clinical psychology

1. The ProjectiveThe Projective
Personality TestsPersonality Tests
Lecture 20Lecture 20

2. Projective TestsProjective Tests
 Second broad approach of personalitySecond broad approach of personality
Assessment.Assessment.
 They are all distinct from objectiveThey are all distinct from objective
personality tests, they ask answers forpersonality tests, they ask answers for
ambiguous and unstructured stimuli.ambiguous and unstructured stimuli.
 Projective techniques are essentiallyProjective techniques are essentially
psychological X-rayspsychological X-rays
 Based on theBased on the projective hypothesis.projective hypothesis.

3. The Nature Of Projective TestsThe Nature Of Projective Tests
1.1. Examinees reveal something ofExaminees reveal something of
themselves.themselves.
2.2. Stimulus material is unstructured.Stimulus material is unstructured.
3.3. The method is indirect.The method is indirect.

4. 4.4. There is freedom of responses.There is freedom of responses.
5.5. Response interpretation deals with moreResponse interpretation deals with more
variables.variables.

5. Measurement AndMeasurement And
StandardizationStandardization
 Objective tests lend themselves to actuarialObjective tests lend themselves to actuarial
interpretive approach.interpretive approach.
 The projective tests seem to resist psychometricThe projective tests seem to resist psychometric
evaluation.evaluation.
StandardizationStandardization
 standardization would facilitate communicationstandardization would facilitate communication
and would serve as a check against biases.and would serve as a check against biases.

6. Reliability:Reliability:
 Determination of reliability turns out not to beDetermination of reliability turns out not to be
simple.simple.
 Test-retest reliability may be affected byTest-retest reliability may be affected by
psychological changes in the individual.psychological changes in the individual.
Validity:Validity:
 Because projective have been used for such aBecause projective have been used for such a
multiplicity of purposes, there is little point inmultiplicity of purposes, there is little point in
asking general questions: e.g.,Is the TAT valid?asking general questions: e.g.,Is the TAT valid?

7. The RorschachThe Rorschach
 Prototypic example of projective personality testsPrototypic example of projective personality tests
is the Rorschach Inkblot Test.is the Rorschach Inkblot Test.
 Developed by Swiss psychiatrist HermanDeveloped by Swiss psychiatrist Herman
Rorschach in 1921.Rorschach in 1921.
 The most cherished and the most reviled of allThe most cherished and the most reviled of all
psychological assessment instrumentspsychological assessment instruments..
Description:Description:
 10 cards with printed symmetrical10 cards with printed symmetrical inkblots,inkblots,
 5 are black & white and 5 are colored.5 are black & white and 5 are colored.

8. AdministrationAdministration
 The clinician hands the patient the first card and says,The clinician hands the patient the first card and says,
"Tell me what you see—what it might be for you."Tell me what you see—what it might be for you.
 There are no right or wrong answers.There are no right or wrong answers.
 The clinician takes down verbatim everything theThe clinician takes down verbatim everything the
patient says.patient says.
 The position of the card as each response is given &The position of the card as each response is given &
all spontaneous remarks or exclamations are alsoall spontaneous remarks or exclamations are also
recorded.recorded.
 Following this phase, the clinician moves to the InquiryFollowing this phase, the clinician moves to the Inquiry
i.e. what prompted each response.i.e. what prompted each response.

