Influence of Dissimulation on Indexes of Response Consistency for the MMPI

Whether indexes of consistent responding on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) measured dissimulation versus random responding was evaluated with Veterans Administration Medical Center psychiatric patients who were applying for disability benefits. Elevations on the Test-Retest index and Carelessness scale did not correspond with motivation to dissimulate. Comparing profiles without elevated validity indexes and with Carelessness scales that were either elevated or not elevated, the clinical scales were uniformly higher for profiles with heightened Carelessness scales.