Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Cheat Sheet

Flashcards based on Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) lecture notes.

What is the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)?

A projective personality test using ambiguous pictures to reveal unconscious desires, fears, conflicts, and motives.

How many cards are typically used in the TAT?

Around 31 black and white cards, but often 10-20 are used.

What elements should subjects include in their TAT stories?

What led up to the scene, what's happening now, characters' thoughts/feelings, and what happens next.

What is the primary job of the TAT administrator?

Analyzing what is said and how it’s said, including tone, structure, patterns, and emotions.

What are Hero's Needs (Murray's Needs) in the TAT?

Internal drives/motives projected by the protagonist in the story.

What are the main categories of Murray's Needs?

Motivated by Power, Mastery, Prestige, Affection, Dependence, Love, Freedom, Change, Excitement, Insecurity, Avoidance, Guilt.

What is the definition of the Achievement Need?

Wanting to win, succeed, overcome obstacles, prove oneself, finish a task well.

What are the two types of the Acquisition Need, and how do they differ?

(Social) Seeking money, objects, status. (Asocial) Cheating, stealing, manipulating to gain something.

What behaviors are associated with the Aggression Need?

Verbal fights, revenge, defiance, destruction, criminal acts, or violence.

What actions characterize the Construction Need?

Building, organizing, fixing, or creating something meaningful.

What is the goal of the Counteraction Need?

Making up for failure, proving others wrong, pushing through past shame or weakness.

What behaviors are associated with the Dominance Need?

Taking control, being persuasive, making decisions for others, leading or managing.

What is the focus of the Exposition Need?

Teaching, lecturing, explaining ideas with clarity and intention.

What motivates individuals with a high Recognition Need?

Craving attention, applause, being seen, performing, dramatizing, boasting.

What is the aim of the Understanding Need?

Exploring meaning, insight, learning, debating to reach knowledge.

What desires are reflected by the Affiliation Need?

Wanting closeness, friendship, romantic connection, or emotional warmth.

What are the two forms of the Deference Need?

(Compliance) Willingness to obey. (Respect) Admiring someone else or idolizing a figure.

What actions are characteristic of the Nurturance Need?

Caring for others, feeding, protecting, consoling, being kind to someone in need.

What does the Sex Need encompass in the TAT context?

Flirting, romantic/sexual attraction, falling in love.

What is the core of the Succorance Need?

Wanting to be taken care of, protected, helped. Helplessness, dependency, seeking sympathy.

What is the driving force behind the Autonomy Need?

Wanting independence, escaping control, rejecting rules or relationships.

What behaviors are associated with the Resistance Need?

Stubbornness, rebelling against others' wishes, defiance.

What distinguishes Asocial Autonomy from general Autonomy?

Unethical freedom-seeking like lying, cheating, breaking norms.

What is the focus of the Change/Adventure Need?

Seeking new places, travel, novelty, variety.

What does the Excitance Need involve?

Emotional thrill, danger, gambling, drugs, risks.

What characterizes the Play Need?

Jokes, games, fun, amusement, light-hearted behavior.

What emotions are linked to the Abasement Need?

Guilt, shame, self-blame, humiliation, submitting to pain.

What actions define Blame Avoidance?

Being apologetic, overly cautious, avoiding mistakes or rejection.

What behaviors exemplify the Cognizance Need?

Curiosity, questioning, spying, detective-like behavior.

What motivates individuals with a strong Harm Avoidance Need?

Avoiding danger or pain, running away, being cautious or fearful.

What is the primary desire of those with a Passivity Need?

Wanting peace, stillness, rest, laziness, quiet detachment.

What actions are associated with the Rejection Need?

Withdrawing from others, pushing people away, excluding, being cold.

What behaviors demonstrate the Retention Need?

Hoarding, being possessive of people/things, refusing to share.

What is the goal of the Sentience Need?

Seeking beauty, aesthetic pleasure, arts, sensory delight.

What are Presses in the context of the TAT?

Outer pressures or events acting on the hero/heroine.

What does the Acquisition Press represent?

Others trying to steal from or exploit the hero.

What characterizes the Retention Press?

Someone is withholding something the hero wants.

