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Glite Dictionary
Thematic Apperception Test

Thematic Apperception Test

9.7
A test where a person tells stories about pictures to show feelings and thoughts
  • noun
  • /θəˈmætɪk ˌæpərˈsɛpʃən tɛst/
  • Specialized
translation icon : Test de Appercepción Temática
  • For example, Atkinson's (1958) need achievement theory relies on a projective test, the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), to measure personal motivation to achieve success or avoid failure.

Examples

  • The therapist administered the Thematic Apperception Test to understand the patient's subconscious thoughts.

  • Henry A. Murray's Thematic Apperception Test was used by Adorno's colleagues to create "the F-scale" (the potential for fascist behavior);

    Blog text (1)

  • Thematic Apperception Test

    Fiction book (2002)

  • THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST.

    Fiction book (2000)

  • During the evaluation, the psychologist asked the subjects to interpret images using the Thematic Apperception Test.

  • In her research, she found that the Thematic Apperception Test effectively reveals deeper emotional responses.

Synonyms

TAT
vsThematic Apperception Test
  • Specialized
7 9.9

A test where people tell stories about unclear pictures to show their feelings and thoughts

is the specific named test that uses black-and-white pictures
projective test
vsThematic Apperception Test
  • Specialized
1 8.3

A way to find a person's personality by asking them about unclear pictures to show hidden feelings

focuses specifically on stories about black-and-white pictures rather than any ambiguous stimuli
projective technique
vsThematic Apperception Test
  • Specialized
8.5

A method in psychology where people describe unclear pictures to show hidden feelings

is a specific test that asks for stories about pictures rather than a general method

How Revealing

Rorschach test
  • Specialized
3 8.5
Thematic Apperception Test
  • Specialized
9.7
projective technique
  • Specialized
8.5
encounter group
  • Specialized
1 8.3
observation
  • Specialized
57 3.2
self-report inventory
  • Specialized
6.8
questionnaire
49 3.4

Surface Forms

Thematic Apperception Test singular
Thematic Apperception Tests plural

Morphology

thematic + apperception + test

The components ('thematic' + 'apperception' + 'test') give a partial clue — it signals a test concerning themes and apperceptive processing — but 'apperception' is a technical term and the specific procedure (a projective picture‑story method) cannot be inferred from the parts alone. As a named psychological instrument with specialized meaning, its precise sense requires prior exposure, so it is only partially predictable to a B1 learner.

Etymology

Thematic Apperception Test is named for how it works: thematic relates to the main 'theme' of a story and apperception is about how someone 'understands' an image. People are shown pictures and asked to make a story, so the test finds a person's 'hidden' thoughts and feelings from the themes and the way they understand the images.