Unit – 2 PERSONALITY

Topic : Personality Assessment (MMPI, TAT, RIBT, Behavioural Analysis)

Q17. What are self-report inventories/questionnaires ? state their uses.

Ans. Self-report inventories/ questionnaires are such measures which contain questions or
statements to which individuals respond in various ways. Persons taking the test simply indicate
the extent to which they agree or disagree with each item. They are also known as, Objective
tests. They use a procedure known as empirical keying.
They are easy techniques of assessing personality of an individual and can be used to collect data
for a large number of people.
Q18. What are projective techniques?
Ans. Projective techniques are based on the projective hypothesis, derived from Freud’s
personality theory. They intend to provide access to unconscious impulses and other aspects of
personality of which the test takers themselves may not be aware. These tests use stimuli such as
inkblots or pictures.
PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT

Q19. Explain MMPI as a tool to assess personality.

Ans.The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) was developed in 1930s and
published through the University of Minnesota in 1942 by STARKE HATHAWAY and JOHN
CHARNLEY Mc KINLEY. The test items were originally developed by selecting questions that
have been taken by the people diagnosed with different mental health conditions. The revised
edition of the test was released in 1989 as the MMPI-2. It is a clinical test which was designed to
identify people with tendencies toward certain psychological disorders such as depression,
paranoia, etc.

Description and Procedure :

 The MMPI originally contained 566 statements but the revised edition MMPI-2 contains 576
items and takes approximately 60 to 90 minutes to complete. The subject has to judge each
statement as 'true' or 'false' for her/him.
 The test was constructed with an empirical approach.
 The test is divided into 10 sub-scales - Hypochondriasis, Depression, Hysteria,
Psychopathic deviate, Masculinity-femineity, Paranoia, Psychasthenia, Schizophrenia,
Mania and Social introversion.

Clinical scales Description of the disorder

1.Hypochondriasis Excessive concern with bodily functions

2.Depression Pessimism, hopelessness, slowing of

ations and thoughts

3.Hysteria Development of physical disorders such as

blindness, paralysis, and vomiting as an
escape for emotional problems

4.Psychopathic Deviance Disregard for social customs, shallow

 emotions

5.Masculinity-Femininity Possession of traits and interests typically

associated with the opposite sex

6.Paranoia Suspiciousness, delusions of grandeur or

persecution

7.psychasthenia Obsession, compulsions, fears, guilt,

indecisiveness

8.Schizophrenia Bizzare, unusual thoughts or behaviour,

withdrawal, hallucinations,and delusions

9. Hypomania Emotional excitement, a flight of ideas,

overactivity

10.Social Introversion Shyness, lack of interest in others,

insecurity

 It also has several validity scales, designed to measure whether and to what extent people
are trying to fake their answers.
 Depending on the scores it can be identified that a person is relatively high or low on a
particular personality trait.
 The inventory is used with adults who are 18 and above and takes one or two hours to
complete depending on the subject’s reading level.

Scoring and Interpretation :

 Grades on each scale are obtained in a range of T-score from 0 - 120.

 50 is considered as the mean score and people falling between 30 and 70 are considered
normal.
 A t-score greater than 70 indicates psychopathy (presence of abnormal behaviour) in that
category/scale.
 To interpret the test, the psychologists look at the total profile. The information from the
validity scales is considered as well.
 In addition to the t-scores, there are four unusual scores which are also obtained- Validity
scores (F), a Tie score (L), a Questions score and a K-score.
Uses :

 It is used to assess personality traits and psychopathology in individuals.

 It can be used to assess psychological stability in workers in 'high risk' professions such as
airline pilots, police or workers in nuclear power industry.

Q20. Explain Rorschach Inkblot Test as a technique to measure personality.

Ans.This projective test was developed by HERMANN RORSCHACH. It was used as a research
tool to reveal unconscious aspects of personality. Rorschach was interested in Klecksography
which involves creating inkblots and making up stories and poems about them. while working in a
psychiatric hospital, Rorschach noticed that patients with Schizophrenia responded to the inkblots
differently from normal patients. So, inspired by this, Rorschach developed a systematic approach
to using inkblots as an assessment tool.
Description/ Administration :

 The test consists of 10 cards with inkblots. 5 of them are in black and white, 2 with some
red ink and the remaining 3 in some pastel colours. Each card is approximately 18 x 24 cm
in size, each having bilaterally similar inkblots on them.
 Subjects are presented cards one at a time and asked questions such as, “what might this
be?” or “what does this remind you of?”. The subject is allowed as much time as he wants
for a given card and is permitted to give as many responses as he wishes. He is also
allowed to turn the card around and look at it from any angle he wants.
 The first phase of the test is called the “free-association phase’ and the second phase is
called the ‘inquiry phase’. Besides keeping a record of the responses of the subject
concerning these inkblots on separate pieses of paper, the examiner also notes the time
taken for each response, the position in which the card is being held, emotional expression
and other behaviours during the test.
 A detailed report on the responses is prepared. On an average it takes 1.5 hours to
administer and score the test.
Scoring :

