What do clinical scales in the MMPI/MMPI-2 profile typically identify?

The correct answer identifies that clinical scales in the MMPI (Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory) and MMPI-2 profile are primarily designed to assess clinical symptoms and identify potential mental illnesses. These scales contain various items that reflect psychological conditions, including mood disorders, anxiety, personality pathology, and other mental health concerns.

The MMPI's clinical scales evaluate responses that indicate how an individual may be experiencing or responding to psychological distress, which helps in diagnosing conditions like depression, psychosis, and anxiety disorders. By interpreting the scores on these scales, clinicians can understand the severity and nature of the symptoms being reported by the individual, facilitating proper diagnosis and treatment planning.

Other options touch on important aspects of psychological assessments but do not specifically relate to the primary function of the MMPI’s clinical scales. While personality traits and social behaviors might be considered in broader psychological evaluations and informative discussions, they do not specifically target clinical symptoms or the identification of mental illnesses as these scales do. Similarly, cognitive skills are not the focus of the clinical scales; they address mental health issues rather than cognitive functioning. Thus, the emphasis on identifying clinical symptoms and mental illnesses is what truly defines the purpose of the MMPI and MMPI-2 clinical scales.