THE HAND TEST

Introduction

The Hand Test is a projective technique widely used to measure action

tendencies--particularly acting-out and aggressive behavior--in adults and children (at

least 5 years of age). Nonthreatening and easily administered in just 10 minutes, it’s an

ideal starting point in any diagnostic personality evaluation. It utilizes ten bound 3.5 x

4.5 inch cards, nine with simple line drawings of a single hands and one blank card.

Using pictures of hands as the projective medium, the Hand Test elicits

responses that reflect behavioral tendencies. The client is shown 10 picture cards, one

at a time.

History

Like human face, the hand of a human being is singularly suitable for eliciting

projective responses. The symbolic use of hands can be found in primitive religions and

Christianity. About 3500 B.C. Egyptians and other cultures employed the hand as a

symbol of life; “ka” the vital principle. Philosophers and physicians of antiquity were

interested in the hand as a “diagnostic” aid in assessing a person’s “temperament”. The

age old pre-scientific pursuit of palmistry reflects an abiding interest in the use of hands

palm line for reading “character” or predicting future behaviour. Charles Bell (1834)

discussed the expressive value of the hand in art, particularly in portraits.

The first grouping, scientific attempts in relating to personality the hand

developed out of the study of body types. In discussing the theory of somatotypes;
Kretcher reported that the “pyknic” type of man with a disposition to manic depressive

states has a large and rather short hand with stout fingers; the “asthenic “man, with a

pre disposition to schizophrenia, possesses along and slender hand. An important

contributor to the study of the hand was Charlotte Wolff. She introduced the theory of

“chirology” based on the early typological work of Camus (1848) and Vaschide (1909).

Recognizing the relationship between the hand and the brain via motoric and tactile

representation of the hand in the brain. As stated by Wolff, “The hand is the

seismograph of emotional reactions. The pale hand of the melancholic, the red hands of

the choleric, the moist hand of the inhibited adolescent, the cold hands of the terrified all

show the repercussion of emotion, produced by the functioning of the autonomic

nervous system.” She studied certain selected characteristics of the hand such as it’s

form, nails, parts, lines and categories can be further subdivided according to the more

differentiated modes in which interpersonal and environmental relations are handled.

Projected failure in carrying in prototypal action tendencies because of internal

weakness in the protagonist yields a maladjustment score. A more severe pathological

reaction to the environment, accompanied by disintegration of adaptation yield a scoring

category of withdrawal and be expressed by the subject’s inability to project an

appropriate reaction to the drawn hands. In the monograph, clinical inference to the

subject’s defensive system is indicated by the following responses. “ a hand holding a

poison palette” (obsession and sadistic); “a fearful hand protecting itself” (phobic

reaction); “a performing hand that wants to be admired “ (hysterical trends); etc.

Verification through research and not clinical inference is needed here.

Administration

The hand test is a diagnostic technique consisting of 10 cards which utilize the

different pictures of hands as projective medium. The subject projects by telling what

the hands are doing. For the last card which is a blank, the subject imagines a hand is

telling what is doing. Responses are recorded along with the initial response times per

card and other significant behaviour. The Hand test utilizes relatively structured stimuli

(picture hands) in relatively unstructured poses, permitting individual variations in

response yet restricting these responses to definable and classified categories, namely:

description of hand actions and attitudes. It is assumed the prototypal action tendencies

will be projected into the pictures of hands, since the hand is both genetically and

functionally crucial for interacting with and relating to the external world. The hands and

not the eyes or ears can furnish more kinaesthetic feedback and the most intraindividual

information. This test can be used with any individual old enough to verbalize the

response but protocols of younger subject handedness and derived a “practical method

of hand interpretation” based on these characteristics.

Perhaps the first empirical research was a report by Carmichael, Roberts and

Wessell. As was the case with the human (figure) face, most of the initial interest in the

hand focused on “expressive movement” or the judgment of manual expression.

Pictures of hands as posed by actors represented by 35 titles were presented to several

hundred students with task of judging the emotional expression portrayed by still or

motion pictures of the hands. In the former situation, most easily judged were attitudes

of prayer, pleading, thoughtfulness, surprises and fear. With the former attitudes in

addition to these, determination, anxiety, warning and satisfaction were also portrayed.
The authors suggested the possible use of cinematograpic technique in studying

manual expression.

