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The Impact of Faking-Good on The Impact of Faking-Good on the MCMI-III: Implications for the MCMI-III: Implications for Family Court AssessmentsFamily Court Assessments
Paul Lenny & Greg Dear
Edith Cowan University
2005
MCMI-III Background…
Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory – Third Edition (MCMI-III; Millon, Davis, & Millon, 1997).
Brief psychological test - screening for psychological disorders and syndromes
Extensively used in forensic settings (e.g. Family Court assessments)
MCMI-III Custody Profile…
Common profile defined by elevations on:– Desirability Index– Histrionic Scale– Narcissistic Scale– Compulsive Scale– Low scores on all other scales
Elevations usually below clinical range.
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores for Child Custody Examinees
(McCann et al., 2001)
01020
30405060
7080
Dis
clos
ure-
XD
esira
bilit
y-Y
Deb
asem
ent-Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2BD
epen
dent
-3H
istri
onic
-4N
arci
ssis
tic-5
Ant
isoc
ial-6
AA
ggre
ssiv
e-6B
Com
puls
ive-
7P
assi
ve-A
ggre
ssiv
e-8A
Sel
f-Def
eatin
g-8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-SB
orde
rline
-CP
aran
oid-
PA
nxie
ty-A
Som
atof
orm
-HB
ipol
ar: M
anic
-ND
ysth
ymia
-DA
lcoh
ol D
ep.-B
Dru
g D
ep.-T
PTS
D-R
Thou
ght D
isor
der-S
SM
ajor
Dep
ress
ion-
CC
Del
usio
nal D
isor
der-P
PMCMI-III Scales
Mea
n B
ase
Rat
e S
core
s
McCann et al. (2001)Custody Litigants (n=259)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores for Child Custody Examinees (McCann et al., 2001)
01020304050607080
Dis
clos
ure-
X
Des
irabi
lity-
Y
Deb
asem
ent-Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2B
Dep
ende
nt-3
His
trion
ic-4
Nar
ciss
istic
-5
Ant
isoc
ial-6
A
Agg
ress
ive-
6B
Com
puls
ive-
7
Pas
sive
-Agg
ress
ive-
8A
Sel
f-Def
eatin
g-8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-S
Bor
derli
ne-C
Par
anoi
d-P
Anx
iety
-A
Som
atof
orm
-H
Bip
olar
: Man
ic-N
Dys
thym
ia-D
Alc
ohol
Dep
.-B
Dru
g D
ep.-T
PTS
D-R
Thou
ght D
isor
der-S
S
Maj
or D
epre
ssio
n-C
C
Del
usio
nal D
isor
der-P
P
MCMI-III Scales
Mea
n B
ase
Rat
e S
core
s Custody Litigants (n = 259)
Possible causes…
Subclinical elevations on these scales are associated with normal, healthy, personality characteristics
Well-adjusted individuals responding honestly produce subclinical elevations on these scales
Characteristics inherent in these disorders might lead to relationship breakdown and litigious behaviour
Item-structure of the MCMI-III Artificial elevation due to faking-good – we need to
examine this possibility.
Current Study…
Two samples: 60 parents; 78 Students Randomly assigned:
– Honest group: 30 Parents + 33 Students (n=63)– Fake-Good: 30 Parents + 45 Students (n=78)
• Honest Group: Answer as honestly as possible• Fake-Good Group: Imagine you are
undergoing a Family Court Assessment and answer test items to look like a very good parent
Hypotheses and Analysis…
Desirability, Histrionic, Narcissistic & Compulsive scales significantly higher in fake-good group compared to honest group
Disclosure scale significantly lower in fake-good group compared to honest group
t-tests conducted on scales Hypotheses supported
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores for the Current Study Honest Group and
Fake-Good Group
020406080
100D
isclo
su
re-X
Desir
ab
ilit
y-Y
Deb
asem
en
t-Z
Sch
izo
id-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ressiv
e-2
B
Dep
en
den
t-3
His
trio
nic
-4
Narc
issis
tic-5
An
tiso
cia
l-6A
Ag
gre
ssiv
e-6
BC
om
pu
lsiv
e-7
Passiv
e-A
gg
ressiv
e-8
A
Self
-Defe
ati
ng
-8B
Sch
izo
typ
al-
S
Bo
rderl
ine-C
Para
no
id-P
An
xie
ty-A
So
mato
form
-H
Bip
ola
r: M
an
ic-N
Dysth
ym
ia-D
Alc
oh
ol
Dep
.-B
Dru
g D
ep
.-T
PT
SD
-R
Th
ou
gh
t D
iso
rder-
SS
Majo
r D
ep
ressio
n-C
C
Delu
sio
nal
Dis
ord
er-
PP
MCMI-III Scales
Me
an
Ba
se
Ra
te
Sc
ore
s
Honest Group (n=63)
Fake-Good Group(n=75)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores for the Current Study Honest Group and Fake-Good Group
0
1020
30
4050
60
70
8090
100D
isclo
sure
-X
Desirabili
ty-Y
Debasem
ent-
Z
Schiz
oid
-1
Avo
idant-
2A
Depre
ssiv
e-2
B
Dependent-
3
His
trio
nic
