MMPI-2 by Proxy and the Rorschach: A Demonstration Assessment of the Commandant of Auschwitz

Abstract

The autobiography of Rudolph Hoess (1959), commandant of Auschwitz, was used to illustrate a method for personality assessment of biographical and autobiographical information. The method is the MMPI by proxy. Self-statements culled from Hoess's autobiography were read by the authors, who independently took the MMPI-2, attempting to answer for Hoess according to the impression formed by the autobiographical statements. The resulting basic scales and content scales profiles were quite similar between the two authors. T scores were averaged to construct proflies for interpretation. MMPI-2 by proxy interpretations were compared with interpretations from Hoess's Rorschach obtained while he was a war crimes trials prisoner. The combined methods showed that Hoess probably used rationalization and externalization to justify his actions as a death camp commandant and to avoid an extreme sense of guilt. The case study illustrates that the MMPI by proxy method can yield good reliability and can deepen the understanding of personality functioning of individuals who did not actually take the test.