Are the MMPI subtle subscales subtle measures of their scales?

This study investigated the ability of the MMPI Wiener–Harmon subtle subscales (on scales D, Hy, Pd, Pa, and Ma) to serve as subtle or unobtrusive measures of their scales. Forty outpatients completed the MMPI under standard instructions, followed by a fake‐good or fake‐bad instructional set. First, we investigated the paradoxical effect found in the MMPI faking literature (in which, overall, the subtle subscale T‐scores change in a direction opposite of the faking instructions) and found that not every subtle subscale shows this effect. Secondly, the subtle subscale T‐scores achieved under faking conditions showed no significant relationship to their respective full‐scale T‐scores achieved under standard conditions. Therefore, our results do not support the Wiener–Harmon subtle subscales as subtle measures of their scales. © 2000 John Wiley & Sons, Inc. J Clin Psychol 56: 139–148, 2000.