NCJ Number
219326
Journal
Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice Volume: 7 Issue: 2 Dated: 2007 Pages: 29-43
Date Published
2007
Length
15 pages
Annotation
This study compared profiles obtained from the second version of the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI-2) for 3 types of child-custody samples: child maltreatment (n=70), unmarried (n=100), and married (n=105).
Abstract
The MMPI-2 profiles were significantly different for the child maltreatment group compared with the two nonmaltreatment groups collapsed into one group. The profiles of the child maltreatment group were five or more points higher on MMPI-2 scales F, Pd, Pa, Sc, Ma, and Si, and five points lower on scale K. These findings for the child maltreatment group suggest personality traits prone to frustration; irritation; aggression; having their feelings easily hurt; and having a tendency to misinterpret actions and statements of others as judgmental, resulting in mistrust and guardedness in interpersonal relationships. The authors caution that when using the MMPI-2 in custody cases where there is suspected child maltreatment, the psychologist cannot rely on test scores to determine whether child maltreatment has occurred; neither can test data be used to predict future maltreatment acts. MMPI-2 data can assist, however, in helping jurists determine whether a parent poses a risk of harm to a child when the MMPI-2 data are combined with other contextual psychosocial and demographic variables. The MMPI-2 profiles were obtained from 76 parents litigating permanent child custody cases in Ohio that involved documented incidents of child maltreatment. 2 tables and 50 references