The MMPI-2 and now the MMPI-3 are the most widely used test in custody / parental allocation evaluations. Matrimonial lawyers must know how the test operates because of its use and misuse. You need to understand how the test scores correlate to other indications of what is in the best interest of the children. Additionally, the test results should be reviewed being mindful of the incentive to try to present oneself favorably within the context of a custody evaluation. At the more extreme side is what experts call a “fake good” profile. The MMPI-3 now calls this the “uncommon virtue” scale. These validity scales help counter and help quantify this tendency. Yet interpreting the MMPI content scales ever, these scales remain somewhat problematic.
