The Role of the Image in Five Projective Assessment Techniques: A Literature Based Study

The purpose of this study was to critically review the literature available on five projective assessment techniques that use image for the purpose of developing a database of the existing information and to consider the implications of image-based assessments. These five projective assessments include: The Rorschach, Thematic Apperception Test, House-Tree-Person, Kinetic-Family-Drawing, and Draw-A-Story. The problem to be addressed is that currently there is a lack of information on why images are used in these projective assessment techniques. The assumption is that the image is crucial to the assessment process, and without it, the information gathered may not yield the same responses. A literature-based design was used for this study. The information was gathered by using electronic databases as well as other relevant resources. The results of this study showed that although images are used in each of the five projective assessments, a clear explanation of their use is still unknown. The results also show that viewing an image and creating an image are two different ways that projection is used depending on the type of assessment being utilized. In addition, the research showed that creating an image tends to elicit a more emotional response than viewing an image and therefore, may provide more detailed information regarding the client. A proposal for art therapists is suggested by combining certain characteristics from projective assessments into art therapy tasks as a way of using the image as an appropriate way to engage the client in projection throughout the therapeutic process.M.A., Creative Arts in Therapy -- Drexel University, 200