MMPI differences among black, Mexican-American, and white male offenders

Abstract

MMPI [Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory] scores of black, Mexican-American and white male offenders were compared in order to investigate whether cultural and/or socioeconomic factors affect this personality inventory. Comparisons were performed on unmatched and matched (education and occupation) groups that utilized all profiles or valid ones only and examined both trait (individual scales) and type (Goldberg indices) differences. Black-white differences on the MA [Hypomania], K [Defensiveness and/or desirability] and Hy [Hysteria] scales reflected cultural factors, while differences on MF [Masculinity-Feminity] and alcoholism were accounted for by socioeconomic differences among the groups. Cultural factors were related to differences between Mexican-Americans and whites on the L [Lie], K and overcontrolled hostility scales, while socioeconomic factors explained differences on the Hs [Hypochondriasis] scale. Type differences were not apparent except that Mexican-Americans were classified more often as psychiatric, while whites and blacks scored well into the sociopathic range.