Projective Techniques

Introduction

In the presentation of projective techniques four steps will be taken:

• 1
  The first step focuses on the definition, general characteristics, classification and dominant theoretical perspectives on projective techniques.
• 2
  Given the high number and diversity of these techniques it was decided to elect the one most known and used among them, the Rorschach Inkblot Method, for a larger appreciation of its development. Particular emphasis will also be given here to the Exner Comprehensive System that was gradually developed as from the late 1960s.
• 3
  The third step considers the impact of and reactions to the Comprehensive System in the scope of projective techniques and psychological measurement.
• 4
  The final step includes some comments about the future of projective techniques.

Definition and General Characteristics

Projective techniques designate a set of instruments whose main objective is to describe and characterize personality.

The adjective projective is a derivative of ‘projection’, a concept introduced by Freud in the vocabulary of psychology to describe the design of a defence mechanism leading the subject to transfer to another person, or thing, his urges, feelings, etc., that he cannot accept as belonging to him. However, this concept is not commonly used in the field of projective techniques. Rather, another concept with a less restrictive and specific meaning is used. This means that, in responding to the stimulus-situation, the subject reveals or externalizes aspects of his own personal life, such as motives, interests, feelings, emotions, conflicts and the like.

To a large extent, the characteristics of the stimuli of the projectives are responsible for this externalization and have an important effect on the nature and content of the subject's responses. Two such characteristics are the structure and ambiguity of stimuli. The structure refers to the degree of organization of the stimulus: incompleteness, nearly an organized whole or fully divided, close to or far from being a real representation, etc. The ambiguity concerns the number and variability of responses each stimulus elicits.

Due to the different nature of the material and response modalities that these techniques involve, they have been classified in many ways. Table 1 presents Fernández-Ballesteros' classification, and includes the most representative examples of each class. For many years, they have been controversial in the sphere of assessment and measurement in Psychology.

Multiple factors of intrinsic and extrinsic nature have contributed to this state of affairs. Where the extrinsic factors are concerned, they are integrated

into the vast group of measuring instruments, globally known as psychological tests. They have mainly been applied in pathological or clinical psychology. Here, the idiographic perspective has either been prevalent or has tended to be exclusive in contrast with the nomothetic nature of the tests. As far as the intrinsic factors go, the lack of structure and the ambiguity of stimuli are only some of the most important features which have previously been pointed out.

The only things in common between the projective techniques and the tests are the standardized character of the stimulus and the method of administration. Since there are no right or wrong answers, the record is generally not subject to correction or classification in the clinical context of its use, but mainly to analysis and interpretation.

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