The hand test was originated by E. Wagner, in 1959. It sprung from Wagner’s

interest in the projection of aggression. In his search for a medium when would reflect

some important tendencies found in Rorschach H (human movement) responses,

related to interpersonal responses, Wagner published the first initial exploratory study in

which the drawings of hands were used to differentiate normals from schizophrenics. In

1962, Brieklin, Pictrowski and Wagner published a monograph with an initial rationale

and scoring system for the hand test in an application of the test to assessment of

aggressive behaviour in diverse nosological groups. A manual to Wagner appeared in

the same year with slightly modified and expanded scoring system. The theoretical

rationale generated a classification system of Hand test response upon which the

scoring system is based. Thus, since the human organism interacts with 1. Other living

things 2. Inanimate objects, responses to the hands yield two major scoring categories:

Interpersonal and Environmental. These generic should be analyzed with reservation. In

the administration of Hand test, usual precautions should be taken to establish rapport.

It is not necessary to engage in lengthy preliminaries since the hand test elicits little

anxiety.
SCORING PROCEDURE

Scoring occurs after test has been administered. Scoring symbols are inserted in

the right hand margin of the recording sheet next to the responses they represent. After

responses have been scored, they are tabulated, summarized and fitted into the major

scoring ratios which are conveniently arranged in the reverse side of the recording

sheet. Specific symbols for scoring, basic definition and examples follow.

1. Affection, AFF – Interpersonal responses involving an interchange or

bestowment of pleasures, affections or friendly feelings.

e.g. “waving to a friend – a greeting”

“Signaling” Saying Hi! In a gesture of friendship”
“Shaking hands”
“Telling my cocker spaniel”
“The hand of a lover” (Q) “An embrace”
“Prettiest blessing someone”
“Mother’s hand helping her child across the street”
“Comforting hand or a nurse”

2. Dependence, DEP – Interpersonal responses involving an expressed

dependence on or need for succor from another person

“A hand folded in prayer, asking for forgiveness”

“Hitch hiker thumbing a ride”
“Begging”
“Someone pleading for mercy”
“A drawing person calling for help”
“Hands in the air” (Q) “I Surrender”
“Little child reaching for mother’s skirt”
“Holding hand out to receive something” (Q) “Money”
“Saluting your leader”
“Child holding hand up in the class” (Q) “To leave the room”
3. Communications, COM – Interpersonal responses involving a presentation or

exchange of information.

“Giving a speech” – wants to make a point”

“Like saying, Oh, you’re joshing (D)
“Stressing a point in conversation”
“A child holding fingers up. Showing how old he is”
“Sign language” (Q) “A deaf mute talking”
“Describing something to somebody”
“Communicating with your man”
“Talking with your hands”
“Saying, don’t you understand?”
“Playing that Italian game: rock, paper, scissors”

4. Exhibiiton, EXN – Interpersonal responses which involve which involve

displaying or exhibiting oneself in order to obtain approval from others or to

stress some special noteworthy characteristics of the hand

“Showing off his muscles”

“A minstral man-dancing”
“Showing off her diamond ring”
“A ballet dancer with graceful hand movements”
“Making shadow pictures on the wall”
“Hand of a lady held out to be kissed”
“Child showing off his clean hands”
“A comedian doing his stuff”
“Like Hitler.” (Q) “On the balcony receiving hails from his people –
he’s a big deal”
“Flashing her new bracelet”

5. Direction, DIR – Interpersonal responses involving influencing the activities of

dominating, or directing others.

 “Polliceman saying stop”
“Teacher sending, a child to the board”
“Traffic signals. Making a right turn”
“Giving a command”
“Showing a dog out the door”
“Leading an orchestra”
“Inciting the workers to riot”
“Quarterback calling a huddle”
“Someone saying shush!”
“Crain operator, “(Q) “Lower the boom!”

6. Aggression, AGG – Interpersonal responses involving the giving of pain,

hostility or aggression.

“Trying to scare someone”

“Grabbing someone with violence”
“A Judo punch to break he shoulder blade”
“Making a fist” (Q) “To hit somebody”
“Slapping a fly”
“A punch in the mouth”
“Punching someone off a cliff”
“Pow! Right in the kissed”
“Boxing in the ring”
“Wringing a chicken’s neck”

7. Acquisition, ACQ – Environmental responses involving an attempt to acquire

or obtain a goal or object. The movement is ongoing or goal is as yet

unobtained and to some extent still in doubt.

“Reaching for something on a high self”

“Kid trying to get into the cookie jar”
“Trying to catch a football”
“Jumping up to grab hold of a tree branch”
“Stretched out” (Q) “Grabbing for something going by”
“Grabbing for something that has fallen”
“Reaching for the rung of ladder”
“A climber” (Q) “Reading for the stap”
“Like on a bus” (Q) “Reading for the strap”
“Groping”
8. Active, ACT – Environmental responses involving an action or attitude

designed to constructively manipulate, attain or alter an object or goal. ACT

responses are distinguished from ACQ responses in that the object or goal

has been, or will be, accomplished and the issue is therefore not in doubt.