9. Scoring:Scoring:
 The scoring of responses converts the importantThe scoring of responses converts the important
aspects of each response into a symbol systemaspects of each response into a symbol system
related to location areas, determinants, content areas,related to location areas, determinants, content areas,
and popularity.and popularity.
Location:Location:
Location is scored in terms of which portion of the blotLocation is scored in terms of which portion of the blot
was used as a basis for a response or the commonwas used as a basis for a response or the common
detail of the blot.detail of the blot.
 Example: attention to whole blot : good organizationalExample: attention to whole blot : good organizational
ability,ability,
 over-attention : common in obsessive and paranoidover-attention : common in obsessive and paranoid
subjectssubjects

10. Determinants:Determinants:
 Determinants of each response reflect the features ofDeterminants of each response reflect the features of
the blot that made it look the way the patient thought itthe blot that made it look the way the patient thought it
looked, e.g. form, shading, colures, and movement oflooked, e.g. form, shading, colures, and movement of
either humans or animals, inanimate movements.either humans or animals, inanimate movements.
 Overemphasis suggests rigidity and color responsesOveremphasis suggests rigidity and color responses
relate the emotional responses.relate the emotional responses.
 Color responses relate to the emotional reactions ofColor responses relate to the emotional reactions of
the person to the environment and to the control ofthe person to the environment and to the control of
affect.affect.
Interpretation:Interpretation:
 Particularly useful in diagnosis.Particularly useful in diagnosis.
 Proper interpretation requires a great deal ofProper interpretation requires a great deal of
experience.experience.

11. Reliability And Validity:Reliability And Validity:
 Rorschach responses can be scored reliably acrossRorschach responses can be scored reliably across
raters.raters.
 Interscorer reliability is important to address.Interscorer reliability is important to address.
 As for validity, the test is not equally valid for allAs for validity, the test is not equally valid for all
purposes.purposes.
 For many years, a procedure involving interpretationFor many years, a procedure involving interpretation
of a Rorschach with almost no other information aboutof a Rorschach with almost no other information about
the patient was used to assess Rorschach validity.the patient was used to assess Rorschach validity.

12. Utility Of RorschachUtility Of Rorschach::
 Used when focus is on unconsciousUsed when focus is on unconscious
functioning.functioning.
 Rorschach : a method of dataRorschach : a method of data
collection or personality test?collection or personality test?
 Viewing the Rorschach as a methodViewing the Rorschach as a method
allows a more thorough diagnosticallows a more thorough diagnostic
evaluation.evaluation.

13. Thematic Apperception TestThematic Apperception Test
 TheThe Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) waswas
introduced by Morgan and Murray in 1935.introduced by Morgan and Murray in 1935.
 Reveals patient’s basic personality likeReveals patient’s basic personality like
conflicts,attitudes,goals and repressed materialconflicts,attitudes,goals and repressed material
through series of pictures.through series of pictures.
 Used as a method of inferring psychological needs.Used as a method of inferring psychological needs.
 With TAT, clinicians are likely to make specificWith TAT, clinicians are likely to make specific
judgments.judgments.

14. Description:Description:
 31 cards, one is blank, depict people in a variety of31 cards, one is blank, depict people in a variety of
situations but few contains objects.situations but few contains objects.
 20 cards are given, with gender differences.20 cards are given, with gender differences.
 Not as much ambiguous as Rorschach.Not as much ambiguous as Rorschach.
Administration:Administration:
 Clinician use somewhere between 6 and 12 cards andClinician use somewhere between 6 and 12 cards and
asks a story about the cards.asks a story about the cards.
 In some instances, patients may be asked to write outIn some instances, patients may be asked to write out
their stories, but this can result in shorter than normaltheir stories, but this can result in shorter than normal
stories.stories.

15. Scoring:Scoring:
 Several scoring systems have beenSeveral scoring systems have been
developed.developed.
 Rating each story on several categories.Rating each story on several categories.
 Another scoring system for TAT wasAnother scoring system for TAT was
designed to assess object relationsdesigned to assess object relations

16. Reliability :Reliability :
 It is very difficult to evaluate reliability andIt is very difficult to evaluate reliability and
validity.validity.
 It is possible to investigate theme reliability, butIt is possible to investigate theme reliability, but
since one cannot expect word-for-wordsince one cannot expect word-for-word
similarity from one occasion next, one is usuallysimilarity from one occasion next, one is usually
studying the reliability of judges’ interpretations.studying the reliability of judges’ interpretations.
 Interjudge reliability can also be achieved whenInterjudge reliability can also be achieved when
quantitative ratings are involved .But broad,quantitative ratings are involved .But broad,
global interpretations can present problems.global interpretations can present problems.