The responses arescored in four categories :

 Location : It refers to the part of the blot the subject/testee focuses on. There can be five
categories of responses under this –
i) W : indicating the subject has seen the blot as a whole.
ii) D : if the subject focuses upon a commonly described part of the blot.
iii) Dd : if the subject focuses upon an uncommonly described or unusual detail.
iv) S : if the subject focuses on the white space in the background.
 Content : it refers to what the responses contain or the nature of the response. Some of the
cmmon contents are as follows –
i) Human forms are symboliszed as H.
ii) Human details are symbolized as Hd.
iii) Animal forms are symbolized as A.
iv) Animal details are symbolized as Ad.
v) Natural things such as rivers, sun, planets, rainbow are symbolized as N.
vi) Inanimate objects like lamp shade, pot are sybolized as O.
 Originality : it refers to popular responses (common occurences) or original responses
(which contain something new or are unusual). Popular responses are shown as P and
Original responses are shown as O.
 Determinants : it refers to how the blot is seen or perceived. It takes note of the manner of
perception. The main determinants are –
i) Form of the blot (F).
ii) Colour of the blot (C).
iii) Perceived movement (M).
iv) Shading of the blot (K).

In addition to fromal scores, Rorschach interpretation is also based on behaviours expressed

during the testing, patterns of scores across responses, unique or consistent themes in the
responses, and idiosyncratic (unique) perception.

Uses : It is used as a tool to ensure accuracy and consistency when making a psychological
diagnosis.
it can also be used to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning.

Q21. Describe in detail the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) used to assess personality.

Ans. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) was developed to identify people’s basic needs by
having them tell stories. It was developed by HENRY MURRAY and CHRISTINA MORGAN in
1935. It is based on Murray’s theory of needs.

Description/ Procedure :

 The tester presents a series of pictures and asks the subject to make up a story about -
what is happening, what went before, what is going to happen, what the people involved are
thinking and feeling.
 It includes a standard set of 30 pictures,which display ambiguous (unclear) situations, but,
the tester selects pictures involving themes of special significance to the test taker. 1 card is
blank.
 The cards are marked and arranged as sets, one set for boy and girls, one set for males
over 14 years of age, one set for females over 14 years of age and one set for both males
and females.
 The test is built on the assumption that people’s stories reveal important aspects of their
needs and self -perceptions as well as their views about “significant others” in their lives.

Scoring : The scoring of TAT involves evaluating the following five different aspects of the
stories :

i) The Hero : it involves identifying who is the central character(s) in the story.

ii) Need of the Hero : identifying the needs, motives and desires of the hero.

iii) Identifying the presses : A press refers to any important environmental factor that may
influence or interfere with the need of the hero. For example : a broken lock on the door, a
huge ontain to climb, parents, boss, etc.

iv) Scoring of the themes : it involves noting the nature of the interplay and conflict between
the needs and presses, the types of emotion elicited by this conflict, and the way the conflict is
resolved.

v) Scoring of the outcome : it involves analyzing how the stories end by noting a happy
versus unhappy ending and assessing the extent to which the ending is controlled by the
strenghts of the hero and forces in the environment.

Interpretation :

The interpretation of scores is done in two ways –

 By comparing the subjects responses with the norms set by the groups of same age,
gender, educational level, etc. (Nomothetic Interpretation)
 By evaluating the unique features of the subject’s view of the world and relationships .
(Idiographic Interpretation)

Uses :

 It is used to identify the needs and personality of an individual as a whole.

 It is also used to reveal individual’s perception of interpersonal relationships.
Q22. Discuss the method of Behavioural Analysis for assessing personality.
Ans: A person’s behaviour in a variety of situations can provide us with meaningful information
about her/his personality. Following methods can be used to analyse behaviour:
1. Interview : it involves talking to the person being assessed and asking specific questions.
Interviews may be structured or unstructured depending on the purpose or goals of
assessment.
2. Observation : this method requires careful training of the observer and a fairly detailed
guideline about analysis of behaviour in order to assess personality of a given person.
These observations are carefully designed and give considerable insights into an
individual’s personality.
3. Behavioural ratings : they are frequently used to assess personality in educational and
industrial settings. They are generally taken from the individuals who know the person being
assessed and have interacted with him/her over a period of time. They attempt to put the
person in certain categories in terms of their behavioural characteristics.
This method has major limitations like – hallo effect, middle category bias, extreme
response bias).
4. Nomination : it is used in obtaining peer assessment. Each person is asked to choose one
or more persons of the group with whom s/he would like to work, study, play or participate in
any activity. The person may also be asked to specify the reason for his/her choices.
5. Situational tests : the most commonly used test of this kind is the Situational Stress Test. It
provides us with information about how a person behaves under stressful situations. The
test requires a person to perform a given task with other persons who are instructed to be
non-cooperative and interfering. It involves a kind of role playing.