Projective Personality Test

28feb08
Projective tests are used extensively in clinical work.
Projective tests ask subjects to respond to vague, ambiguous
stimuli in ways that may reveal the subjects needs, feelings, and
personality traits.
Two unique strengths of projective tests:

they are not transparent to subjects. That is, the subject

doesnt know how the test provides information to the tester. It is
difficult for people to engage in intentional deception.
The indirect approach used in these tests may make them
especially sensitive to unconscious, latent features of personality.
DRAW-A PERSON-TEST (Machover, 1949)
Stimuli Presented: Blank sheet of paper
Response Request: Draw a whole person. When finished, Draw
a person of the other sex
Interpretation:

Analysis:
1. A person: it is the projection of your self-image on your lifespace. Look at the table and try to understand a content of every

part of the picture. After that try to understand all image upon a
whole. Write your opinion.
2. A person of the other sex: look at the picture. It is the
projection of your impression, your opinion about -opposite-sex
person. Compare the pictures (1 and 2). What figure is bigger?
Has more stability? Who has bigger head? And so on. Write your
opinion.
3. A person under a rain. It is the projection of your behavior
during a stress. Compare the pictures (1 and 3). What is changed?
Look at the every part (perhaps, figure 1 is more when figure 3
during the stress you can have loose your self-confidence, can be
closer, you can prefer to have less attention from people, and so
on). Can you protect yourself (have you an umbrella, a coat and
so on)? Write your opinion.
4. A family. It is an information about your relations with close
people.
Answer some questions:

How many figures, members are at the picture? Count

animals too.

Is it your family of an orientation (you have a status of a

child in this family), or a family of a procreation (youhave a
status of an adult)?

Is it your real family or an image of your future family (the

ideal image)?

Look at the sizes of figures, what figure is bigger? Who was

drown the first?

Second? Who is the most important member in this drown

family? Man or woman? Or a child? Think about status of every
member.

Look at the every part of figures. Who has a bigger head?

Who is stable or unstable in the family? Think about
characteristics of every member.

Look at the gender roles differences between man and

woman, are they clear divided?,

How many children are at the picture?

If it is your real family, are all members at the picture? If

somebody is absent, perhaps, you have some problems in social
communication with this member. If you have drown more
members, perhaps, you havent enough social bonds,
relationships in given moment.

Look at the distance between members, it is a projection of

emotional attitudes between family members. Who is close?
Distant? Who is absent?

Look at the hands, at the contact by hands. Who is active?

Passive? Successful or not? Perhaps, somebody has not an answer?

Have you drown some other things, not only family members
(a car, a home, some plants, furniture and so on)? Perhaps, it is
important for you to have the family home, garden? Is it the
result of your culture?

Compare pictures 1 and 4, and your images. Are you more

stable/ successful/happy/masculine (continue this number of
characteristics) alone or beside the family?