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Thematic Apperception Test
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About Thematic Apperception Test
Scale Name
Thematic Apperception Test
Author Details
Henry A. Murray and Christiana D. Morgan
Translation Availability
Multiple
Background/Description
The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a projective psychological assessment tool developed in the 1930s by Henry A. Murray and Christiana D. Morgan at Harvard University. Designed to explore the underlying dynamics of personality, the TAT involves presenting individuals with a series of ambiguous images depicting various interpersonal situations. Examinees are asked to create stories about these images, detailing the events leading up to the scene, the emotions and thoughts of the characters, and the eventual outcomes.
This narrative process is believed to reveal the individual’s unconscious desires, internal conflicts, and aspects of their personality structure. The TAT has been widely utilized in both clinical and research settings to assess themes such as achievement, power, intimacy, and problem-solving abilities. Its projective nature allows for the exploration of complex emotional and motivational states that may not be accessible through more structured assessment methods.
Administration, Scoring and Interpretation
- Obtain a Copy: Acquire the official TAT materials, which include picture cards and a manual, from authorized psychological assessment publishers.
- Explain the Purpose: Inform the examinee that the assessment aims to understand their perceptions and interpretations of various social situations through storytelling.
- Provide Instructions: Instruct the examinee to look at each picture and construct a story that includes:
- What led up to the scene depicted.
- What is happening at the moment.
- What the characters are feeling and thinking.
- How the story concludes.
- Approximate Time: The administration is typically conducted over two sessions, each lasting about one hour, though this can vary based on the number of cards used and the depth of responses.
- Administer the Scale: Present each selected card to the examinee, one at a time, allowing them sufficient time to view the image and narrate their story. Record the responses verbatim for subsequent analysis.
Reliability and Validity
The TAT has faced scrutiny regarding its psychometric properties. Critics highlight concerns about the lack of standardization in administration and scoring, which can lead to variability in reliability and validity. However, proponents argue that the TAT’s strength lies in its qualitative insights into an individual’s inner world, which may not be fully captured by traditional psychometric evaluations. Some studies have explored structured scoring systems to enhance reliability, but the subjective nature of narrative interpretation remains a central challenge.
Available Versions
Multiple-Items
Reference
Murray, H. A. (1943). Thematic apperception test.
Murray, H. A. (1943). Thematic Apperception Test manual, Cambridge: Harvard Univer.
Lilienfeld, S. O., Wood, J. M., & Garb, H. N. (2000). The scientific status of projective techniques. Psychological science in the public interest, 1(2), 27-66.
Important Link
Scale File:
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the purpose of the Thematic Apperception Test?
The TAT is designed to uncover underlying aspects of an individual’s personality, including unconscious desires, internal conflicts, and social dynamics, through the analysis of stories created in response to ambiguous images.
How is the TAT administered?
Individuals are shown a series of ambiguous pictures and asked to construct a narrative for each, detailing preceding events, current actions, character thoughts and feelings, and story outcomes.
What types of images are used in the TAT?
The test comprises 31 cards depicting various scenes involving people in different situations, designed to elicit a wide range of emotional and interpersonal themes.
Is the TAT a standardized test?
The TAT lacks a standardized administration and scoring system, leading to variability in its application and interpretation across different settings.
In what contexts is the TAT typically used?
The TAT is employed in clinical psychology for personality assessment, in research to explore motivational and emotional processes, and occasionally in organizational settings for personnel selection.
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