This study compared Rorschach test performance of 12 subjects with Asperger syndrome (AS) and 12 subjects with high-functioning autism (HFA, mean age 12 years). AS subjects demonstrated a trend toward greater levels of disorganized thinking than the HFA group and were more likely to be classified as "introversive." The test did not…

The HTP technique is commonly used in the assessment of children and adults. Children who have lost a loved one through death frequently label a portion of the Tree as dead. This phenomenon appears unrelated to age, sex, socioeconomic status, or race. (Author)

Adolescent male delinquents were administered the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) to examine the relationship between behavioral indices of aggression and hostility. The results of this investigation supported the hypothesis that an inverse relationship exists between hostility on the TAT and ratings of aggressive behavior in adolescent males.…

Six physically maltreated children and 12 matched non-maltreated children (ages 4-8) were asked to draw their "favorite kind of day." Drawings were compared on three criteria: inclement weather, size, and movement of weather. Results showed that over a period of 18 months, maltreated and non-maltreated children consistently drew similar drawings.…

In order to measure the effects of exposure to filmed violence, 40 third-grade boys and girls were shown two television excerpts. One-half of the group viewed a segment from a violent detective series; the other half saw an exciting but nonviolent segment from a major league baseball game. Immediately afterward, each child was asked to "babysit"…

Various kinds of projective and non-projective personality tests are explained for the parent of a handicapped child. (DB)

A system for evaluating the human figure drawings of children aged 5 to 12 is presented. (Author)

Children's religious ideas can provide relevant projective material in psychiatric evaluation, sometimes revealing information about parental introjects, superego and defense formation levels and anxiety areas. Frequently ignored, the material can be a useful adjunct when evaluative techniques give an incomplete picture. (Author/CM)

Presents a newly developed projective technique that utilizes criminal fantasy to help predict crime. Statistical significance regarding the difference in number of judged pathological stories for the two groups was reached for all cards that were designed to elicit sexual fantasy. (Author)

Notes widespread use of human figure drawings to describe and predict psychological functioning. Reviews data-based studies on figure drawings and concludes that there is little support for their validity or for their use as devices to assess personality, behavior, emotion, or intellectual functioning. Presents ease of administration and anecdotal…

Responds to previous article (Motta, Little, and Tobin, this issue) which reviewed data-based studies on figure drawings and found little support for their validity or use in assessing personality, behavior, emotion, or intellectual functioning. Notes recent approaches to interpretation of human figure drawings and cites flaws in argument against…

Responds to article (Motta, Little, and Tobin, this issue) which reviewed data-based studies on figure drawings and found little support for their validity or use in assessing personality, behavior, emotion, or intellectual functioning. Agrees with original article, suggesting that arguments be couched in terms of three basic concepts: illusory…

Responds positively to previous article (Motta, Little, and Tobin, this issue) which reviewed data-based studies on figure drawings and found little support for their validity or use. Focuses on human figure drawing as personality assessment tool, reviewing its empirical research, identifying only ways that it can be used, and suggesting most…

Responds to reviewers of authors' previous article (Motta, Little, and Tobin, this issue) which reviewed data-based studies on figure drawings and found little support for their validity or use in assessing personality, behavior, emotion, or intellectual functioning. Defends position of original article and addresses issues raised by reviewers.…

Definitions of projective tests are critiqued. A distinction is made between projective tests and projective techniques. The unique feature of the latter is its scoring process: response categories are intensionally defined and comprise infinite sets of responses. A continuity from psychometric to projective tests is argued. Statistical…