Psychology Personality Tests

1141 Words5 Pages
Personality evaluation tests can aid in many places such as the workplace and for educational purposes. Personality tests can be grouped as either objective or projective. Although difficult to measure, a variety of different types of objective personality tests have been developed to categorize subjects in accordance to their personality type. Projective tests are used to distinguish between a personality trait and a personality disorder. This essay will evaluate the effectiveness, reliability, and the strengths and weaknesses of two different personality tests. The Thematic Apperception Test (projective) and the Myer Briggs Type Indicator (objective). It will also asses when these test should and shouldn’t be used. The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) is a projective method of testing created by Christiana D. Morgan and Henry A. Murray (1934) intended to evaluate a person's attitudes towards themselves and others. Moreover, this technique of testing was often utilized on individuals applying for employment in fields that required a high level of ability in dealing with others. The Thematic Apperception Test was also developed to help people understand their own personality in greater depth and build on that knowledge in making important life decisions. It was also used on murder suspects to expose fears, aggression and needs (Mental Disorders, 2014). Although this test can be suitable to gain a very broad idea of an individual’s personality and attitudes, it is not a useful test to indicate if someone is suitable for a type of career or if they have suffered through a traumatic experience. The TAT test although still used today lacks in validity. This is due to responses given being open to interpretation. There are no right or wrong answers, therefore, the broad ambiguity of the cards allows for a broad range of answers. The cards in the test consist of
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