Contents
Projective methodology for studying the personality of a child
This test was compiled by child psychologist Dr. Louise Duess. It can be used with even very young children who use extremely simple language to express their feelings.
Test Rules
You tell your child stories that feature a character that the child will identify with. Each of the tales ends with a question addressed to the child.
It is not very difficult to conduct this test, since all children love to listen to fairy tales.
Test Tips
It is important to pay attention to the tone of the child’s voice, how quickly (slowly) he reacts, whether he gives hasty answers. Observe his behavior, bodily reactions, facial expressions and gestures. Pay attention to the extent to which his behavior during the test differs from normal, everyday behavior. According to Duss, such atypical child reactions and behaviors as:
- request to interrupt the story;
- the desire to interrupt the narrator;
- offering unusual, unexpected story endings;
- hasty and hasty answers;
- change in tone of voice;
- signs of excitement on the face (excessive redness or pallor, sweating, small tics);
- refusal to answer a question;
- the emergence of a persistent desire to get ahead of events or start a fairy tale from the beginning,
— all these are signs of a pathological reaction to the test and signals of some kind of mental disorder.
Keep in mind the following
Children tend to, listening, retelling or inventing stories and fairy tales, sincerely express their feelings, including negative ones (aggression). But only on condition that it is not intrusive. Also, if the child constantly shows reluctance to listen to stories containing elements that cause anxiety and anxiety, this should be paid attention to. Avoiding difficult situations in life is always a sign of insecurity and fear.
Tests
- Fairy tale-test «Chick». Allows you to identify the degree of dependence on one of the parents or on both together.
- Fairy tale-test «Lamb». The tale allows you to find out how the child suffered weaning.
- Fairy tale-test «Parents’ wedding anniversary». Helps to find out how the child sees his position in the family.
- Fairy tale-test «Fear». Reveal your child’s fears.
- Fairy tale test «Elephant». Allows you to determine if the child has problems in connection with the development of sexuality.
- Fairy tale-test «Walk». Allows you to identify the extent to which the child is attached to the parent of the opposite sex and hostile to the parent of the same sex.
- Tale-test «News». Try to identify the presence of anxiety in the child, unspoken anxiety.
- Tale-test «Bad dream». You can get a more objective picture of children’s problems, experiences, etc.