Intent of projective personality tests
A projective personality test is a personality test in which ambiguous words, scenes, or images are presented to an individual and the individual provides responses to these scenes. Projective personality tests were a product of psychoanalytic psychology, which suggested that people’s conscious actions are driven by their unconscious thoughts, feelings, and desires. The projective personality tests are intended to uncover said unconscious desires and bring the motives for conscious acts to light.
The Rorschach Inkblot Test
The Rorschach Inkblot Test is the most widely used projective test. In the Inkblot Test, a set of ten inkblots designed by Hermann Rorschach are presented to an individual. The individual then describes the first thing that they ‘see’ in the inkblot. The Inkblot Test seeks to identify people’s inner feelings by analyzing their interpretations of the blots.
The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
Thematic Apperception Tests (TAT) are projective tests in which people express their inner feelings and interests through the stories they make up about the ambiguous scenes with which they are presented. Below, there is featured a TAT scene of a woman and a man. What do you think happened? Your response would be analyzed to reveal your unconscious desires and motives. Such is seen in the picture of the young man taking a TAT. The intent of such a test is to trigger a projection of one's inner dynamics.
References
Cherry, K. (n.d.). Projective Tests. About.com Psychology. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologicaltesting/f/projective-tests.htm
Hall, E. (n.d.). Key Terms- Personality. GAVS.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://cms.gavirtualschool.org/Development/Social_Studies/AP_Psychology/AP_Psychology_Softchalk/12_Personality/KeyTermsPersonality.pdf
Rorschach Inkblot Test Photo. (n.d.). 8th.us. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from https://8th.us/topic/what-do-you-see-rorschach-inkblot-test.16694/
TAT Photo. (n.d.). Thematic Apperception Test. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Thematic-Apperception-Test.html
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Photo. (n.d.). History of Projective Testing. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from http://projectivetests.umwblogs.org/popular-tests/thematic-apperception-test-tat/
Cherry, K. (n.d.). Projective Tests. About.com Psychology. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from http://psychology.about.com/od/psychologicaltesting/f/projective-tests.htm
Hall, E. (n.d.). Key Terms- Personality. GAVS.com. Retrieved April 15, 2014, from http://cms.gavirtualschool.org/Development/Social_Studies/AP_Psychology/AP_Psychology_Softchalk/12_Personality/KeyTermsPersonality.pdf
Rorschach Inkblot Test Photo. (n.d.). 8th.us. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from https://8th.us/topic/what-do-you-see-rorschach-inkblot-test.16694/
TAT Photo. (n.d.). Thematic Apperception Test. Retrieved April 16, 2014, from http://www.minddisorders.com/Py-Z/Thematic-Apperception-Test.html
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Photo. (n.d.). History of Projective Testing. Retrieved April 17, 2014, from http://projectivetests.umwblogs.org/popular-tests/thematic-apperception-test-tat/