by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. COMMENTARY ON: Relative user ratings of MMPI-2 computer-based test interpretations, John E. Williams and Nathan C. Weed, (2004). Assessment, 11, #4, 316-329. Caldwell Report will provide you with a copy if requested. This study set out to do a meaningful competitive comparison of the then eight publicly available Computer Based … Continue reading Validating Data for Clinical and Forensic Use of CBTIs →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. I consider the question of whether all psychpathological behaviors can, on an evolutionary foundation, be consideredas positive adaptations. I proposed that higherfunctions can be differentiated from their associated emotional modulations at simultaneous subjective, behavioral, and neural levels and that organizing analyses inthis way will enable us to fill in our … Continue reading MASTER LECTURE
What Do the MMPI Scales Fundamentally Measure? Some Hypotheses →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. The revelation of numerous police officer involved shootings have focused a spotlight on the need for stricter background investigations of police candidates, as well as a renewed scrutiny of their pre-hire psychological screening. Psychological evaluation not only reveals diagnosable mental disorders, but also can flag those recruits whose personality types … Continue reading Police Officer Involved Shootings Spotlight Need For Stricter Background Checks →

by Alex B. Caldwell and Micheline Becker-Caldwell One of the touchstones of psychotherapy is the quality of empathy, the capacity to feel the emotions that envelope and motivate the client. The more we understand our clients, the more effective our interventions will be. Comprehending what experiences in our clients’ lives have strongly influenced their present … Continue reading PROLOGUE: From Etiology to Empathy to Compassion →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. When I use scale 5-Mf in a report, I am uncomfortable with the descriptors that come to mind. What does scale 5-Mf measure? Hasn’t it changed over time? What do more extreme scores tell us? Hathaway (see Dahlstrom & Dahlstrom, 1980, pp. 73-75) primarily used gay vs. straight males to … Continue reading What does scale 5-Mf measure? →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. Rather immediately in the development of the basic MMPI scales – in the early 1940’s – it became apparent that answering such an array of personal items is inevitably subject to biases from the varied attitudes and approaches that subjects take. One alternative was for the clinician to make approximate … Continue reading What is the K scale really about? →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. What was the extent of the development of adolescent assessment with the original MMPI? For the first 24 years of developing my MMPI interpretation system, there was only the original MMPI. There was extensive research showing good, validly interpretable profiles down to ninth grade/age 15. This included an extensive research … Continue reading What are the arguments regarding the use of the MMPI-2 vs. MMPI-A with adolescents? →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. COMMENTARY ON: Relative user ratings of MMPI-2 computer-based test interpretations John E. Williams and Nathan C. Weed, (2004). Assessment, 11, #4, 316-329. Caldwell Report will provide you with a copy if requested. This study set out to do a meaningful competitive comparison of the then eight publicly available Computer Based … Continue reading Validating data for clinical and forensic use of CBTIs →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. The computer-generated MMPI-2 report basically describes the patterns of behavior that are characteristic of those who obtain similar profiles. What reactions, what sensitivities, what internal issues, what external interpersonal conflicts, etc., are likely? This is, of course, actuarial hypothesis generation: it alerts the clinician to what to look for, perhaps … Continue reading How do computerized reports fit into custody examinations, reports, and testimony? →

by Alex B. Caldwell, Ph.D. Topics: RC, Ho, AAS and APS, GM and GF, S, F(p), and non-gendered norms 1. What clinical contributions can the RC scales make? Are there potential uses? What validation do they need? How can we respond to misleading RC testimony? I do not believe these are the “cores” of the … Continue reading Assorted Topics: Brief comments and opinions →