➢ The Thematic Apperception Test, or TAT, is a type of projective test that involves

describing ambiguous scenes. Popularly known as the "picture interpretation

technique," it was developed by American psychologists Henry A.
➢ Murray and Christina D. Morgan at Harvard University in the 1930s.1
➢ It was conceptualized by Henry Murray and Christina Morgan on 1935 but more fully
elaborated in 1938 and 1943.
➢ It was believed that material derived from the test could serve as the X-ray of
personality.
➢ The TAT involves showing people a series of picture cards depicting a variety of
ambiguous characters (that may include men, women, and/or children), scenes, and
situations.
➢ They are then asked to tell as dramatic a story as they can for each picture presented,
including:
➢ what has led up to the event shown
➢ what is happening in the scene
➢ the thoughts and feelings of characters
➢ the outcome of the story
➢ The complete version of the TAT includes 31 cards. Murray originally
recommended using approximately 20 cards and selecting those that depicted
characters similar to the subject.
➢ Today, many practitioners only utilize between 5 and 12 cards, often selected
because the examiner feels that the scene matches the client's needs and
situation.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a projective test consisting of a series of
pictures in which the examinee is requested to create a story about the picture. It is a method
of revealing to the trained interpreter some of the dominant drives, emotions, sentiments,
complexes and conflicts of personality. It was conceptualized by Henry Murray and Christina
Morgan on 1935 but more fully elaborated in 1938 and 1943.It was believed that material
derived from the test could serve as the X-ray of personality. The test is still not considered to
have achieved degree of comparable degree of standardization. No clear agreed on scoring
and interpretation system. Varying methods of administration regarding number, sequence
and types of cards that are given. Yet it ranks as 6th most frequently used test by clinical
psychologists. Researchers were dissatisfied because it was not applicable for all populations
like children, the elderly and minorities.Several TAT-type tests have been designed to study
specific problem areas.
Murray’s Theory of Personality:
• How individuals react with their environment.
• How they are affected by their external forces.
• How their attitudes, needs and values influence their reaction to world.
• Murray developed a list of 28 needs and 24 possible forces in person’s environment
named as press.
• He gave the concept of thema “a pattern of related needs and press” derived from earl
infantile experiences.
General Conditions:
• To be administered in an interpersonal setting.
• TAT materials consist of 20cards on which ambiguous pictures are presented.
• M for males, F for females, B for boys, G for girls, BM for boys/males, GF for
girls/females
• The selection of cards may be idiosyncratic to the patient’s presenting problem.
Thematic Apperception Test is a popular method of psychology assessment which uses
Projective Hypothesis Technique. It differs from the more traditional ink-blot tests in that the
images used in TAT (Thematic Apperception Test) are not abstract ink-blots but
representational figures that are vaguely identifiable by the viewer. These images carry a
theme in them. Depending on the viewer’s identification and analysis of the sequence, a
psychological map is drawn. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a visually
instructional narrative method where the participant is shown a series of pictures that have a
vague resemblance to real-world objects, and is then asked to narrate a story linking all the
images and using them as input to the narrative. This method is used to calculate a person’s
ability at interpretation and construction of reality. These narratives are then tested against
standardized scoring systems and this objective quantitative data is then produced based on
the person’s interpretation and construction. This study is often used as a method of further
understanding behavioral patterns. Thematic Apperception Test is also popularly known as
the “Picture Interpretation Technique”, the reason being that in this method, the participants
are the narrators of their own malady. It is their words itself that gives a clue to their thought-
process. The images used in these tests are usually thought-provoking because they aren’t
exact replicas of people and things, but are vague representations of objects revolving around
a specific theme. Generally, the participant is encouraged to tell as dramatic a narrative they
can create using the pictorial representations as key inputs in the story, and using them to
introduce elements of variety, surprise, and conclusion. Thematic Apperception Test can give
a detailed insight into a person’s subconscious behavior, and when applied timely and
correctly, can detect tendencies latent psychological issues, that might go on and lead to
unhealthy social and personal life. It’s important at this moment to discuss the difference
between the standardization of the TAT scores, and the evaluation of TAT’s responses. Unlike
TAT scores, there are no standardization for the responses that the participant might give.
There are no tables with multiple options in which a participant’s responses will be fit in. It is
here a specialized hand helps. People generally think that if the test scores are standardized
and the responses are so too, then even a layman can conduct a TAT and become an expert in
it. However, nothing could be further from truth. As there are no standard responses in TAT,
an examiner could see different emotional responses with each new participant. It is he who
will then use his experience and training to understand how to evaluate the readings and notes
he took, and then to use them to score the participant.

“A Practical Guide to the Thematic Apperception Test: The TAT in Clinical Practice" by
Edward Aronow, Kim Altman Weiss, Marvin Reznikoff
• “Psychological Assessment, Psychiatric Diagnosis & Treatment Planning” by Stephen W.
Hurt, Marvin Reznikoff, John F. Clarkin
Tuerlinckx, F., De Boeck, P., & Lens, W. (2002). Measuring needs with the Thematic
Apperception Test: A psychometric study. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology,
82(3), 448. https://doi.org/10.1037//0022-3514.82.3.448
Sindhura, K., & Srujana², P. (2022, June 1). Thematic Apperception Test. Journal Name, 2, 1-
5. [Include the full name of the journal and any other relevant publication details.]

