Personality Tests

Which types of personality tests do you find the most intriguing? Why?

I find the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) particularly intriguing, as it delves into the unconscious through the use of the imagination. The test is not standardized, and veers away from traditionally normed tests, in that it is highly dependent on the choices of the test user. As a therapist, I am drawn to this test, as it is more geared to the clinical setting. With my groups of psychiatric patients, I often do activities that involve the use of imagination. It is hard for most of them to connect to their imaginations and create stories. I find myself getting really excited when they do, as these stories form a bridge directly to unconscious material that can be incredibly informative, both for me as the therapist and for the individuals themselves.

When I worked with children with emotional difficulties (they had all been abused and/or neglected and in and out of the foster care system), I found that the way the children communicated their needs, desires, and traumas was through play. Through creating stories and using their imaginations, they were able to show me in a non-threatening way how they were scared, what they were scared of, what they needed, and this formed a bridge between us. The TAT is a test I might find myself using someday.

Reference: Cohen, R. J. and Swerdlik, M. E. (2010). Psychological testing and assessment: An introduction to tests and measurement (7th ed.). New York: McGraw Hill.