The person in the rain test, or PITR, is a projective drawing test used in psychology to gather information about human behavior and the personality of individuals. It is a graphic-projective tool that is framed in the theories of psychoanalysis. It seeks to respond, through subjective systematization, to the deficiencies, traumas or conflicting behaviors of people through the elements they possess.
For this reason, the person in the rain test is one of the most used instruments in different areas such as education, work and even clinical psychology. Do you want to know more about this test? In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about the person in the rain test: what it is and how to interpret it.
The person in the rain test, also known as the Figure in the Rain Test, is a projective technique used in psychology and psychological evaluation. It is said to have been developed by HM Fay in the 1920s and to have been complemented by the contributions of the American psychologist John E. Exner in the 1960s, although its definitive authorship is still unclear.
It is a very simple test, in which you only need paper and pencil. You are asked to the person who draws, describes and gives meaning to a scene of a person in the rain, as well as the feelings and thoughts it evokes. Additionally, she is encouraged to project her own experiences and emotions onto the figure of the person in the rain.
The main objective of the person in the rain test is to obtain information about the individual’s personality, as well as his or her attitudes toward life situations, self-esteem, and internal conflicts.
It is considered a projective technique because the person is expected to project aspects of their own personality into the interpretation of the sheet. However, it is not a standardized test and only professionals in psychology, psychiatry and human behavior can analyze the data provided by this test.
The person in the rain test is a projective test that aims to portraythrough an image or symbolism, different aspects of personality that are lodged in the subconscious, and that are difficult to express.
There is no right or wrong way to draw, since everyone is free to capture what they see fit on the sheet of paper, since their emotions will be reflected in the image. Each person must tell a story consistent with what she drew and explain what emotions he has projected into the image.
That said, let’s look at the main uses and objectives of the test of the person in the rain:
- Personality exploration: this test allows you to obtain information about each person’s personality, including attitudes, emotions, ways of coping and internal conflict. Through the responses and interpretation of the scene, personality traits, coping styles, and thinking and emotional patterns can be identified.
- Self-awareness: helps the individual explore and reflect on their own emotions, thoughts and experiences, as well as reveal subconscious aspects of and about their personality.
- Explore underlying conflicts and emotions: through the interpretations and associations that the individual makes in relation to the figure in the rain, it is possible to detect possible internal conflicts, emotional difficulties and negative thought patterns.
- Support for clinical assessment: the instrument can be used as part of a broader assessment in the clinical setting, to help professionals better understand the individual, identify specific symptoms or disorders, and plan appropriate treatment.
It is important to highlight that the person in the rain test is not a diagnosis in itself, but rather a tool to obtain information and generate reflection. Your results should always be interpreted by a psychologist.
The ease of interpreting the person in the rain test is what makes it a widely used tool in different social settings. It is a test aimed at people from 6 years of age and, basically, you only need a pencil and a sheet of paper to start the test.
To do this, the professional must ask the patient to draw a person in the rain, without giving further details of the elements. The objective is for the individual to understand that he is going to face a natural and even disturbing phenomenon, to see how he reacts to it and with what elements he can defend himself.
Afterwards, the professional will analyze each of the elements present in the image, taking into consideration the following elements.
The umbrella
The umbrella is a main element that represents the person’s defense against the rain. Therefore, if the individual draws an umbrella very small, it means that he has little desire to defend himself of certain situations or who shows shyness and insecurity. If, on the other hand, the umbrella is very large, it means that you are focused on your convictions and that you have a lot of personal security.
Likewise, an umbrella closed is related to resignation and passivitywhile if the umbrella shows holes or is drawn like a spear, it could be related to someone who enjoys hurting others.
Soil
The ground represents the stability of people, so, if it is weakly drawnmeans that the individual shows insecurity or worry. If the person does not draw the ground, it may be that he is still in a process of exploration and that he has not defined certain parameters in his life. On the other hand, if the soil is drawn with too much pressure, it is a symbolism of rage, anger or aggressiveness. In this article you will see.
Natural elements
The presence of puddles, the shape of the drops and the intensity of the rain also have their interpretation in the person in the rain test. For example, yes the rain is fine and his umbrella is of an appropriate size, it means that the person can take charge of his problems and that knows how to manage his emotions. If the rain is torrential, it means that the individual is very stressed or is in a hostile environment.
It may be that the person refuse to draw the rainand that is usually associated with a oppositional personality and that he does not like to follow certain established rules. Additionally, if puddles or lightning bolts are added to the drawing, it is possible that the subject is describing that he is under more pressure than he can withstand. If you want to know more about your personality, we invite you to do this.
Person
The person in the rain test includes a human figure, although many children usually draw flowers or animals and there is no problem. Now, if the person has a asymmetrical shapemay be associated with a lack of emotional balance. When the figure is arranged to the right, generally, the individual feels attachment to the paternal aspect, and if the arrangement is to the right, then to the maternal aspect.
In addition, professionals often analyze the width of the shoulders, the arrangement of the fingers and even the musculature in search of personality traits projected on the figure. He Image size also has a meaning associated with itsince if the drawing is very small it reflects low self-esteem, and if it covers the entire page it may be symbolizing an over-projection of self-esteem, which also causes an imbalance in the personality.
In any case, only trained experts can give an impression of the test results of the person in the rain, which in itself does not represent a definitive diagnosis. This test must be accompanied by the tests and dynamics that mental health professionals determine for each case.