Faking-good behavior in self-favorable scales of the MMPI-2. A study with time pressure

Speeded answering to items on a personality test has long been considered a factor in the validity of the results obtained. In this study, to better understand the utility of time pressure in the evaluation of faking-good behavior, we assessed four groups of volunteers in “honest versus faking-good” and “without time pressure versus speeded” conditions. We compared respondents’ T-point scores in the three self-favorable scales of the MMPI-2 (L, K, and S), their response latencies in these scales, and the number of pathological items they endorsed. Data from 102 males (M = 25.5, SD = 2.16 years) showed that the faking-good condition required more time and the speeded condition increased T-point scores. Comparisons with previous research are discussed, and ideas for further study are generated.