The Image of TAT Most of us have heard about a Rorschach’s inkblot test where the subject interprets an image and a psychological meaning is taken out of their response. Several years after the Rorschach test the Thematic Appreciation Test (TAT) was developed by Henry A. Murray and Christina D. Morgan in the 1930s. In this test, black and white photos were shown in succession and the subject is asked to make up a story about each drawing. These stories and their details are used to reveal the hidden unconscious conflicts of the subject.
THEORETICAL PROPOSITIONS
the story about an image, it TAT study indicated. The first was hoped that they would feel is that the stories subjects more comfortable about being provided came from four an observed patient. sources. The first source is media around the subject, like METHOD books and movies. The second Originally the TAT method is authentic life experiences was to ask the subject to with family or friends. The provide details of the events third is the subjects own before and after the photo. This personal experiences in life. was later changed to asking the Lastly is the subjects unconscious and conscious subject to make up a story fantasies. The second finding about the photo, providing is that the subject always whatever details they saw fit. projected their own personal, In an attempt to stimulate emotional and psychological fantasies about the patient's existence into the stories. More conflicts and life events, the recent studies show that TAT selection of photos shown was can be used to asses the subject's risk of suicide and narrowed down to reflect various other personality individuals the subject could disorders. identify with. Eventually, the CONCLUSION pictures were narrowed down to a group of 20. In an attempt The main reliability problem with the TAT is that the to maintain the integrity of the test, the image shown is one of interpretation of the results can vary depending on who the images that was not administers the test. While the selected to be used but does help give a better impression TAT can be used individually, it is often used in conjunction of the TAT. with normal interviews carried out by clinicians. The most valuable aspect of the TAT is that it can be open communications with clients who may otherwise be resistant.
Much like the Rorschach’s, the underlying theory of the TAT is that the behavior of people is often driven by their unconscious. The purpose of TAT was to elicit a story that would reveal the subconscious fantasies, emotions, or perceptions of the subject. By RESULTS asking the subject to provide The are two main findings the