Heritability of MMPI Harris-Lingoes and Subtle-Obvious subscales in twins reared apart

A large sample of identical and fraternal twins who had been reared apart w as used to examine the genetic and environmental architecture of the MMPI S ubtle-Obvious and Harris-Lingoes subscales. Univariate genetic analyses ind icated significant heritability for all 28 of the Harris-Lingoes subscales (estimates ranged from .23 to .61), all five Obvious subscales (estimates r anged from .37 to .56) and four of the five Subtle subscales (estimates ran ged from .27 to .35). Two randomly constructed scales were analyzed as cont rols; neither of these scales showed significant heritability. Exploratory correlational findings suggested that three of the Wiener-Harmon Subtle sub scales may tap aspects of psychological health, naivete, or repression. Ma- S may come closest to Wiener and Harmon's intent. Although they apparently diverge from their original purpose, it may be too early to abandon the "lo w face valid items" of the Subtle subscales.