Projective personality tests Flashcards

1
Q

Core hypothesis of Projective personality tests

A

Responses to ambiguous stimuli permit access to unconscious needs and conflicts.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
2
Q

Sample methods of projective personality tests (3)

A
  • Perceptions of inkblots
  • Telling stories about pictures
  • Completing sentence stems
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
3
Q

Projective test Assumptions (3)

A
  • Responses to ambiguous stimuli are determined by personality characteristics
  • Reveal characteristics beneath the surface (bypass defences, unaffected by social desirability/context)
  • Provide broad coverage of personality characteristics
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
4
Q

Projective tests - Advantages (3)

A
  • Purpose of the test is disguised
  • Possibly cuts down on faking
  • Provides information outside of awareness
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
5
Q

Rorschach - Content

A

10 inkblot cards
- 5 inkblots in shades of black and gray
- 2 in black, gray and red
- 3 colorful
=> Inkblots have uneven ink patterns: used to describe texture and depth

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
6
Q

Rorschach - Administration

A

1st phase = Free association phase
- Presents 10 carts one by one; what might this be?
2nd phase =** Inquiry phase**
- Examiner examines responses

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
7
Q

What are the 2 categories of scoring for the Rorschach test?

A
  • Informal: Interpretation of content
  • Formal scoring: 5 dimensions
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
8
Q

What’s the informal phase of scoring in the Rorschach test?

A

Interpretation of content
- E.g. odd uses of words; thematic patterns
- Examiner searches for anything that stands out

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
9
Q

What are the formal scoring dimensions of Rorschach test? (5)

A

(1) Location: part of the inkblot the individual focuses on when giving their response (e.g., a whole blot, a specific detail)
(2) Determinant: specific feature or characteristic of the inkblot that influenced the person’s response
(3) Form quality: how well the respondent’s perception matches the actual shape or structure of the inkblot (the more closely the response fits the inkblot’s form, the better the form quality).
(4) Content: What the person sees in the inkblot
(5) Frequency of occurrence

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
10
Q

(Formal testing of Rorschach): What’s in the “determinant” dimension? (4)

A
  • Form
  • Colour
  • Texture
  • Movement
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
11
Q

Rorschach Scales/Variables (7)
-> ways of combining scores

A
  • Control and Situational Stress (coping style, mental ability, types of stresses)
  • Affective Features (emotional style)
  • Interpersonal Perception (representation of others)
  • Self-Perception (self-view)
  • Information Processing (mental operation complexity)
  • Cognitive Mediation (perception conventionality)
  • Ideation (thinking quality, organization, style)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
12
Q

Rorschach Indices (6)
-> scores

A
  • Perceptual Thinking Index (disturbed thinking and perceptions)
  • Depression Index
  • Coping Deficit Index (interpersonal and/or emotional deficits)
  • Suicide constellation (risk)
  • Hypervigilance index
  • Obsessive style index (obsessive info processing)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
13
Q

Exner’s Comprehensive System

A

Aimed to replace the ancient representations of Rorshach (overcome divisions regarding Rorschach).
Tried to provide standardized norms.

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
14
Q

Exner’s norms characteristics

A
  • n = 700 adults (attempt to match 1970 US census)
  • 56% women, 44% men
  • Stratified to equally represent 5 geographic regions
  • Partial stratification of SES (upper=.34, middle=.56, higher=.10)
How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
15
Q

Problem with Exner’s norms

A

Even with that - not representative

How well did you know this?
1
Not at all
2
3
4
5
Perfectly
16
Q

Rorschach reliability: Interrater reliability (Exner)

A

For determinants: 88-97%

17
Q

Rorschach reliability: Internal consistency

A

“Not high”
- I.C. = across all blocks, coherent answers
- Bc each inkblot has diff properties, not good -> Inkblot are NOT parallel to each other

18
Q

Rorschach reliability: Test-retest

A

Depends on studies:
- Meyer & Archer: 1 month= .50-.77
- Exner: 1y=.74-.91; 3y = .70-.87

19
Q

Rorschach Validity: Criterion validity (compared to other tests)

A

Meta analyses:
- Rorchach: .27-.30
- MMPI: .23-.28
- WAIS: .32-.36

20
Q

Which index of Rorschach has the most validity support?

A

Perceptual thinking index

21
Q

Which index of Rorschach has a weak validity support?

A

Suicide Constellation
-> Little evidence supporting many scoring categories

22
Q

Some successful forms of Rorschach predicts (2)

A
  • Psychotherapy outcome
  • Differentiate psychotic and non-psychotic patients
23
Q

Rorschach ___ be score reliably

A

CAN

24
Q

Biggest “cons” of Rorschach (5)

A
  • Serious problem of norms
  • Absence of a standardized method of administration
  • Limits on validity evidence
  • Time intensive
  • Does the test give useful information?
25
Q

Thematic Apperception Test was created by ___

A

Murray and Morgan

26
Q

TAT principle

A
  • Presentation of an ambiguous picture
  • Examinee provides a story
  • Implicit needs are projected into the story’s content
  • Dispositional tendencies emerge over multiple pictures
27
Q

Assumptions of TAT (2)

A

(1) Respondents interpret stimuli in accord with their personality and life experiences
(2) Respondents identify with the “hero” of the story

28
Q

TAT Instructions

A

Write a story that is complete - a story that has a beginning, a middle and an end

29
Q

TAT: Motives (Needs) def

A

Incentives that motivate behavior; Primary motivation for someone’s behavior

30
Q

TAT is supposed to measure _____ needs

A

IMPLICIT
-> Operate outside of awareness

31
Q

Common point between Rorschach & TAT (2)

A
  • Measures something outside of conscious awareness
  • Test results thought to be unaffected by social desirability, impression management…
32
Q

TAT: Big Three motives/needs

A

(1) Achievement
(2) Power
(3) Affiliation

33
Q

Achievement need def

A

Recurrent preference or desire for experiences of doing well and being successful; obtaining goals, overcoming adversity, performing well

34
Q

Power need def

A

Recurrent preference or desire for experiences having an impact on others: vigorous action, concern about status, position, or self-image

35
Q

Affiliation need def

A

Recurrent preference or desire to spend time with others; concern about acceptance by others, attempts to establish and maintain relationships

36
Q

TAT Scoring

A

(1) Informal interpretation (themes, patterns, sequences)
(2) Formal scoring using manual

37
Q

TAT Norms

A

No good normative sample
-> Implication: Cannor interpret individual’s score