discussion question 1733

In this discussion assignment, you will be engaging in a projective testing exercise, from both the side of a patient (post 1) and the side of a therapist (post 2).

“During this type of testing, a series of ambiguous cards is shown to the person being tested, who then is encouraged to project his feelings, impulses, and desires onto the cards—by telling a story, interpreting an image, or completing a sentence” (p. 396). Afterwards, the researcher or therapist attempts to identify the latent/hidden meaning behind the individual’s interpretation of the image.

As an example, if a patient views a Rorschach inkblot image like the one above and says they see a demon, this may subconsciously represent the patient’s fear of confronting some specific fear or problem in their life.

For this discussion assignment, please use the following image, which is part of the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT):

For your initial post, write a brief story (100 words minimum) about what you believe may be happening in this scene. This section should not include any interpretation of latent meaning. Just tell a brief story about the scene. Once you submit this post, you will then have access to other students’ stories. To receive full credit, you must attempt to interpret the latent meaning of another student’s response. Specifically, what do you think their story says about their personality? This second post should be a minimum of 50 words.

Please note: One of the important criticisms of this type of analysis is the issue of reliability and validity. Ultimately, it is impossible to determine if one’s interpretation of the image actually means anything at all. However, some therapists still use projective tests in order to better understand their patients’ personalities, and ultimately offer insight into one’s subconscious thoughts. Please be respectful of one another, noting that this is only a class exercise, and not being conducted within an actual clinical setting.