Storytelling, Narrative, and the Thematic Apperception Test

by Phebe Cramer

This volume is about a particular kind of story-telling. Known as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), it is a systematic approach to story-telling that provides clinicians with an effective method for investigating those original and highly personal themes that constitute the unique personality of each individual. The first half of the book illuminates the meaning of narratives and the second half explores their implications for therapeutic understanding and treatment. Topics covered

The history and development of the TAT
The importance of context in storytelling
How stories are transformed over time
What narratives may reveal about personality
organization
How narratives may alter according to age, gender, or
as a result of defense mechanisms
The use of the TAT for research studies

Genres: Psychology

374 pages, Hardcover

First published May 3, 1996

Reviews

[Diamant Assaf · Rating 4 out of 5]

Impressive book for psychology students, especially those interested in projective tests such as the TAT.
I believe that these kinds of tests are extremely reliable if interpreted correctly.
The TAT involves showing people a series of picture cards and asking them to tell a dramatic story related to each scene. It is designed to reveal issues related to parent/child relationships, family relationships, heterosexual relationships, homosexual relationships, aggression, depressive ideation, suicidal thoughts…
It’s interesting to read about different approaches to interpret TAT’s results other than the one we studied in university (Bellak’s approach). Two of my favorites are “May’s deprivation/ enhancement assessment of gender identity” and “the anaclitic/ introjective personality organization theory”.