“Might be typing”
“Picking up a coin”
“Writing with a pencil”
“Sprinkling salt”
“Carrying a suitcase”
“Threading a needle”
“Throwing a ball”
“Dropping money in a till”
“Pulling in a fish”
“Pointing at something”

9. Passive, PAS – Environmental responses involving an attitude of rest and / or

relaxation in relation to the force of gravity, and a deliberate and appropriate

withdrawal of energy form the hand.

“Just resting”
“Laying your hand flat on the table”
“Drying your fingernails”
“Laying out like this” (D) (Q) “Just limp”
“Hand folded in your lap”
“A sleeping hand”
“Just dangling over a chair arm”
“A natural, relaxed. Like in the statue of the thinker”
“Hanging limp at your side”
“Folded over” (Q) “Like when you’re relaxed reading a book”

10. Tension, TEN – Energy is being exerted but nothing or little is accomplished.

A feeling of anxiety, tension or malaise is present. TEN responses also

include cases where energy is exerted to support oneself against the pull of

gravity accompanied by a definite feeling of strain and effort.

 “A first clenched in anger”
“Pushing upward” (Q) “Trying to get up”
“Stretching and tensing the fingers”
“Tensing hand to see if the nerves are steady”
“Clenching your fingers to keep from saying the wrong things”
“Hanging onto the edge of a cliff”
“Holding something very tight”
“A clenched fist of nervousness”
“Hand is stretched and twisted back”
“Straining on a parallel bar”

11. Crippled, CRIP – Hand is crippled, sore, dead, disfigured, sick, injured or

incapacitated.

“A dead person’s hand”

“Someone’s ill-sick hand – just about hanging o to life”
“Looks sort a deformed”
“That hand is bleeding”
“Cerebral palsy”
“Been in an accident. Hanging out the car window”
“All beat up”
“Woman’s hand. She’s been hurt. Raped maybe”
“Finger’s cut off”
“Get black spots on it”
“Frozen stiff. Been out in the cold”

12. Fear, FEAR – Responses in which the hand is threatened with pain, injury,

incapacitated, or death. A FEAR response is also scored if the hand is clearly

perceived as noting out of pain, injury, incapacitation, or death to the subject

or to the person with whom the subject identifies.

“Trembling… It’s frightening by something”

“Person going down for the third time”
“Shielding his face” (Q) “Against an atomic blast”
“Pretty morbid (Q) terrified… ugh!”
“Walled in. Trying to get out but can’t”
“My father’s hand… Like he’s going to hit me” (subject cries)
“Falling back. Trying to save himself”
“Raised up toward off a blow or flying glass or something”
“Being sucked into quicksand”
13. Description, DES – Subject can do no more than acknowledge the presence

of the hand with perhaps a few accompanying inconsequential details or

feeling tones.

“Just a hand”
“Palm up (Q) that’s all”
“Just straight out… not doing anything”
“A left hand (Q) Lady (Q) that’s all”
“A firm hand… nothing special”
“A fist (Q) no, nothing”
“Hand with a string tied around its fingers”
“A plain ordinary hand”
“Five fingers. Two fingers together. That’s all”

14. Bizarre, BIZ – A response predicated on hallucinatory content, delusional

ideation or other peculiar, pathological thinking. The response partially or

completely ignores the drawn contours of the hand and/or incorporates

bizarre, idiosyncratic, or morbid content. One genuine BIZ response

pathognomonic of serious disturbance.

“ The world – just looking at a distance – trying to get a feel”

“Give no hand as black. Pick up mama”
“A black bug”
“A Crocodile creeping along the wall”
“Death’s head…skull, skeleton, death”
“Hand or a virgin… snow… it’s pure white”
“Culture, antidote, Dr. heart, sleeping gas”
“A hand cord (Q) going up to see St. Thomas”
“See muscles? Brain that comes from sunflowers”
“Bones, finger bone, bone-bones, heart-bones”
15. Failure, FAIL – Subject can give no scorable response whatsoever to a

particular card. A FAIL in tabulated in computing summary scoring, but not

included in the response total R, since it is not really a response but a failure

to respond.
Summarizing there are 15 possible symbols used in scoring the Hand Test

protocol: AFF, DEP, COM, EXH, DIR, AGG, ACQ, ACT, PAS, TEN, CRIP,

FEAR, DES, BIZ, FAIL.

