Minnesota Multiphasic personality inventory
Interpreting MMPI-2 profile with non-Caucasian individual
The Minnesota Mutliphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI) examines the various personality traits of an individual as well as psychopathology. This test is used to identify individuals that suffer from mental health problems. The MMPI-2 has 567 questions and a large research base, making it ideal for use by psychologists (Archer & Archer, 2011). In several cases, non-Caucasian respondents especially Blacks, have always scored higher compared to their white counterparts. This implies that non-Caucasian individuals have higher chances of becoming mental challenged or suffer other mental problems. In this regard, it is imperative to interpret MMPI-2 in a way that is culturally responsive to individuals that have the highest possibility of suffering from mental health problems. Cultural responsiveness prevents unbiased evaluation of the psychological state of non-Caucasian individuals.
Cultural competencies needed for unbiased psychological evaluation report
Cultural competencies are important in mental health and psychopathology. Competencies helps counsellors to understand the different contexts and attitudes of clients and enhance their adaption while initiating relationships. These competencies help in learning about the client and give the client room to learn the counsellor. A conducive counsellor-client environment will enable the client to talk freely and share his circumstance to the counsellor (Archer & Archer, 2011). The diverse American culture behoves counsellors to culturally competent. Cultural competencies prevent dependence on stereotype and false assumptions that an evaluation of an individual may apply to other individuals who share the same cultural group. In this regard, evaluations such as the Minnesota multiphasic personality inventory should be evaluated by culturally competent people. The competencies required include cultural diversity, integrity, self-awareness and patience.
Cultural diversity helps to understand and appreciate the diverse cultural backgrounds of individuals undergoing the test. People who recognize diversity are able to supress negative feelings that they have on people from different cultural backgrounds. A culturally competent individual appreciates the differences that may exist in terms of race, religion, age, gender and sexuality (Archer & Archer, 2011). In this regard, unbiased psychological evaluation can be carried out by culturally competent individuals. The other aspect of cultural competence is patience. Because of the rich American diversity, people exhibit varying levels of patience. In this regard, the individual carrying an evaluation of people from diverse background need to exercise high levels of patience to enable them accommodate cultural limitations that may exists between the different cultural groups. They should have awareness of who they are to enable them recognize the obligations set for them. Self-awareness enable an individual to recognize the fundamental values of humanity and exercise due diligence in the discharge of duties.
Ethical and multicultural issues needed to prevent biased evaluation
During psychological evaluations using the Minnesota multiphasic inventory, various ethical concerns usually arise. Stereotypes and cultural prejudice usually take place during the interpretation of the MMPI-2. These stereotypes are informed by racial bias. It is part of the reason Blacks are perceived to record highest scores in the test which implies increased vulnerability to mental health problems. To prevent such incidences, individuals who interpret should be of sound ethical competence. Ethical or moral competence will enable these individuals to interpret the test without any inclination to racial, religious, ethnic or sexual affiliation (Archer & Archer, 2011). These individuals should exhibit multicultural competence to enable them to shun prejudice, discrimination, stereotypes and racism. Multiculturalism reduces incidences of racially-inspired hatred against the members of the other racial divide. Professionals charged with administration of tests using MMPI-2 should take cognizance of the centrality of fairness in the discharge of duties and responsibilities.
References
Archer, R. P., & Archer, E. M. (2011). Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory for
Adolescents. In Encyclopedia of Adolescence (pp. 1741-1747). Springer New York.
