Psychoanalysis and projective testing: A review of the interpretation of psychological tests

Journal/Book: J Personal Assess. 1999; 72: 10 Industrial Ave, Mahwah, NJ 07430-2262, USA. Lawrence Erlbaum Assoc Inc. 147-163.

Abstract: This article is a review and reassessment of Allison, Blatt, and Zimet's (1968) The Interpretation of Psychological Tests. The book, a distillation of David Rapaport's approach to psychological assessment, is organized around 2 main foci: a discussion from the perspective of psychoanalytic ego psychology of each of the 3 major instruments (i.e., Wechsler intelligence scale, Rorschach, Thematic Apperception Test) in Rapaport' s testing battery and a demonstration of how a clinician might interpret and integrate the results of each of these instruments with regard to a single case. I discuss the significance of this book, and of Rapaport's psychoanalytic approach to psychological evaluation, for projective assessment today. In addition, I present information regarding the intellectual backgrounds of Allison, Blatt, and Zimet and explain how each of them was influenced by Roy Schafer, who in the 1950s brought Rapaport' s ideas about psychoanalytic theory and psychological testing to Yale University.

Note: Review Auerbach JS, Vet Affairs Med Ctr, Psychol Serv 116B3, POB 4000, Johnson City,TN 37684 USA

Keyword(s): RORSCHACH; REPRESENTATION

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