title: Characteristics of successful fakers versus unsuccessful fakers: is empathy, intelligence, or personality associated with faking PTSD on the MMPI-2?
abstract: Moyer, Burkhardt, and Gordon found in 2002 that some individuals could fake PTSD on the MMPI-2. In light of these results, a follow-up study was conducted to assess whether attributes such as empathy, intelligence, subjectivity, or insightfulness influenced ability to fake a PTSD profile on the MMPI-2. 35 subjects from the previous study were divided into two groups, successful fakers and unsuccessful fakers. Analysis indicated no significant differences between groups on the measures of empathy or intelligence. However, a significant difference was found between groups on the Schizophrenia and Cynicism scales and falling just short of significance on the Hypochondriasis scale. These results suggested that individuals able to fake PTSD are more insightful and less subjective, which makes them better at role-playing.
authors.affiliation: Cedar Crest College, 100 College Dr., Allentown, PA 18104, USA. dmmoyer@cedarcrest.edu
authors.forename: Diane M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Moyer
authors.forename: Robert M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Gordon
authors.forename: Jane Tyler
authors.initials: JT
authors.lastname: Ward
authors.forename: Barbara B
authors.initials: BB
authors.lastname: Burkhardt
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001364:Awareness; D002605:Character; D008192:Deception; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D008950:MMPI / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D011594:Psychometrics / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D013334:Students / Q000523:psychology