free practice test so you can get
comfortable with the types of questions.
 You don't study for this test: Taking a practice test can help you feel more prepared for when
you take the real test; however, since there are no right or wrong answers, try not to stress. You
don't study for the MMPI like you would for a test in school, for instance.
 The test should be given by a professional: While it's OK to take a practice test, remember, the
real test is administered and scored by a health professional.
 Be honest: Don't try to modify your test answers; honesty helps make the test more valid.

While you may be able to take the MMPI online, you can also research psychologists and/or
psychiatrists in your area who can refer you to a professional that will administer the test in
person.