The MMPI-2-RF includes five validity scales that are linked to modern models and theories of personality and psychopathology and is designed to give the measure of a person taking an attitude test and his/her approach to the test. One of these scales includes the Aggressiveness-Revised scale (AGGR-r) that is designed to measure the aggressive behavior common in adolescents when they accomplish objectives and achieve goals (Archer, 2016). The most common descriptors associated with adolescents with an elevated score (T≥60) include; history of an adolescent being suspended in school for indiscipline cases, aggressive behavior towards others, intimidation to control and manipulate fellow adolescents and the adolescent experiences explosive tantrums.
The second scale, PSYC-r entails 26 items that illustrate the different experiences that are associated with the abnormalities in perception and thought. In this scale, the descriptors commonly associated with a high score entail: unusual thoughts and experiences, alienation from others, and thought disturbances. The third scale, Negative Emotionality/Neuroticism-Revised Scale describes 13 items that characterize the negative emotional experiences (Archer, 2016). The adolescents that portray an elevation that is greater than 60, mostly experience nervousness, are over-responsive to stressors, are often worried and anxious, might experience possible suicidal thoughts, and they encounter emotional discomfort.
The fourth scale, INTR-r involves 15 items that measure the lack of positive emotional experiences that may otherwise lead to social introversion. In this scale, the descriptors that are present in adolescents with high elevations on the scale (T≥60) possess; low self-esteem, experience social isolation, are mostly sad and depressed and shows symptoms of anhedonia. The fifth scale, DISC-r includes 20 items that illustrate the varieties of different manifestations of disco strained behavior (Archer, 2016). Persons with a highly elevated score have poor impulse control, are often seen to act out, have a high sensation seeking and they seek excitement.
Three Axes of Millon’s Personality Theories
Millon formulated a set of theoretical concepts that are essential in coordinating and deducing the personality syndromes. One of this theory, pleasure pain asserts that motivations are always aimed at occasions where there is positive reinforcement, for instance, a reward and away from those that have a negative reinforcement towards an action (Millon, 1981). For instance, when seeking immediate gratification of needs like sex, our bodies have a positive reaction that results in pleasure. Moreover, while seeking pleasure, doing dangerous stunts regardless of the dangers associated with it, one becomes more concerned with avoiding pain hence paying more attention to pleasure.
Another theory is the self-other theory of personality that recognizes that there are two things among all objects and things in our surroundings that stands out and therefore have the implication of affecting us, ourselves and others. For instance, when making personnel decisions, people might consider the principles instilled on them by their parents and their teachers, therefore, influencing their decisions. In this case, parents and teachers are the two most influential things that stand out and therefore affects us and others.
Another distinction in Millon’s personality theory is the theory of active-passive that usually implies that a vast range of behaviors that a person engages in, is dependent on how the individual intends to shape events or how he/she reacts to those events. For example, a patient decides to take prescription medicine may be affected by a physician’s response to the patient’s sickness or what the patient intends to achieve in the end after taking the prescription medicine.
The implication of these personality theories to the clinician is to gauge how the different frameworks that face patients on a daily basis overlap, and the possibilities of categorizing certain personalities into clusters. In doing this, it will enable easier identification of common trends and themes.
NEO Agreeableness Scale
The Neo Agreeableness scale focuses on the statistical examination of the clusters of the big five personality traits by reporting on the subcategories or facets of each of the five traits. The agreeableness as a personality trait often manifests itself in an individual behavior often perceive as cooperative, warm, kind, sympathetic and considerate (Costa " McCrae, 2009). One of the facets in this scale is trust. Trust as a defining feature of the psychosocial development is a facet of the Agreeableness scale that determines the view of others based on their conceptions of personality. An example of a person with an elevated score in this scale is one who believes in others intentions as benevolent such as friendship. Those with a low score are often cynical. Another facet is straightforwardness. This is the quality of frankness and directness that often results in dealing with others. An example of a person with an elevated score in this scale is those that tend to interact socially with others in a direct manner. In contrast, those with low scores are high in self-monitoring. And manipulative. Another facet of the Agreeableness scale is the compliance of individual response to conflict, therefore, termed as compliance (Costa " McCrae, 2009). Those individuals with a high score in this scale are mild and meek while those with a low score are aggressive. Modesty is another facet in this scale that entails an individual self-concept. Individuals with an elevated score in this facet tend to be other-focused and humble while those with a low score are self-aggrandizing.
In conclusion, this paper examined the psychosocial models and theories related to behaviors. The MMPI-2-RF includes five validity scales that are linked to modern models and theories of personality and psychopathology that includes: AGGR-r, PSYC-r, DISC-r, INTR-r, and NEGE-r. Additionally, the three axes of Millon’s personality theories were examined. They include active-passive, self-other, and pleasure-pain. Lastly, the NEO-Agreeableness scale was closely analyzed with its six facets-trust, straightforwardness, compliance, modesty and tendermindedness.
References
Archer, R. (2016). Assessing Adolescent Psychopathology. New York: Routledge.
Costa, P., " McCrae, R. (2009). The Neo Personality Inventory Manual. Florida: Psychological Assessment Resources.
Millon, T. (1981). Disorders of Personality. Ontario: John Wiley " Sons.
