THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST

WHAT IS TAT?
The Thematic Apperception Test, or TAT, is a projective
psychological test. Historically, it has been among the most widely
researched, taught, and used of such tests. Its adherents assert that
the TAT taps a subject's unconscious to reveal repressed aspects of
personality, motives and needs for achievement, power and
intimacy, and problem-solving abilities.
 PURPOSE OF TAT
•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
•Sometimes used in psychiatric evaluations to assess disordered thinking and in
forensic examinations to evaluate crime suspects
•Can be used to help people understand their own personality in greater
depth and build on that knowledge in making important life decisions.
•Sometimes used as a screener in psychological evaluations of candidates for
high-stress occupations (law enforcement, the military, religious ministry, for
example).
 PROCEDURE OF TAT
The subject is 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 at the moment, what the
characters are feeling and thinking and what
the outcome of the story was.
 SCORING
For each of the scoring categories, practioners
should abbreviate their observations about the
person. In some sections, practioners are asked to
indicate the levels or importance or strength for the
per by putting one check (mere presence of
characteristics), two checks (moderate) or three
checks (strong)
 MURRAY SCORING THE TAT INVOLVES EVALUATING THE
FOLLOWING 5 DIFFERENT ASPECTS OF THE STORIES:
•The Hero-scoring for the hero involves identifying who is the central character in the
story
•Need of the Hero-For Murray, it was also critical to identify the needs, motives and
desire of the hero
•Identifying the Presses-A press refer to any important environmental factor that may
influence or interfere with the need of the hero (boss/parent, lock on the door is
broken)
•Scoring for the Themes-involves noting the nature of the interplay & conflict bet. The
needs of presses, types of emotion elicited by the conflict & the way conflict has
resolved
•Scoring for Outcome-involves analyzing now the stories end by noting a happy
ending & assessing the extent to w/c the ending is controlled by the strengths of the
hero & forces the environment