1 Hour / 1 CE

On Demand | Self-Paced Professional Training

This on-demand professional training program on the Assessment of Underreporting and Defensiveness in Psychological Evaluations using the MMPI-2-RF is presented by Martin Sellbom, PhD.

This intermediate-level program discusses the role of the 338-item MMPI-2 Restructured Form (MMPI-2-RF) in assessing underreporting. This program assumes background and basic interpretation knowledge of the MMPI-2-RF and forensic and clinical assessment. The majority of the time is devoted to discussing the MMPI-2-RF validity scales used to assess underreporting and how these scales can be used as evidence for measuring defensiveness, with a particular emphasis on forensic (risk assessment, family court) and public safety personnel screening evaluations, for which such responding is common. The program also addresses the use of MMPI-2-RF comparison groups to support interpretation and reviews research evidence validating these approaches. The session concludes with case illustrations demonstrating practical application.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this training, participants will be able to:

  • 1 Describe the psychometric findings available to guide MMPI-2-RF interpretation of validity scales assessing underreporting
  • 2 Describe various considerations for using the MMPI-2-RF in the assessment of underreporting and defensiveness
  • 3 Describe how to use and interpret the MMPI-2-RF underreporting validity scales in the context of evaluating for defensive responding.

  • Intended Audience

    This training is intended for mental health and allied professionals who want to enhance their understanding of the MMPI-2-RF, with a focus on its application in detecting underreporting and defensiveness. It is suitable for those involved in psychological assessment, forensic evaluation, or public safety personnel screening, and is designed to help participants deepen their knowledge and skills in utilizing the MMPI-2-RF for comprehensive and accurate assessments.

    • Mental Health Professional
    • Psychologist
    • Forensic Evaluator
    • Public Safety and Law Enforcement Personnel
    • Healthcare Provider involved in psychological assessment
    • Social Service Agency Staff
    • Educational Institution Counselor or Psychologist
    • Human Resources Professional involved in personnel screening

  • Experience Level

    This intermediate-level training is designed for licensed and pre-licensed mental health professionals with foundational knowledge of the MMPI-2-RF and experience in forensic and clinical assessment.

    • Intermediate: Participants have experience interpreting MMPI-2-RF validity scales, understand psychometric findings related to underreporting, and have applied these skills in some forensic or clinical evaluations.

  • Practice Setting

    Participants in this training typically work in environments where psychological assessment is a core component of their professional responsibilities. These settings often require the use of standardized instruments like the MMPI-2-RF to evaluate individuals for clinical, forensic, or occupational purposes. The work environment may be clinical offices, forensic units, public safety agencies, healthcare facilities, social service organizations, educational institutions, or human resources departments. These professionals frequently conduct assessments to inform decisions about mental health treatment, legal matters, personnel selection, or risk management, and must be adept at detecting response patterns such as underreporting and defensiveness to ensure accurate and ethical evaluations.

    Examples of practice settings:

    • Outpatient or inpatient mental health clinics
    • Private psychological or psychiatric practices
    • Forensic assessment centers (e.g., court-ordered evaluations, risk assessments)
    • Police, fire, or public safety agency psychological screening units
    • Hospital behavioral health departments
    • Social service agencies conducting child custody or protective services evaluations
    • School counseling or university mental health centers
    • Corporate or government human resources offices involved in pre-employment psychological screening

Presented By

Martin Sellbom, PhD, Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University

Martin Sellbom is a Professor in the School of Psychological Sciences at Monash University in Melbourne, Australia. He received his Ph.D. in Clinical Psychology in 2007 from Kent State University (USA). His research focuses on personality disorders, contemporary psychopathology models, and personality assessment with the MMPI instruments. Professor Sellbom's work has been featured in over 300 publications that includes four books, including the forthcoming (co-authored with Dustin Wygant) Forensic Mental Health Assessments using the MMPI-3. He has won several awards, including the American Psychological Foundation’s Theodore Millon mid-career award for advancing personality science, American Psychology-Law Society’s Saleem Shah Award and Society for Personality Assessment’s Samuel and Anne Beck Award for early career achievement. Professor Sellbom serves as the Editor-in-Chief for the Journal of Personality Assessment. For his clinical practice, he specializes in forensic psychological evaluations.

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Martin Sellbom, PhD

CE Sponsorship Information

Palo Alto University, Continuing & Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by, recognized by, or maintains sponsorship provider status with the following boards and agencies. We maintain responsibility for all content in our CE/CPD programs. For more information, visit here. 

  1. American Psychological Association (APA): Approved sponsor of continuing education for psychologists.

  2. Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB): Approved continuing education provider (ACE program, Provider #1480), 11/22/2023–11/22/2026.

  3. Canadian Psychological Association (CPA): Approved to sponsor continuing education for psychologists.

  4. National Board for Certified Counselors (NBCC): Approved Continuing Education Provider (ACEP No. 7190).



Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) is approved by the American Psychological Association to sponsor continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) maintains responsibility for this program and its content. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), is approved by the Canadian Psychological Association to offer continuing education for psychologists. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT), SW CPE is recognized by the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0356 and the New York State Education Department’s State Board for Mental Health Practitioners as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed mental health counselors. #MHC-0073. Palo Alto University, Continuing and Professional Studies (CONCEPT) has been approved by NBCC as an Approved Continuing Education Provider, ACEP No. 6811. Programs that do not qualify for NBCC credit are clearly identified. CONCEPT Professional Training, #1480, is approved to offer social work continuing education by the Association of Social Work Boards (ASWB) Approved Continuing Education (ACE) program. Organizations, not individual courses, are approved as ACE providers. State and provincial regulatory boards have the final authority to determine whether an individual course may be accepted for continuing education credit. CONCEPT Professional Training maintains responsibility for this course. ACE provider approval period: 11/22/23-11/22/26. Social workers completing this course receive (clinical or social work ethics) continuing education credits.