Projection is accounted for by three principles: appropriateness of the stimulus, saliency for the personality, and integrative symbolism. The critical role of the stimulus in determining the areas and levels of personality assessed is discussed. It is suggested that the radio telescope may be a better analogy than the microscope or X-ray for explaining how a projective technique works. A succinct definition of a projective technique is presented.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
FrankL. K.Projective methods for the study of personality. Transactions of the New York Academy of Science, 1939, 1, 129–132.
2.
LazarusR. S.Ambiguity and nonambiguity in projective testing. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 1953, 48, 443–445.
3.
PetersonC. A.SchillingK. M.Card pull in projective testing. Journal of Personality Assessment, 1983, 47, 265–275.
4.
WagnerE. E.Personality dimensions measured by projective techniques. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1976, 43, 247–253.
5.
WagnerE. E.Diagnostic applications of the Hand Test. In WolmanB. B. (Ed.), Clinical diagnosis of mental disorders: A handbook. New York: Plenum Press, 1978. Pp. 393–443.
6.
WagnerE. E.The Hand Test manual, Revised 1983. Los Angeles: Western Psychological Services, 1983.
7.
WagnerE. E.WagnerC. F.The projective process: Inferences derived from structural analysis. Perceptual and Motor Skills, 1978, 46, 139–144.
8.
WagnerE. E.WagnerC. F.The interpretation of projective test data: Theoretical and practical guidelines. Springfield: Thomas, 1981.
