The Wartegg test is a psychotechnical test that is used in the personnel selection process. This is a projective psychological test that some people can find quite threatening, partly because it is quite strange and often very unpredictable. The objective of this type of psychological test is to know some characteristics of the personality of the respondent in question, as well as his preferences, the way in which he relates to others, among other things.
But what does this test consist of? What aspects does it measure exactly? And above all, how is it interpreted? In this Psychology-Online article we will talk about Wartegg test: what it consists of, what it measures and interpretationlet’s explain it to you in detail.
Wartegg test: what does this psychotechnical test consist of?
The Wartegg test was created by Erik Wartegg in 1940 and was later perfected in 1960 by Biedma and Alfonso. This projective psychological test is actually quite simple, it is applied in a short period of time and since it is a subjective test, interpreting it is quite simple, especially when the professional who does it already has a certain degree of experience.
Wartegg test solved
The Wertegg test basically consists of carrying out a drawing divided into 8 quadrants which are on a white background. The reason why they are carried out on a white background is to encourage the person to project themselves onto the drawing (figure-ground). The test contains 8 squares of 4 cm by 4 cm each and are limited between them by a thick black frame.
To begin the test, the person is instructed to complete the drawings that they are in each painting with a pencil, emphasizing that there is no general rule as to how to make the drawings and that he does not have to worry since it does not matter if he knows how to draw well or not since that is not the that is going to be evaluated in the test and therefore is totally irrelevant.
Once the drawings have been completed, the candidate is asked to number the 8 squares in any way they wish, trying to follow a consecutive order. Finally, you are asked to place the title of what you drew in the 8 lines at the bottom, according to the number of each box with its respective drawing.
What the Wartegg test measures
The Wartegg projective test, as we have already seen, is divided into eight boxes and each of them measures a different personality characteristic. Below we will explain what each of them consists of:
- First frame: Self-concept. In this part, the way in which the person perceives himself consciously and even unconsciously is evaluated (). Through this chart, it can be determined whether the person has a positive or negative view of themselves. This will determine whether, for example, she trusts herself to solve problems or not, if she is indecisive, if she is an emotionally immature person, etc.
- Second table: Affectivity. This aspect measures the degree of empathy that the person has towards others.
- Third box: Ambitions. This field evaluates the person’s tendency towards self-realization and seeking to achieve their vital goals and objectives.
- Fourth box: Unconscious contents. This field evaluates the way in which the person usually behaves in the face of their unconscious repressions and anxieties. That is, the attitude you show when faced with conflicts that may arise, whether internally or externally.
- Fifth table: Management of vital energy. This aspect refers to the way in which the person manages his impulses, the way in which manage your impulsivitywhere he directs his vital energy, how he reacts to adversity and what technique he uses to achieve what he wants.
- Sixth frame: type of reasoning. This field is important to know the value that the person gives to their own intellectual capacity, their capacity for synthesis and analysis and whether they tend more towards the subjective or the objective.
- Seventh table: Interpersonal attitude in the workplace. This section refers to the person’s attitude and ability to relate to others at a work level. That is, it measures aspects such as sensitivity, affective behavior, service attitude, ability to work as a team, etc.
- Eighth box: Ability to commit to the rules. As if the name says it, it is about the degree of commitment that the person shows in respecting established norms and values.
How to interpret the Wartegg Test
Now that you know more about the Wartegg test and what it measures, we present some of the interpretations that can be carried out for each table.
First box: Self-concept.
- When a drawing is made that is too large or too prominent, this can be a negative indicator because it shows a need for self-affirmation.
- If the drawing is multiplied or observed as a kind of transparency, it is usually an indicator of a poor self-concept and therefore insecurity. Discover here.
- When the drawing is shaded in a delicate and artistic way, this is usually an indicator of a marked intellectual and natural tendency, however, when it is shaded in a rough and very marked way, it is evaluated as a tendency towards anxiety and/or depression.
Second table: Affectivity.
- Drawing faces indicates a great tendency to contact with others. When the face drawing shows some limits, it can be interpreted as a tendency to keep limits with others.
- Nature drawings indicate a good ability to relate to others in environments where trust exists.
- When drawing an animal, we must take into account the type of animal it is since depending on that we can know the way in which the person relates to others and the way in which they perceive interpersonal relationships.
- When objects are drawn it is an indicator that the person usually avoids interpersonal relationships and tends a lot towards intellectualization, which they use as a defense mechanism.
Third box: Ambitions.
- When the lines of the stimulus are prolonged or rise as if it were an irregularly shaped building, it is an indicator of little organization.
- When you draw stairs that end in a platform, this can be an indicator that you are satisfied with what you have achieved or that the person is stuck in their goals.
- When the three lines come together, it is an indicator that the person has little or no personal ambitions and only knows how to identify and bring them to light when the external environment demands it.
Fourth box: Unconscious contents.
- It is recommended that the person make this drawing last.
- When the box is shaded, it is an indicator that the person does not know how to react to the conflict or that tends to depression.
- When the picture is altered, it usually indicates that the person shows many emotional ups and downs.
- When objects with childish content are drawn, it usually reflects that the person usually acts immaturely when faced with problems.
- Drawings of squares or chess are an indicator that the person is quite strategic and .
Fifth table: Management of vital energy.
- If the person joins the stimuli and tilts them to the right diagonally, it is a dynamism indicator. If they lean towards the left it means that the person tends more towards passivity.
- When the stimuli are not united but have a direction, it means that the person has a lot of energy but does not know how to channel it appropriately.
- When objects are drawn it is an indication of the non-channeling of energy.
Sixth table: Type of reasoning.
- Making two different but associated drawings indicates a better capacity for association than synthesis.
- Making drawings that are not related to each other indicates a great capacity for association, analysis and synthesis.
- When the stimulus is not taken into account, it may indicate that the individual has little confidence in his or her abilities.
Seventh table: Interpersonal attitude in the workplace.
- Respecting the stimulus indicates a tendency to maintain good quality in relationships.
- When something childish is drawn, it is an indicator of sexual and emotional immaturity.
Eighth box: Ability to commit to the rules.
- When the drawing is made below the stimulus, it is a sign of a high level of affiliation.
- If the drawing is above the stimulus, it indicates a high level of criticism and difficulty in adapting to the rules.
This article is merely informative, at Psychology-Online we do not have the power to make a diagnosis or recommend a treatment. We invite you to go to a psychologist to treat your particular case.
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References
- Wartegg, E. (1940). Schichtdiagnostik. Der Zeichentest (WZT). Einführung in die experimentelle Graphoskopie.
- Biedma, C.J., & d’Alfonso, P.G. (1960). The language of drawing (No. 159,937). Kapeluz,.
Bibliography
- Guide for analysis and interpretation Wartegg 8 fields – PSICORG. (sf). Recovered November 2, 2018, from https://es.scribd.com/doc/127870915/Guia-para-el-analisis-e-interpretacion-Wartegg-8-campos-PSICORG