Understanding Projective Tests in Personality Assessment

Personality testing

Used in psychological evaluation to help determine diagnoses and underlying psychological factors.

Objective testing

Highly standardized paper and pencil questionnaire resulting in a statistically interpreted score.

Projective testing

More elaborate testing based on the projective hypothesis, with results obtained through clinical interpretation.

Projective hypothesis

States that individuals project their unconscious motives, drives, wishes, feelings, hopes, fears, and conflicts onto ambiguous stimuli.

Interpretation of results

Subjective interpretation that provides clinical material for understanding the patient.

Draw-a-person Test

Patient draws a person reflecting themselves, with various body parts symbolizing different aspects of personality.

Thematic Apperception Test

Involves creating stories based on cards with people in different activities to reveal unconscious processes.

Rorschach Inkblot Test

Patient interprets inkblots to reveal underlying thoughts and emotions, focusing on form quality and color.

Incomplete Sentences Test

Patient completes sentence beginnings to reveal recurring themes and specific issues.

Earliest Childhood Recollection Test

Reflects current psychological themes based on Alfred Adler's theory, with memories before age 2.5-3 likely created from stories and imagination.