In psychology there are various currents and, therefore, different types of therapy. In this way, there are a multitude of psychological techniques that are used more or less depending on the therapy being carried out.
The best-known psychological current in psychology is psychoanalysis, founded by the famous Sigmund Freud, which has served as inspiration for the following psychological currents. This therapeutic practice consists of the exploration of the person’s unconscious. It deals with the problems that the person may have from the point of view of experiences that the person may have had in childhood, the interpretation of their dreams, failed acts committed and free association techniques.
Different evaluation techniques are used in this therapy. Among these types of techniques we find projective techniques. Continue reading Psicologia-Online in order to see in What are projective techniques, the types, their characteristics and some examples.
What are projective techniques in psychology?
As we mentioned, they are a type of techniques used in psychological therapies with a psychoanalytic orientation. The procedure of these techniques consists of presenting ambiguous stimuli to the person that the person must try to describe. Since the stimuli are so ambiguous, the person’s description reflects thoughts that they have repressed, as well as feelings.
As its name indicates, projective techniques seek to make the patient project himself. This means that a patient reflects in another person, object or situation a trait or desire that is his or her own but that it is difficult for him to admit because it causes shame, that it is not socially accepted or that it generates guilt.
The need for projective techniques is that they stimulate the person’s most emotional thinking and allow the patient express unconsciously everything that is affecting him inside but that he is not able to admit. In addition, they allow a simpler way of expression, which is why they are also very useful for children, for whom it is difficult to elaborate and express what they feel and think. In this way, it is easier for all types of people to transmit information to their therapist. What are the most used projective techniques?
Characteristics of projective tests
There are various characteristics that classify a test or technique as projective. We will see the advantages and disadvantages of projective techniques:
- The analyzes to which the results of the projective tests are subjected are qualitative and global.
- They can be oral, written or manipulative.
- Projective techniques defend that no response of the subject is accidental.
- Must be ambiguous. The greater the ambiguity, the better they define the personality of the subject.
- There are not right or wrong answers.
- Projective tests are complementary to each other.
- There is a wide freedom when answering projective tests and there is no limited time for it.
- The stimuli presented to the subject do not explain the examiner’s intention in order to avoid social desirability on the part of the subject.
All in all, projective tests are very useful techniques as a complement to other types of tests in order to get a more global view of what the person’s problem is.
Types of projective techniques
There are various types of projective techniques that we will see below.
Thematic tests
In this type of projective test, visual material is presented with different degrees of structuring of human content. The subject must tell a story based on it.
- An example is the Murray’s Thematic Apperception Test in which, when presented with a photograph, the person must explain what happened before, after and during the taking of the photograph. This causes the patient to express their own desires, thoughts or fears in an uninhibited way since the barriers that the person may have are not eliminated.
Expressive techniques or graphic tests
In this type of projective tests, the patient is offered a blank sheet of paper on which they must draw a character or scene that they imagine. No type of indication is given so it is a completely free drawing. This helps the person project those desires or fears that they may have unconsciously.
Constructive tests
The third type of projective techniques is that of constructive tests. Concrete construction material is provided to the subject. The student must use this material to organize it and build something different from it depending on the test.
- An example of this is the Aberastury house test.
Structural tests
This type of projective tests consist of the interpretation of abstract images. This can serve as guidance when it comes to what pathology a person may have. For example, if a person always interprets images in a similar way, this could be an indication of depression.
Associative techniques
Verbal or written instructions are provided and the subject must verbally express his associations with words, phrases or stories. It helps to understand what type of relationships a person makes in their daily lives.
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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Bibliography
- García, PP (1981). Projective tests: Theoretical foundations and clinical applications. Journal of psychotherapy and psychosomatics, (3), 2.
- Gomila, MV (2006). PROJECTIVE TESTS: Application to clinical diagnosis and treatment (Vol. 2). Editions Universitat Barcelona.
- Hammer, E.F., Bernstein, J., & Brodesky, A. (1997). Graphic projective tests. Buenos Aires: Paidós.