17. Some attempts have been made to establish theSome attempts have been made to establish the
validity of the TAT. Methods have included:validity of the TAT. Methods have included:
 Comparison with case data or with therapist.Comparison with case data or with therapist.
 Matching techniques with no additionalMatching techniques with no additional
knowledge.knowledge.
 Comparisons between clinical diagnosesComparisons between clinical diagnoses
derived from the TAT and psychiatrists'derived from the TAT and psychiatrists'
judgments.judgments.
ValidityValidity

18.  Establishment of the validity of certain generalEstablishment of the validity of certain general
principles of interpretation.principles of interpretation.
The typical clinical use of the TAT suggestsThe typical clinical use of the TAT suggests
that it remains basically a subjectivethat it remains basically a subjective
instrument.instrument.

19. Sentence Completion TechniquesSentence Completion Techniques
 A very durable and serviceable, yet simple.A very durable and serviceable, yet simple.
 Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank.Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank.
 Consists of 40 sentences.—for example, "IConsists of 40 sentences.—for example, "I
like . . . ." "What annoys me? ..." I wish . . .like . . . ." "What annoys me? ..." I wish . . .
 Scored along a 7-point scale to provide generalScored along a 7-point scale to provide general
index of adjustment-maladjustment.index of adjustment-maladjustment.
 Scoring is objective and reliable.Scoring is objective and reliable.
 Economical and good screening device.Economical and good screening device.
 the ISB provides a cognitive and behavioralthe ISB provides a cognitive and behavioral
picture of the patient rather than a "deep,picture of the patient rather than a "deep,
psychodynamic" picture.psychodynamic" picture.

20. Word-association TechniqueWord-association Technique
 Stimulus words are presented to the patientsStimulus words are presented to the patients
and they have to respond the first word thatand they have to respond the first word that
came to them.came to them.
 The list may be repeated.The list may be repeated.
 Discrepancies between the two administrationsDiscrepancies between the two administrations
may reveal associational difficulties.may reveal associational difficulties.
 Because it is easily qualified, the test hasBecause it is easily qualified, the test has
continued to be used as a research instrument,continued to be used as a research instrument,
although its popularity has diminished greatlyalthough its popularity has diminished greatly
over the years.over the years.

21. Moving to ConclusionMoving to Conclusion

22. AdvantagesAdvantages of Projective Techniquesof Projective Techniques
 The amount, richness and accuracy of information thatThe amount, richness and accuracy of information that
is collected.is collected.
 A variety of projective techniques are frequently usedA variety of projective techniques are frequently used
in the context of individual interviews or conventionalin the context of individual interviews or conventional
focus group discussions (breaking the ice)focus group discussions (breaking the ice)
 Helps to open discussion around socially sensitiveHelps to open discussion around socially sensitive
issues, may be embarrassed, lake of knowledge.issues, may be embarrassed, lake of knowledge.
 Useful in encouraging in subjects a state of freedomUseful in encouraging in subjects a state of freedom
and spontaneity of expression. – where they mayand spontaneity of expression. – where they may
hesitate to express their opinion directly for fear ofhesitate to express their opinion directly for fear of
disapproval or when they find them threatening fordisapproval or when they find them threatening for
some other reasons.some other reasons.

23. DisadvantagesDisadvantages
 Primary disadvantage is thePrimary disadvantage is the complexity ofcomplexity of
datadata and the corresponding skills required ofand the corresponding skills required of
the researcher. They need to be very trainedthe researcher. They need to be very trained
and skilled interpreters of information.and skilled interpreters of information.
 They are expensive to administer becauseThey are expensive to administer because
highly trained staff is needed to be employed.highly trained staff is needed to be employed.