Problems of Forensic Sciences 2013 Vol. 94 (XCIV) 502-519
THE THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST IN THE LIGHT OF RESEARCH. THE POSSIBILITY OF USING THIS TEST IN FORENSIC ASSESSMENTS
Katarzyna STEMPLEWSKA-ŻAKOWICZ
Faculty of Diagnostic Methods and Applied Psychology, Chodkowska University, Warszawa, Poland
Streszczenie
As the 1990s drew to a close, projective tests became the focus of discussion and heated debate, while new studies led experts to question their validity and practical utility. This probably explains why interest in projective techniques has recently begun to decline. The main charges laid at the door of projective techniques relate to their lack of validity and reliability, as well as doubts over whether psychopathology can be discerned in projected material. Drawing from these allegations, the author offers practical recommendations for applying projective techniques, and, while highlighting the need to use procedures that possess standards and proven validity and reliability, she draws attention to the need to attend training sessions devoted to the application of specific methods. She cautions against adopting the erroneous assumption that instances of sexual and physical abuse can be uncovered using projective techniques, while also drawing attention to the fact that, no matter what the research aim may be, these methods should be applied in a variety of ways. She discusses the legitimacy of the above recommendations by taking the Thematic Apperception Test as an example and relating it to several of the most popular systems for interpreting this test, i.e. those of Murray. Bellak, Westen and Cramer.
Słowa kluczowe
Projective methods; The statistical value of projective techniques; TAT; Systems of interpretation for TAT.