1. Rorschach Inkblot Test:

• Author & Year: Hermann Rorschach (1921)
• Description: The Rorschach test consists of a series of inkblots presented to
the individual, who is then asked to describe what each inkblot looks like or
reminds them of. The responses are analyzed to gain insights into the person's
thoughts, emotions, and perceptions.
2. Draw-A-Person Test (DAP):
• Author & Year: Florence Goodenough (1926)
• Description: In the Draw-A-Person Test, individuals are asked to draw a
person, and the drawings are analyzed to assess various aspects of personality,
cognitive development, and emotional well-being. It is often used with
children as a non-verbal method of assessment.
3. House-Tree-Person (HTP) Test:
• Author & Year: John N. Buck (1948)
• Description: The HTP test involves asking individuals to draw a house, a tree,
and a person. The drawings are then analyzed to provide insights into the
person's personality, emotions, and interpersonal relationships.
4. Sentence Completion Tests:
 • Author & Year: Various versions by different authors.
• Description: Sentence completion tests involve providing individuals with
sentence stems or partial sentences and asking them to complete them. The
responses are then analyzed to gain insights into the person's thoughts,
feelings, and attitudes on various topics.
5. Thematic Aperception Test for Children (TAT-C):
• Author & Year: Murray, Bellak, & Auhagen (1994)
• Description: An adaptation of the original TAT, the TAT-C is specifically
designed for use with children. It involves presenting children with a series of
pictures and asking them to create stories, providing insights into their
emotions, concerns, and perceptions.
6. Children's Apperception Test (CAT):
• Author & Year: Leopold Bellak and Sonya Sorel Bellak (1949)
• Description: The Children's Apperception Test is designed for use with
children and adolescents. It involves a series of pictures depicting various
social and interpersonal situations, and individuals are asked to tell stories
about the characters in the pictures.

1. Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB):

• Author & Year: Julian B. Rotter (1950)
• Description: The RISB presents individuals with incomplete sentences, and
they are asked to complete them. The responses are analyzed to assess various
aspects of personality, including motivations, conflicts, and attitudes.
2. Thematic Apperception Test for Adolescents (TAT-A):
• Author & Year: Philip H. S. Holzman (1964)
• Description: An adaptation of the Thematic Apperception Test, the TAT-A is
specifically designed for use with adolescents. It uses pictures to elicit stories
that provide insights into the emotional and social concerns of adolescents.
3. Murray-Loveland Inventory for Psychodynamic Development (MLIPD):
• Author & Year: Henry A. Murray and Elise Lorimer Loveland (1945)
• Description: The MLIPD is a projective test designed to assess
psychodynamic development. It involves a series of pictures that individuals
use to create stories, revealing aspects of their personality and emotional
dynamics.
4. Personality Research Form (PRF):
• Author & Year: Raymond B. Cattell (1957)
 • Description: The PRF is a self-report projective test that assesses personality
traits. It includes multiple-choice questions that respondents use to indicate
their preferences, providing insights into their personality structure.
5. Hand Test:
• Author & Year: H. J. Eysenck (1942)
• Description: The Hand Test involves asking individuals to draw their
dominant hand, and the drawing is analyzed to gain insights into the person's
personality, emotional state, and interpersonal relationships.
6. Picture Frustration Study (PFS):
• Author & Year: Saul Rosenzweig (1951)
• Description: The PFS involves presenting individuals with a series of pictures
depicting frustrating situations. Respondents are asked to create stories about
the situations, and their responses are analyzed to understand how they cope
with frustration.
7. Affective Communication Test (A-C Test):
• Author & Year: Bellak, Abrams, & Zimet (1968)
• Description: The A-C Test involves presenting individuals with ambiguous
drawings, and they are asked to describe the emotions expressed in the
drawings. It is used to assess emotional expression and communication.

APP.
1. Personality Assessment:
• Clinical Use: Psychologists and mental health professionals use the TAT to
gain insights into an individual's personality structure, including their
emotions, motivations, interpersonal relationships, and coping mechanisms. It
helps in identifying underlying conflicts and issues that may be contributing to
emotional distress.
2. Psychotherapy and Counseling:
• Treatment Planning: The TAT can be utilized in psychotherapy to aid
treatment planning. The stories generated during the test may provide
therapists with valuable information about the client's internal world,
facilitating a better understanding of the individual and informing therapeutic
interventions.
3. Children and Adolescents:
• Developmental Assessment: The TAT is adapted for use with children and
adolescents (e.g., TAT-C, TAT-A). It helps in understanding developmental
 issues, emotions, and concerns specific to these age groups. It is often
employed in clinical and educational settings to assess emotional well-being
and provide insights into behavioral patterns.
4. Career Counseling:
• Vocational Assessment: Some practitioners use the TAT in career counseling
to gain insights into a person's interests, values, and aspirations. The stories
generated may reveal themes related to work, achievement, and personal
goals.
5. Research in Psychology:
• Personality Research: Researchers use the TAT in studies exploring
personality traits, dynamics, and the relationship between personality and
various life outcomes. It has been employed in both cross-sectional and
longitudinal research to investigate personality development.
6. Cross-Cultural Research:
• Cultural Studies: The TAT has been used in cross-cultural studies to explore
variations in storytelling, themes, and emotional expression across different
cultures. This helps researchers understand how cultural factors may influence
individual responses to ambiguous stimuli.
7. Forensic Assessments:
• Legal and Forensic Contexts: In forensic psychology, the TAT might be used
to assess individuals involved in legal proceedings. It can provide insights into
personality factors, emotional states, and potential underlying issues relevant
to legal cases.
8. Team Building and Leadership Development:
• Organizational Settings: Some organizations use the TAT for team-building
activities and leadership development programs. It can be a tool to understand
team dynamics, communication styles, and individual motivations within a
professional context.