Substantive scale scores in this sample were meaningfully lower than those obtained by the tests' normative samples in the case of the MMPI-2-RF and meaningfully higher in the case of the CPI (indicating less psychological dysfunction). Don't stress, and keep moving forward.We examined associations between prehire California Psychological Inventory (CPI) and prorated Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) scores (calculated from MMPI profiles) and supervisor ratings for a sample of 143 male police officers. The psychological exam is not the final evaluation of your character, just an evaluation per specific agency. Many who have failed psychological exams in the past go on to become fine police officers with other departments. The quality of your psychologist may depend on the budget and dedication of your individual department but, it's important to understand they’re the professional, not someone that’s trying to assault your character.įinally, don’t take the results of the exam personally. Some questions may be repeated, or presented in some other form, to see if your answers have changed in between them.ĭon’t fight the psychologist. Trying to “game” the test can raise some yellow flags to psychologists, who are trained to look out for those patterns in the answers.īe as honest as you can. Rather, it's best to be the most natural version of yourself as possible:Īnswer the questions literally without thinking into them too much. The criteria for the MMPI doesn't necessarily require studying. The psych screening is one of the last things you'll need to get hired on with a department. Time, positive action, and living a positive lifestyle will speak more to a candidate's character than any answer they can provide on a test. However, people who try to hide from their past may actually be proving they haven't changed for the better. Police departments understand that people make mistakes. Factors like assertiveness and passiveness are scored based on what the department is looking for and are not necessarily negative judgments on your character.ĥ. In fact, the exact same test answers that disqualify a candidate from one department may get them hired in another. Is the candidate a good fit for the department? Failing to pass a psych exam doesn’t mean that a candidate is mentally unfit, or unsuitable for a career in law enforcement. Officers of the law shouldn't have a position to favor one age group, sex, race, or culture over another.Ĥ. The candidates are vetted to show who won't discriminate against the citizens they are sworn to protect. The psychological exam also tests for prejudices. In today’s political and social climate, departments can’t afford to receive media and public backlash for negligence like corruption or use of excessive force.ģ.
The psychological exam eliminates people who may be a liability to the department. If a candidate washes out during or shortly after training, the attrition wastes tax dollars and the candidate takes a slot that could have been given to hundreds of other deserving candidates.Ģ. Agencies are looking for candidates who treat law enforcement as a career, not just a job. Here’s what agencies really want to find out during the psychological exam:ġ. The public expects police to be professionals - police agencies should expect no less from the psychologists who evaluate their personnel
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