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Pre mid Assignment

Thematic Apperception test

Submitted by: Summiya jameel

Course: Personality theories A (APSY 215)

Submitted to: Mam Zara Haroon

Due date: 12-feburay-2024

Kinnaird collage for women university, Lahore

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THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST

Background

Thematic apperception test is a projective test created by American psychologist Henry

Murray and psychoanalyst in 1930s. This test was created to learn and observe about one

emotions, traits and personality. This test was emerged by the idea that can pictures be employed

or used to investigate the fundamental dynamics of personality in clinical settings. The test is

designed to interpret and simplify personality indirectly and the philosophy of this test derived

from Sigmund Freud’s projection of defense mechanism (Aronow et al., 2013).

Because of tests well known ability to uncover the most private parts of a person’s

unconscious, the United State emerging intelligence agency, the OSS, adopted it during World

War II. After that it gained popularity as a scientifically unbiased research instrument that could

uncover the depths of unconsciousness as well as the psychological complexity of people, and

the distinctive qualities of a culture because the subject is presented with the set of ambiguous

pictures that does not have any specific, meaning and they can give meaning and interpret them

as he like or according to their psychological status. People explains the story in terms of their

emotional status and needs along with other motives and adjustments thus revealing ones

underlying patterns unconsciously (Aronow et al., 2013).

Introduction

Thematic apperception test is a projective psychological test that is used to assess one’s

thoughts, traits and personality. There is various test that applied for the assessment of

personality and thematic apperception test is one of them.

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How does it work?

The test consists of pictures about which the subject will write a story, in this the subject

constructs story which reflects his or needs and events in the story are considered to be reflection

of their real life (Miller,2015).

Thematic apperception test is composed of three series of ten black and white pictures

along with one card total 31 pictures. Some of these are used for women and some are for men

while others are used equally for men and women equally. In this test the psychologist or

experimenter will determine the number of cards but this will not exceed the limit 20. There will

be two meetings with the subject in which 10 cards will be shown in each setting. The white

blank card is shown to subject at last which gives a subject chance to write whatever is buried in

his unconscious by writing through a form of free association (Miller,2015).

Murray suggested that when the story writing is completed it is preferable to take an

interview of your subject in order to figure out the roots of the story. He suggested that if the

characters are imaginary or are constructed from any play, they still reflect the subject’s

personality (Aronow et al., 2013).

Procedure

Our instructor provides us with information about the TAT personality assessment test

and how it will be conducted. After familiarizing with the test she gave us insight about the rules

and the proper procedure which include the number of subjects (participant) I .e; two participant

one children and one adult, we will be needing in this test, how they will be shown picture and

how we will be conducting the test. Two pictures will be shown to two different participants for

30 seconds each. The picture I have selected have characters with scene, which the subject will
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be writing about. After the story writing procedure we will be analyzing the story in the light of

Murray list of needs mentioned at the end.

Instructions

Participants were debriefed about the test and they were informed that this is just a part of

assignment it will not be published or disclosed to anyone. After that they were told that they

will write a story after conceptualizing and imagining what they saw in the given pictures. They

were informed that picture will be removed after 30 seconds and they are supposed to give name

to the character moreover there will be one main character. They can also explain what kind of

problem these characters are facing or they are living perfectly, what kind of relationship does

the characters have depending on a picture. At last they are supposed to give title to the story

they wrote. Same instructions were given to the child with a more detail so that they got a good

idea about it.

Biographical data participant 01:

Name Ajwa Razzaq Gender: Female

Age: 13 Educational level: Middle level. 7th.

No. of sibling: 6 Birth order: 3rd (middle child).

Any history related to No, currently

health issue or taking medicine

undergoing any of flue.

treatment.

(Table 1: showing bio data of participant 1).

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Story no 1:

Title: Sad story of a boy

Hassan is seven years old boy; his father died 2 years ago. He has a one elder brother

who supports him. His mother also loves him but always stay angry. She always talks to him in

very bad mood. One day there were boys playing outside the house Hassan also wanted to play

with them but his mother did not allow him. Hassan also wanted to buy football but her mother

rejected it, he did not oppose her mother because he loves and respect her. He does everything

she says in order to gain her attention. His mother always says no to him, he did not get any

permission of anything he wanted to defend himself but he could not. Hassan wanted to become

doctor but his mother will not support him, he may not get any permission. Hassan needs

permission for everything which is stopping him to be a successful just because of his mother.

Analysis of a story

Central character of the story with all his doubts about his future and with low self esteem

seems not much happy or satisfied with his life. Environmental factors are not in favor with him

and out of helplessness he is lost in how to overcome her mother’s attitude and fulfil his dream.

However, he is struggling hard despite his lack of autonomy. He is suffering from environmental

stress and the story ends at the sad point but there seems a hope for a bright future.

Murray psychogenic needs.

