Psychoprojective Testing
House Tree Person
Age Range: Child-Adult
Test time: 90 minutes approximately
The House-Tree-Person (HTP) test is a projective psychological assessment tool designed to evaluate an individual's personality traits, emotions, and self-perceptions through their drawings. Developed by psychologist John Buck in 1948 and later updated in 1969, the HTP test involves asking individuals to draw a house, a tree, and a person on separate sheets of paper. After completing the drawings, the examiner poses specific questions about each illustration to gain deeper insights into the individual's inner world.
Purpose and Application
The primary aim of the HTP test is to assess various aspects of a person's personality by interpreting their drawings and responses to related questions. It is commonly used with children and adolescents but can also be administered to individuals over three. The test is also used to evaluate brain damage or overall neurological functioning. The entire process typically takes about 150 minutes, though this duration can vary depending on the individual's age and cognitive abilities.
Administration and Scoring
During the test, individuals are given three sheets of plain white paper and instructed to draw a house, a tree, and a person, each on a separate sheet. After completing each drawing, the examiner asks questions for more detailed information. For instance, regarding the house, questions might include: "Who lives here?" or "Is it a happy house?" For the tree: "What kind of tree is it?" or "How old is the tree?" And for the person: "Who is this person?" or "How does that person feel?" These questions help the examiner understand the individual's perceptions and emotional state.
Scoring the HTP test involves both quantitative and qualitative analyses. The quantitative aspect assesses details in the drawings to provide a general evaluation of intelligence, while the qualitative analysis interprets the drawings and responses to assess personality traits. For example, a very small house might indicate feelings of rejection related to one's home life, while a tree with large, expansive branches could suggest a need for satisfaction. Similarly, a drawing of a person with detailed facial features might reflect a desire to present oneself favorably in social contexts.
In summary, while the HTP test offers a unique approach to understanding an individual's personality through projective drawings, its efficacy as a psychoprojective tool remains a topic of ongoing research and discussion.
Rorschach Performance Assessment System
Age Range: Child-Adult
Test time: 90 minutes approximately
The Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) is a contemporary approach to administering, scoring, and interpreting the Rorschach inkblot test, a projective psychological assessment tool. Developed by Gregory J. Meyer, Donald J. Viglione, Joni L. Mihura, Robert E. Erard, and Philip Erdberg in 2011, R-PAS was designed to address the limitations of previous systems, such as John Exner's Comprehensive System (CS), by enhancing empirical support, standardization, and international applicability.
Purpose and Application
R-PAS aims to provide a standardized method for evaluating an individual's personality characteristics and emotional functioning through their perceptions of inkblots. It is utilized in various settings, including clinical psychology, forensic evaluations, and research, to assess aspects such as thought processes, coping mechanisms, and interpersonal behavior. The system emphasizes analyzing a person's performance in a problem-solving task under standardized conditions, allowing inferences based on observed behavior rather than self-reported data.
Administration and Scoring
In R-PAS, the administration of the Rorschach test is optimized to elicit a sufficient number of responses from examinees. Examiners typically aim for 18 to 27 responses across the 10 inkblot cards, which is considered optimal for reliable interpretation. To maintain this range, examiners may use prompts to encourage additional responses or limit excessive responses. The scoring system in R-PAS is empirically grounded, with variables selected based on their demonstrated reliability and validity. The system employs standardized scores and percentiles, facilitating comparison across diverse populations.
In summary, the Rorschach Performance Assessment System represents a modern, empirically supported approach to the Rorschach inkblot test,. It addressesprevious limitations and pprovidesa robust framework for assessing personality and emotional functioning.