MMPI-2 Restructured
Clinical Scales
(RC) Scales
William P. Wattles
Francis Marion University
Invalid protocols
 Cannot
say >30
 VRIN or TRIN ≥80
 F or F(p) ≥100
 Fb ≥ 110
 L ≥ 80
 K ≥ 75
MMPI-2
 Good
for measuring:
– Personality characteristics
– Behavioral tendencies
– Emotional functioning
– Psychopathology symptoms
Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales
highly intercorrelated
 Hinders
construct validity
 Empirical keying
– convergent
– Discriminant
 Current
Techniques
– Code types
– Harris Lingoes scales
– Supplementary scales
Construct Validity
 The
extent to which a measurement
method accurately represents a
construct and produces an
observation distinct from that
produced by a measure of another
construct.
Convergent and discriminant
validity
 Convergent
and discriminant validity
are both considered subcategories or
subtypes of construct validity.
Convergent and discriminant
validity
 In
general we want convergent
correlations to be as high as possible
and discriminant ones to be as low
as possible.
Discriminant validity
 To
establish discriminant
validity, you need to show that
measures that should not be related
are in reality not related.
Convergent Validity
 To
establish convergent validity, you
need to show that measures that
should be related are in reality
related.
 Thus, those with elevated scale 4
have been shown to have more
arrests.
Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales
significant item overlap
 The
average number of overlapping
items per pair of the ten clinical sales
is 6.4 items.
 Examples
– 7-8
– 2-7
– 2-3
– 6-8
– 4-0
(17)
(13)
(13)
(13)
(11)
Problem: MMPI-2 Clinical Scales
highly intercorrelated
A
factor called anxiety, general
maladjustment or emotion distress
explains much of the variance among
scales.
Floating profiles.
 Intercorrelations
result in most or all
scales being elevated making it
difficult to determine which scale to
focus on.
Demoralization Scale (RCd)
 This
factor is removed from the other
scales
 Items selected for relevancy to core
of each scale
 Items selected for
– Convergence, high correlation with scale
– Discrimination, low correlations with
other scales.
Restructured Scales
Intercorrelations
 Page
157
 Intercorrelations are reduced.
 For example
– Scale 1 and Scale 2 =.56
– Scale RC1 and RC2 = .27
– Scale 7 and Scale 2 = .65
– RC7 and RC2 =.31
MMPI-2 RESTRUCTURED CLINICAL SCALES PROFILE
Clinical Scale 2
 After
demoralization is removed a
low positive emotionality component
emerged.
– Consistent with theories seeing this as
the core of depression.
Clinical Scale 3
 When
left:
RCd removed 3 components
– Somatization
– Extraversion
– Naivete
 Naivete
negatively correlated with
psychopathology
RC scales evaluation
They show convergent validity equal to or
superior to the clinical scales and the
content scales.
 They often offer a substantial
improvement over clinical scales
discriminant validity. (not being
significantly correlated to unrelated
characteristics.)
 The RC scales provide a more clearly
focused assessment of the primary
distinctive components of the Clinical
Scales.

Interpretation of RC scales
 RC
scale tells about elevations in the
core construct.
 Clinical scale may include other
characteristics as well
RCd Demorilization
 High
scores (T≥65)
– Discouraged
– Poor self-esteem
– Pessimistic
– Expect to fail
– Overwhelmed
– incapable
RC1 Somatic complaints
 High
scores (T≥65)
– Large number of physical complaints
– Chronic pain
– Preoccupied with bodily functions
– Resistant to psychological explanations
– Develop physical symptoms in response
to psychological difficulties
RC2 Low Positive Emotions
 High
scores (T≥65)
– Lack of positive emotional engagement
in life
– Lack energy
– Difficulty taking charge or making
decisions
– Inroverted, passive, withdrawn
– Bored isolated
– Low expectations of success
RC3 Cynicism
High scores (T≥65)
 See others as:

– untrustworthy
– Uncaring
– exploitive
Low scores (≤40)
 Naïve
 Gullible
 Overly trusting

RC4 Antisocial Behavior
High scores (T≥65)
 Difficult to conform to societal norms
 Difficulties with the law
 Increased risk for substance abuse
 Aggressive
 Conflictual relationships
 Seen as critical, argumentative, angry,
antagonistic.
 Problems in school and work

RC6 Ideas of persecution
 High
scores (T≥65)
 Feel targeted, controlled and
victimized by others.
 Suspicious, difficulty trusting
RC7 Dysfunctional Negative
Emotions
High scores (T≥65)
 Anxiety and irritability
 Often have intrusive, unwanted thoughts
 Insecure
 Sensitive to perceived criticism
 Ruminate and brood about failures
 Passive and submissive in relationships

RC8 Aberrant experiences
 High
scores (T≥65)
 Sensory, perceptual, cognitive, and
motor disturbances suggestive of
psychosis.
 Hallucinations
 Delusions
 Scores above 75 suggest
schizophrenia, delusional disorder.
RC9 Hypomanic activation
High scores (T≥65)
 Thought racing
 High energy levels
 Heightened mood & irritability
 Aggressive, poor impulse control
 Sensation seekers, risk takers
 Above 75 suggest bipolar, manic episode
 60-70 extraverted with energy

Validity
 The
restructured clinical scales
provide the most parsimonious
assessment of psychopathic
personality traits.
Incremental Validity
 Some
overlap of present content and
supplementary scales.
– RC1 Correlates .95 with health concerns
– RC3 correlates .93 with cynicism
content scale
– RCd correlates .95 with Welsh’s Anxiety
Scale
Summary
 The
RC scales represent a modest
psychometric improvement over the
standard clinical scales
 Partial success at removing
nonspecific distress variance makes
profiles easier to interpret
 New scales need no data for
interpretation