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Glite Dictionary
TAT

TAT

7 9.9
A test where people tell stories about unclear pictures to show their feelings and thoughts
  • noun
  • /tæt/
  • Specialized
translation icon : TAT
  • Following Murray's lead, McClelland Atkinson and their colleagues employed TAT-like methods for measuring human motives (e.g., Atkinson, 1958).

Examples

  • In art therapy, a TAT can provide insights into a person's subconscious through the stories they create about images.

  • During the therapy session, the psychologist used the TAT to help the patient explore their feelings and thoughts.

  • The TAT measures of need achievement, need affiliation, and need power were all developed following the same strategy.

    Academic text (1995)

  • When data indicate that the intervention is not effective, the TAT team reviews the CICO data, attendance, academic data, and teacher input.

    Academic text (2013)

  • I gave him TAT, Improved Rorschach, Super Association Test, Differential Color Test, Abnormal Sentence Completion, and everything went well.

    Fiction book (2002)

  • Chalfant and colleagues (1979) implemented teacher assistance teams (TATs) in five school districts, with follow-up data for one of the five sites.

    Academic text (1993)

  • The TAT revealed unexpected aspects of her personality that she had not considered before.

Synonyms

projective test
vsTAT
  • Specialized
1 8.3

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

is one specific storytelling picture method within that broader assessment type
Thematic Apperception Test
vsTAT
  • Specialized
9.7

A test where a person tells stories about pictures to show feelings and thoughts

is the commonly used abbreviation in short references

Idioms

tit for tat
  • Informal
12 5.8

An action done to hurt someone because they hurt you

Compounds

rat-a-tat-tat
1 9.0

A series of short, sharp tapping sounds like knocking on a door

rat-tat
1 7.7

A series of quick, sharp knocks often on a door or drum

tit-tat-toe
  • Archaic
4.5

A simple two-player game of X and O on a 3 by 3 grid to make three in a row

Surface Forms

TAT singular
TATs plural

Etymology

TAT comes from the full name Thematic Apperception Test, built from theme ('topic' or 'story') and apperception ('how you understand what you see'). So the test asks people to make stories about pictures, which helps reveal their inner thoughts and feelings.