-4
Narc
issis
tic-5
Antisocia
l-6A
Aggre
ssiv
e-6
B
Com
puls
ive-7
Passiv
e-A
ggre
ssiv
e-8
A
Self-
Defe
ating-8
B
Schiz
oty
pal-S
Bord
erlin
e-C
Para
noid
-P
Anxie
ty-A
Som
ato
form
-H
Bip
ola
r: M
anic
-N
Dysth
ym
ia-D
Alc
ohol D
ep.-
B
Dru
g D
ep.-
T
PTS
D-R
Thought
Dis
ord
er-
SS
Majo
r D
epre
ssio
n-C
C
Delu
sio
nal D
isord
er-
PP
MCMI-III Scales
Mean
BR
Sco
res Honest Group (n=63)
Fake-Good Group(n=75)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores of the Current Study Fake-Good Groups Compared to McCann et
al. (2001) Custody Litigants
0102030405060708090
100D
iscl
osur
e-X
Des
irab
ility
-YD
ebas
emen
t-Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2BD
epen
dent
-3H
istr
ioni
c-4
Nar
ciss
istic
-5A
ntis
ocia
l-6A
Agg
ress
ive-
6BC
ompu
lsiv
e-7
Pas
sive
-Agg
ress
ive-
8AS
elf-
Def
eatin
g-8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-SB
orde
rlin
e-C
Par
anoi
d-P
Anx
iety
-AS
omat
ofor
m-H
Bip
olar
: M
anic
-ND
ysth
ymia
-DA
lcoh
ol D
ep.-
BD
rug
Dep
.-T
PT
SD
-RT
houg
ht D
isor
der-
SS
Maj
or D
epre
ssio
n-C
CD
elus
iona
l Dis
orde
r-P
P
MCMI-III Scales
Me
an
Ba
se
Ra
te S
co
res
McCann et al. (2001) CustodyLitigants (n=259)
Current study - Fake-GoodParents (n=45)
Current Study - Fake-GoodStudents (n=30)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores of the Current Study Fake-Good Groups Compared to McCann et
al. (2001) Custody Litigants
0102030405060708090
100
Dis
clos
ure-
X
Des
irabi
lity-
Y
Deb
asem
ent-
Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2B
Dep
ende
nt-3
His
trio
nic-
4
Nar
ciss
istic
-5
Ant
isoc
ial-6
A
Agg
ress
ive-
6B
Com
puls
ive-
7
Pas
sive
-Agg
ress
ive-
8A
Sel
f-D
efea
ting-
8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-S
Bor
derli
ne-C
Par
anoi
d-P
Anx
iety
-A
Som
atof
orm
-H
Bip
olar
: M
anic
-N
Dys
thym
ia-D
Alc
ohol
Dep
.-B
Dru
g D
ep.-
T
PT
SD
-R
Tho
ught
Dis
orde
r-S
S
Maj
or D
epre
ssio
n-C
C
Del
usio
nal D
isor
der-
PP
MCMI-III Scales
Mea
n B
ase
Rat
e S
core
s
McCann et al. (2001) CustodyLitigants (n=259)
Current study - Fake-GoodParents (n=45)
Current Study - Fake-GoodStudents (n=30)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores of the Current Study Fake-Good Groups Compared to McCann et al. (2001)
Custody Litigants
0102030405060708090
100D
iscl
osur
e-X
Des
irabi
lity-
Y
Deb
asem
ent-
Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2B
Dep
ende
nt-3
His
trio
nic-
4
Nar
ciss
istic
-5
Ant
isoc
ial-6
A
Agg
ress
ive-
6B
Com
puls
ive-
7
Pas
sive
-Agg
ress
ive-
8A
Sel
f-D
efea
ting-
8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-S
Bor
derli
ne-C
Par
anoi
d-P
Anx
iety
-A
Som
atof
orm
-H
Bip
olar
: M
anic
-N
Dys
thym
ia-D
Alc
ohol
Dep
.-B
Dru
g D
ep.-
T
PT
SD
-R
Tho
ught
Dis
orde
r-S
S
Maj
or D
epre
ssio
n-C
C
Del
usio
nal D
isor
der-
PP
MCMI-III Scales
Me
an
Ba
se R
ate
Sco
res
McCann et al. (2001) CustodyLitigants (n=259)
Current study - Fake-GoodParents (n=45)
Current Study - Fake-GoodStudents (n=30)
Mean MCMI-III Base Rate Scores of the Current Study Fake-Good Group Compared to McCann et al. (2001) Custody
Litigants
0102030405060708090
100D
iscl
osur
e-X
Des
irabi
lity-
Y
Deb
asem
ent-
Z
Sch
izoi
d-1
Avo
idan
t-2A
Dep
ress
ive-
2B
Dep
ende
nt-3
His
trio
nic-
4
Nar
ciss
istic
-5
Ant
isoc
ial-6
A
Agg
ress
ive-
6B
Com
puls
ive-
7
Pas
sive
-Agg
ress
ive-
8A
Sel
f-Def
eatin
g-8B
Sch
izot
ypal
-S
Bor
derli
ne-C
Par
anoi
d-P
Anx
iety
-A
Som
atof
orm
-H
Bip
olar
: M
anic
-N
Dys
thym
ia-D
Alc
ohol
Dep
.-B
Dru
g D
ep.-
T
PTS
D-R
Thou
ght
Dis
orde
r-S
S
Maj
or D
epre
ssio
n-C
C
Del
usio
nal D
isor
der-
PP
MCMI-III Scales
Mea
n B
R S
core
s McCann et al. (2001) CustodyLitigants (n=259)
Current Study Fake-GoodGroup (n=75)
Striking Similarity!
When instructed to look like a very good parent, MCMI-III profile remarkably similar to individuals undergoing a custody evaluation
Profile in this setting likely to be artefact of faking-good and not psychopathology…
However…
Ambiguous profile…
Elevations also seen in honest group Histrionic, Narcissistic, Compulsive individuals
may be more likely to terminate relationship and litigate over custody
MCMI-III item structure and adjustments Difficult profile to interpret Further research necessary
