Psychometric characteristics of the MMPI-2 Cook-Medley Hostility scale

The Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI; Hathaway & McKinley, 1943) Cook-Medley Hostility scale (Ho) has been studied a great deal because of its relation to coronary disease and mortality. However, little research has been conducted with the Ho scale on the revised MMPI (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989). This study examined the psychometric characteristics of the MMPI-2 Ho scale. Only nine of the original 50 Ho items were slightly changed in the revision. Ho scores were highly correlated with MMPI-2 scales CYN, K, TPA, and ASP, supporting the interpretation of Ho as a measure of cynicism. High correlations with other MMPI-2 scales also suggested that Ho is related to general psychopathology and negative affectivity. Male Ho scorers were rated by their spouses as hotheaded, bossy, demanding, and argumentative. For women, Ho scale scores were less strongly associated with ratings of overt hostility. Principal components analysis of Ho revealed four underlying dimensions: Cynicism, Hypersensitivity, Aggressive Responding, and Social Avoidance.