What does the Lack Press signify?

Missing objects, money, opportunity, love, support.

What is involved in the Loss Press?

Actual loss of job, person, status, etc.

What does the Rejection Press entail?

Being emotionally or socially rejected.

What constitutes an Uncongenial Environment Press?

Alienation, being disliked, criticized, or unsupported.

What defines the Monotony Press?

Life is routine, boring, unstimulating.

What is the essence of the Dominance (coercion) Press?

Someone forces the hero to obey or submit.

What defines the Restraint Press?

Barriers, restrictions, rules limiting the hero.

What is characteristic of the Inducement Press?

Persuasion or manipulation to act a certain way.

What signifies an Imposed Task/Duty Press?

Hero is forced to complete something (e.g., school, work).

What does Aggression (verbal) Press involve?

Being insulted, mocked, or yelled at.

What constitutes Aggression (physical) Press?

Hero is attacked, hurt, or punished.

What is the meaning of Affliction Press?

Hero is sick, disabled, or mentally unwell.

What embodies Physical Danger Press?

Natural threats: falling, drowning, fire, storms.

What defines Physical Injury Press?

Hero is harmed by human or natural force.

What is the ultimate outcome of the Death Press?

The hero dies (or someone important to them).

What characterizes Affiliation Press?

Presence of friends, romantic or emotional closeness.

What does Deference Press indicate?

Others respect or obey the hero.

What defines Nurturance Press?

Hero receives care, protection, or support.

What signifies Succorance Press?

Others depend on the hero; the hero helps the helpless.

What does Sex Press represent?

Romantic or sexual attention toward the hero.

What is the meaning of Claustrum Press?

Hero is trapped in a small space (room, cave, prison).

What characterizes Cognizance Press?

Hero is being watched, investigated, or questioned.

What defines Exposition Press?

Hero is taught or explained something.

What signifies Example Press?

Hero is influenced (positively or negatively) by someone.

What constitutes Luck Press?

Good or bad fortune affects hero beyond their control.

What embodies Birth Press?

A child is born; new life begins.

What does Conflict represent as a psychological state?

Inner tension or indecision.

What emotions are associated with Elation?

Excitement, happiness.

What feelings characterize Dejection?

Sadness, depression.

What psychological states are linked to Distrust?

Paranoia, suspicion.

What emotion defines Jealousy?

Fear of losing someone’s love.

What states are included in Irreality?

Fantasies, hallucinations, disconnection.

What does Superego represent as a psychological state?

Overactive conscience or moral conflict.

What embodies Ego Ideal?

Aspirations, pride, sense of personal greatness.

TAT uses what kind of images?

Ambiguous pictures

what colours are the TAT cards?

Black and white

how many cards are often chosen for administering of the TAT?

10-20

in a TAT story, which character's needs are analyzed to asses the participant

Protagonist

Whose needs are connected with TAT analysis?

Murray

Heroes needs are related to what drives?

internal drives

Achievement, acquisition, aggression, construction are examples of needs that are what?

Motivated by Power

construction is involved in building, fixing or what?

organizing

Recognition involves being seen and craving what?

attention

Understanding involves exploring meaning, insight and what?

learning

Affiliation, deference, nurturance, sex and succorance are examples of what kind of needs?

Motivated by Affection

Affiliation needs involve wanting closeness and what?

Friendship

deference involes a willingness to what?

Obey

Nurturance involves bring protecting, consoling or what?

Kind

Succorance involves wanting to be taken care of and what?

helped

Autonomy needs involve escaping what?

control

Resistance involves stubbornness and what?

defiance

Asocial autonomy involves unethical freedom-seeking and what?

breaking norms

Change needs are otherwise known as what?

adventure

excitance often involves emotional thrill and what?

danger

play needs are joking and lighthearted and what?

amusement

abasement relates to feeling shame and what?

guilt

blame avoidance is being overly cautious and what?

apologetic

cognizance refers to curiosity, questioning and what?

spying

harm avoidance is being cautious and what?

fearful

passivity involves wanting peace and what?

laziness

rejection involves withdrawing from others and being what?

cold

retention involves being possessive and what?

hoarding

sentience involves sensory what?

delight