Manifested needs Non manifested needs (needs that need

attention)

Exhibition: the central character agrees to his Autonomy: he may develop autonomy sham
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mother even if its un valid just to impress her. and doubt later because of unnecessary

Deference: Hassan always admire her mother implication of his mother. His power needs are

and follow her rules and commands. not being manifested.

Succourance: he accepts every decision Affection need (play): Hassan lack the sense

because he wanted to be loved and his needs of having fun and laugh due to environmental

satisfies by her mother. presses.

Abasement. Hassan always surrender it his Cognizance: to be curios and ask questions in

mother and accept blame. order to gain knowledge but main character is

lacking this need.

Harm avoidance: avoid har, and manifest this Defendense: central character of the story lack

by just quietly accepting what her mother said of defendants and defense needs are ignored in

not even asked a reason about it. it.

(Murray’s Needs, n.d.-c) (table 2: showing the Murray list of needs part1).

Biographical data participant 02:

Name Fizza malik Gender: Female

Age: 20 Educational level: Undergraduate BS.

No. of sibling: 4 Birth order: 2nd born

Any history related to Undergoes from a

health issue or undergoing gallbladder surgery

any treatment. (cholecystectomy)

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(table 3: showing bio data of participant 2).

Story no 02:

Title: What, if it happens

In this picture there is a girl’s name Juliet. Juliet have 03 siblings including one sister and

two brothers. Juliet is 19 years old she never studied in co-education system. Now she has taken

admission in to a private university where there are male teachers as well as male students. As,

she never had a proper interaction with opposite gender that’s why she is struggling hard and

trying her best to adjust in this environment. In past her friend has a history of harassment by her

teacher and she is also traumatized due to that because she was also in a shock when she saw her

friends condition. After that incident she has severe bind trust issues in men. Now, as she is a

university student, she is feeling like all her teachers are not of good character and will harass

her. during a lecture a teacher notices that she is nervous and acting different so he comes closer

to her to ask her if there is any problem with her but she get it in a wring way and reacting like

he is attacking her. This situation was just made up by Juliet herself because of her past

experience otherwise teacher has no bad intensions.

Analysis of story:

The main character in the story suffereing from past trauma that is hindering in her

academic life. Juliet have tried her best to cope with new environment amd her unreal thoughts

but her ability to overcome obstacles shatters when she thought about her friend. Her decision

seems to be constructive despite her trauma. She is retentive, unable to let go what happened in
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past. Ending of the story indicate stress and despite it there seems a little hope of light due to her

constructive decision to be a part of co education.

Murray psychogenic needs.

Manifested needs Non manifested needs (needs that need

attention)

Construction: she made up a constructive Cognizance: Juliet is unable to seek proper

descision to enroll in co education and try her kniwledged and question about subjects

best to get rid of her trauma. because of misimaged of teacher.

Counteraction: juliet was trying her best to Exposition: she was unable to teach other

overcome her trauma by interacting with male because of her trauma and limited interaction

friends and teacher. with teacher.

Retention: despite her utmost effort to interact

she behave retentive and unable let go her

formed schema about male.

Defendance: main character used defendance

attitude when her lecturer came forward to he

in order to ask whether she is grasping concept.

(Murray’s Needs, n.d.-c) (table 4: showing the Murray list of needs part 2).

Henry Murray format of analysis

According to the format of henry Murray, analysis of the story is carried out in the following

factors.
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1. The hero. In the first paragraph, central character or the hero with whom the subject

identifies herself is determined.

2. Identifies the presses. (In the story, the surrounding elements that affect the protagonist's

requirements are referred to as presses). As the main character or the hero is representing

the subject therefore, all the projections reflect the needs desires fear, emotional

problems, values, attitude and environmental tension of the subject.

3. Scoring for themes. Assessing how the presses and needs interact and clash is part of

this process. Conflict's emotional toll and its resolution process are evaluated. For better

understanding the examiner should determine the nature of stress.

4. Scoring for theme. A significant portion of analysis is determined by how happily the

narrative ends. Additionally, the influence of the hero's and presses' strengths on the

result is evaluated (Psychestudy, 2017).

Ethical considerations

Both participants were informed about the data will be kept private and it will not

published anywhere. They were debriefed and verbal consent was taken in order to fulfill the

ethical criteria. During this test main five ethical principles (respect for autonomy, beneficence,

non-maleficence, justice and fidelity) were kept in mind.

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References

Aronow, E., Kim Altman Weiss, & Reznikoff, M. (2013). A Practical Guide to the Thematic

Apperception Test. Routledge.

Miller, J. (2015). Dredging and Projecting the Depths of Personality: The Thematic

Apperception Test and the Narratives of the Unconscious. Science in Context, 28(1), 9–

30. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0269889714000301.

Murray’s needs. (n.d.-b).

http://changingminds.org/explanations/needs/murrays_needs.htm#:~:text=Ambition

%20MaterialisticStatus,Murray201938.

Psychestudy. (2017, November 18). Psychestudy.

https://www.psychestudy.com/general/personality/detailed-procedure-thematic-

procedure-test

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Appendix