F Scale

Synonyms

Frequency scale; Infrequency scale

Definition

Validity scale on the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) and its revisions designed to detect unusual approaches to answering test items. The scale is comprised of items endorsed by no more than 10% of an early sample of respondents. Items represent unlikely or contradictory beliefs, expectations, or self-descriptions (Dahlstrom et al. 1972). The majority of items are unique to this scale, although some overlap with scales 6 (paranoia) and 8 (schizophrenia). Profiles with extreme scores are generally deemed invalid, as the individual may be significantly compromised or psychotic, although the research on cutoff scores is somewhat inconsistent. Within the realm of neuropsychological evaluation, moderately elevated scores may indicate awareness of neurological compromise and a “cry for help” regarding these difficulties. Readers are referred to the MMPI entry for a discussion of limitations of this self-report...