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Thematic Apperception Test
The·mat·ic Apperception Test T0147800 (thĭ-măt′ĭk)n. A projective test in which the subject interprets a series of drawings of relatively ambiguous life situations.thematic apperception test n (Psychology) psychol a projective test in which drawings of interacting people are shown and the person being tested is asked to make up a story about them Themat′ic Appercep′tion Test` n. Psychol. a projective technique in which stories told by a subject about each of a series of pictures are assumed to reveal dominant needs or motivations. Abbr.: TAT ThesaurusNoun | 1. | Thematic Apperception Test - a projective technique using black-and-white pictures; subjects tell a story about each pictureTATprojective device, projective technique, projective test - any personality test designed to yield information about someone's personality on the basis of their unrestricted response to ambiguous objects or situations |
thematic apperception test
thematic apperception test: see psychological testspsychological test, any of a variety of testing procedures for measuring psychological traits and behavior, or for studying some specialized aspect of ability. Several forms of testing have arisen from the need to understand personality and its relationship to psychological ..... Click the link for more information. .thematic apperception test[thə′mad·ik ‚ap·ər′sep·shən ‚test] (psychology) A projective psychological test using a set of pictures suggesting life situations from which the subject constructs a story; designed to reveal to the trained interpreter some of the dominant drives, emotions, sentiments, complexes, and conflicts of personality. Abbreviated TAT. Thematic Apperception Test
Thematic Apperception Test DefinitionThe thematic apperception test (TAT) is a projective personality test that was designed at Harvard in the 1930s by Christiana D. Morgan and Henry A. Murray. Along with the MMPI and the Rorschach, the TAT is one of the most widely used psychological tests. A projective test is one in which a person's patterns of thought, attitudes, observational capacity, and emotional responses are evaluated on the basis of responses to ambiguous test materials. The TAT consists of 31 pictures that depict a variety of social and interpersonal situations. The subject is asked to tell a story about each picture to the examiner. Of the 31 pictures, 10 are gender-specific while 21 others can be used with adults of either sex and with children. As of 2001, the TAT is distributed by Harcourt Brace Educational Measurement.PurposeThe original purpose of the TAT was to reveal the underlying dynamics of the subject's personality, such as internal conflicts, dominant drives and interests, motives, etc. The specific motives that the TAT assesses include the need for achievement, need for power, the need for intimacy, and problem-solving abilities. After World War II, however, the TAT was used by psychoanalysts and clinicians from other schools of thought to evaluate emotionally disturbed patients. Another shift took place in the 1970s, when the influence of the human potential movement led many psychologists to emphasize the usefulness of the TAT in assessment services—that is, using the test to help clients understand themselves better and stimulate their personal growth.The TAT is widely used to research certain topics in psychology, such as dreams and fantasies, mate selection, the factors that motivate people's choice of occupations, and similar subjects. It is sometimes used in psychiatric evaluations to assess disordered thinking and in forensic examinations to evaluate crime suspects, even though it is not a diagnostic test. As mentioned earlier, the TAT can be used to help people understand their own personality in greater depth and build on that knowledge in making important life decisions. Lastly, it is sometimes used as a screener in psychological evaluations of candidates for high-stress occupations (law enforcement, the military, religious ministry, etc.).PrecautionsThe TAT has been criticized for its lack of a standardized method of administration as well as the lack of standard norms for interpretation. Studies of the interactions between examiners and test subjects have found that the race, sex, and social class of both participants influence both the stories that are told and the way the stories are interpreted by the examiner. Attempts have been made to design sets of TAT cards for African American and for elderly test subjects, but the results have not been encouraging. In addition, the 31 standard pictures have been criticized for being too gloomy or depressing, and therefore limiting the range of personality characteristics that the test can assess.DescriptionThere is no standardized procedure or set of cards for administering the TAT, except that it is a one-on-one test. It cannot be administered to groups. In one common method of administration, the examiner shows the subject only 10 of the 31 cards at each of two sessions. The sessions are not timed, but average about an hour in length.PreparationThere is no specific preparation necessary before taking the TAT, although most examiners prefer to schedule sessions (if there is more than one) over two days.RisksThe chief risks involved in taking the TAT are a bad "fit" between the examiner and the test subject, and misuse of the results.Normal resultsSince the TAT is used primarily for personality assessment rather than diagnosis of mental disorders, it does not yield a "score" in the usual sense.ResourcesBooksGeiser, Lon, and Morris I. Stein. Evocative Images: The Thematic Apperception Test and the Art of Projection. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association, 1999.Key termsApperception — The process of understanding through linkage with previous experience.Human potential movement — A movement in psychotherapy that began in the 1960s and emphasized maximizing the potential of each participant through such techniques as group therapy and sensitivity training.Projective test — A type of psychological test that assesses a person's thinking patterns, observational ability, feelings, and attitudes on the basis of responses to ambiguous test materials. It is not intended to diagnose psychiatric disorders.Thematic Apperception Test [the-mat´ik ap″er-sep´shun] TAT; a projective test in which the subject tells a story based on each of a series of standard ambiguous pictures, so that his responses reflect a projection of some aspect of his personality and his current psychological preoccupations and conflicts.the·mat·ic ap·per·cep·tion test (TAT), a projective psychological test in which the subject is asked to tell a story about standard ambiguous pictures depicting life situations to reveal his or her own attitudes and feelings.Thematic Apperception Test (thĭ-măt′ĭk)n. A projective test in which the subject interprets a series of drawings of relatively ambiguous life situations.Thematic Apperception Test TAT Psychology A projective diagnostic technique which seeks to uncover personality dynamics Targeted areas Main theme, hero/heroine, solving or blame. See Psychological testing. the·mat·ic ap·per·cep·tion test (TAT) (thĕ-mat'ik ap'ĕr-sep'shŭn test) A projective psychological test in which the subject is asked to tell a story about standard ambiguous pictures depicting life situations to reveal personal attitudes and feelings. LegalSeeTestFinancialSeepsychological testAcronymsSeeTATThematic Apperception Test Related to Thematic Apperception Test: Draw a Person testSynonyms for Thematic Apperception Testnoun a projective technique using black-and-white picturesSynonymsRelated Words- projective device
- projective technique
- projective test
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