Even when appropriate inquiries are given during the test administration,

scoring problems are bound to arise. The general rule in deciding between

scoring alternatives is to choose the symbol which seems to most appropriately

express the psychological intent of the response. For example, a rare response,

“Warning your hands over a fire” would be scored DEP rather than ACT because

of the obvious implication of the need for warmth, protection, and succor. “A

teacher lecturing a class” would be scored DIR rather than COM since, in this

case, imparting information would seem to be less important, psychologically,

than directing the lives of others for one’s own purpose. “Going to pick up a

cookie,” would be scored ACT rather then ACQ since, although the object has

not yet been attained, there is a little implication of strain and doubtful outcome.

“Hitting a nail with a hammer.” And similar responses, would be scored AGG

rather than ACT since the act, although directed at an inanimate object, seems to

involve definite feelings of aggression and physical violence is a set aside as a

special exception because of the obvious psychological connotation. Also, it is

often useful to take the entire protocol into account when single scoring problems

arise. For example, in the “Warming of hands over the fire” response mentioned

previously, the subject also produced three unambiguous DEP responses out of

the ten total responses to the test, greatly enhancing the probability that the
“warming” response was, psychologically speaking a DEP rather than an ACT.

Experience with the hand test has indicated that, after the examiner has given a

reasonable number of examinations, scoring problems dwindle to a tolerable

minimum.

COMPUTATION

After the protocol has been scored, total and ratios are computed.

Summary scores, totals, and ratios are listed on the reverse side of the special

recording sheet, but totals can be computed on any available sheet of paper by

following the procedures listed below:

1. List all the scoring symbols and inserts the total number of times each

category has appeared on the record proper beside the appropriate symbol.

2. Total the number of interpersonal (AFF+DEP+COM+EXH+DIR+AGG),

Environmental (ACQ+ACT+PAS), Maladjusted (TEN+CRIP+FEAR) and

Withdrawal (DEZ+BIZ+FAIL) response and arranged them in that order, in a

ratio. This is known as the Experience Ratio, ER, and provides a useful

overall estimate of the basic, gross personality structure.

3. Total the number of AFF+DEP+COM+ responses and place them in a ratio

opposite the total number of DIR+AGG responses. This constitutes the Acting

Out Ratio, AOR, and is an approximate measure of the probability of

behaving in an overt, hostile, anti-social manner.

4. Compute the total number of responses; R. Failures are not included in the

response total.
5. Compute the average initial response time, AIRT, by totalling then ten initial

response times in seconds (one for each card), and dividing by ten. If a FAIL

occurs on any card the initial response time for that card is not included in the

total response time. Therefore, if one FAIL occurs divide the total initial

response time by nine, if two FAIL occurs divide by eight, and so on.

6. Compute the high minus low score, H-L, by subtracting the lowest initial

response time, IRT, in seconds from the highest IRT.

7. Fins the pathological, PATH, score by adding the total number of Maladjusted

scores to two times the total number of Withdrawal scores (PATH= {MAL} + 2

{WITH}).

8. Any important qualitative aspects of the administration and/or scoring should

also be permanently recorded before they are forgotten. The special

recording blank contains spaces for such remarks and notations.

QUANTITATIVE INTERPRETATION

I. Interpersonal Responses (INT) – involves relations with other people. It is

viewed as overt behavioral tendencies rather than imaginal or fantasy

processes although if interpersonal movements are blocked representation in

fantasy can be inferred. It includes the following:

a. AFF (Affection) – need for praise, need to be the center of attention.

These people must be loved for some attribute which they possess, real or

imagined and therefore they tend to be egocentric and individualistic.

b. EXN (Exhibition) – indicates the need to display or exhibit oneself in order

to obtain approval from others or to stress some special characteristics of

display.

c. DIR (Direction) – a person has developed a consistent means of

accomplishing his ends somewhat divesting interpersonal relations of

affect in order to concentrate on domination and control.

d. DEP (Dependence) – a person is willing to subordinate himself in order to

secure care and protection. He desires to associate with others in order to

get something out of them. He is servile, demanding and since he is

incapable of reciprocity-immature. Neurotics especially hysterics are prone

to DEP.

e. COM (Communication) – given by individuals who engage in reciprocal

information exchanges as a means of carrying an interpersonal relations.

All interpersonal relations to some extent involve communication but in the

 COM response discussion and conversation become desired ends in

themselves as well as means for affecting various goals.

f. AGG (Aggression) – indicates hostility which can irate or frighten others.

*NOTE: AFF, DEP, COM are considered socially positive since they imply a
degree of awareness of and concern with the rights and privileges of others, DIR
and AGG are socially negative since in these responses, the rights of others are
relatively unimportant, ignored or attacked.

II. ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSES – ENV assumed to represent generalized

attitudes toward the impersonal world, a readiness to respond or to come to

grip with the environment in a characteristic fashion. People who often give

many ENV responses reflect an attempt to integrate which is achieved

through a compulsive and tenacious attachment to “things” rather than

people. Normal individuals give approximately the same number of ENV and

INT responses.

a. ACQ (Acquisition) – responses designate a willingness to exert oneself in

order to attain important goals along with the subjective feeling of desire

which accompanies such aspirations. ACQ people want to better

themselves, to accomplish, to go beyond the readily attainable.

b. ACT (Active) – responses are the most common of ENV scores and are

given by people who are involved in constructive accomplishment

although from society’s point of view, their achievement may seem

modest, routine or even antisocial.

 c. PAS (Passive) – individuals who give many PAS responses desire,

psychologically to relax and watch, the world go by. They are passive

rather than active, spectators rather than participants, followers than

leaders.

III. MALADJUSTIVE RESPONSES – MAL represent difficulty of which the

individual is at least partially aware, in successfully carrying out various action

tendencies, because of subjectively experienced inner weakness and/or

external prohibition. MAL connotes apprehension and distress arising from a

failure to achieve need satisfaction and is more characteric of the neurotic

than psychotic.

a. TEN (Tension) – response indicates and expenditure of energy which is

keenly felt yet accomplishes little – an internal straining in the face of

external difficulties. TEN responses are given by anxiety neurotics,

obsessive-compulsive and normal who suppress action tendencies.

b. CRIP (Crippled) – most common of MAL responses and is found with al

degrees of maladjustment. In a CRIP response, the subject projects his

own psychological insufficiencies and inadequacies by physically

incapacitating the hand. The psychological inadequacy may also correlate

with actual physical inferiority and/or impotence, but in all cases it is the

subjective feeling which is projected, regardless of the objective state of

the individual’s mental or physical abilities.

 c. FEAR (FEAR) – represents concern with psychological and/or physical

injury to the self. It denotes genuine apprehension over threats to ego

integrity and is generally greater in pathological significance than a TEN or

CRIP. FEAR is the least common of the MAL responses and is found most

frequently in hysterics and ambulatory schizophrenics. When FEAR

occurs in conjunction with FAIL, dissociative episodes are distinct

possibilities.

IV. WITHDRAWAL RESPONSES – WITH responses reflects abandonment. The

adjusted individual has achieved prototypal behavior patterns which are

workable and satisfying ; neurotics, adjustive potential has been interfered

with by subjective feelings of stress which dampen interpersonal and

environmental tendencies; psychotics, however have found realistic

interaction with people, objects and ideas to traumatic, difficult and non-

reinforcing that meaningful, effective life roles have been completely

abandoned.

a. BIZ (Bizarre) – most serious of all WITH scores. It is comparatively rare

since the subject is partially or completely ignoring actual contours of the

drawn hand in order to protect his autistic and illogical perceptions and

ideations, pathognomonics of psychosis.

b. DES (Description) – represents a feeble, “safe” reaction to reality. It is

most typical of organics and schizophrenics; however, neurotics and

 normals (low intelligence) sometimes give one or two DES. The organic,

mental retardate and deteriorated schizophrenics tend to give short,

stereotyped descriptions; while normals, neurotics, and ambulatory

schizophrenics’ descriptions and often projects fooling tones.

c. FAIL – occurs on all groups but is most characteristic of organics. FAIL

may represent neurotic ambivalence concerning the acting out of a

particular life role, dissociative tendencies, breakdown in single protocol,

deteriorations, especially organic deterioration is indicated.

 SUMMARY SHEET
DATE:
NAME: SEX: AGE: RACE:
ADDRESS:
OCCUPATION: DIAGNOSIS:

AFF = ACQ= TEN= DES= R=

DEP = ACT = CRIP= FAIL= AIRT=
COM= PAS = FEAR= BIZ= H-L=
EXH = å ENV = å MAL = å WITH= PATH=
DIR =
AGG = ER = å INT : åENV : åMAL : åWITH = : : :
å INT = AOR= ( AFF + DEP + COM) : (DIR + AGG) = :

QUALITATIVE ADMINISTRATIVE OBSERVATIONS

CASE HISTORY AND DIAGNOSTIC DATA

EXAMINER:
 PAMANTASAN NG LUNGSOD NG MAYNILA
INTRAMUROS MANILA

HAND TEST: ADMINISTRATION, SCORING AND

INTERPRETATION PROCEDURE
(In Partial Fulfillment of the Course Projective Techniques)

Submitted by:
Bunag, Angela E.
Limpin, Rosell M.
Jamero, Kathy

Subnitted to:
Dra. Tagaro