The aim of the research was to establish how accurate an Objective Thematic Apperception Test can measure typical behavioral constructs of adolescents such as anxiety, stress, aggression, interpersonal relations and self-concept. An empirical investigation was carried out using a newly developed questionnaire, the Structured Objective TAT (SOTAT) as well as a control questionnaire (CQ). The items of the SOTAT were based on a selection of TAT cards and the CQ measured certain affective variables in the traditional way. Both questionnaires were completed by 378 adolescents. The SOTAT was found to be reliable but not construct valid since low correlation coefficients between the SOTAT and CQ were obtained. There is the possibility that projection did not occur during completion of the SOTAT. / Psychology / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

No contexto da pesquisa e utilização prática das técnicas de autoexpressão, o Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT) apresenta reconhecidas vantagens. Apesar de linhas de pesquisa bastante desenvolvidas internacionalmente, não existem estudos atuais sobre as propriedades deste instrumento no Brasil, levantando a necessidade de conhecer seus alcances e limites nesse contexto cultural. Desse modo, o desenvolvimento de normas que descrevam o desempenho típico de uma população não clínica se mostra um importante passo inicial rumo à retomada da pesquisa com o TAT e sua adoção por profissionais. Tendo em vista que a validação das técnicas de autoexpressão se refere aos sistemas de classificação e não aos instrumentos em si, o presente estudo adotou, dentre a miríade de sistemas de categorização das histórias do TAT descritos na literatura, o sistema proposto por Monique Morval, que foi desenvolvido para estudantes e profissionais com pouca experiência com o TAT, utilizando pressupostos da Personologia de Henry Murray, Psicologia Cognitiva e Psicologia do Ego, possibilitando leituras objetivas e qualitativas do material. Considerando o potencial de utilização desse sistema por parte dos psicólogos brasileiros - visto sua semelhança com o atual sistema aprovado para uso pelo Sistema de Avaliação dos Testes Psicológicos (SATEPSI) do Conselho Federal de Psicologia - foram feitos aprimoramentos no assim chamado sistema morvaliano, possibilitando sua adoção no estudo normativo proposto pelo presente projeto. Tais aprimoramentos consistiram na revisão e adição de categorias e subcategorias, a partir de trabalhos brasileiros e internacionais sobre o instrumento. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve por objetivo desenvolver normas para o TAT (Sistema Morvaliano) em adultos, a partir de uma amostra não clínica, aleatória e estratificada por critérios de idade, sexo, escolaridade e nível socioeconômico (NSE) da cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Os participantes foram 100 adultos (25 a 44 anos de idade), selecionados através de visita a domicílios sorteados em bairros de diferentes NSE. Foram realizadas entrevistas de avaliação psicológica individuais, utilizando um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, o Teste de Inteligência Geral Não-Verbal (TIG-NV) e 20 cartões do TAT, pré-selecionados de acordo com as recomendações do manual original do instrumento. As histórias do TAT foram categorizadas no sistema morvaliano revisado e seus dados passaram por análises estatísticas e sínteses qualitativas em busca de diferenças de desempenho relacionadas ao sexo, escolaridade e NSE. Os resultados mostram poucas diferenças entre os grupos que justifiquem a elaboração de normas específicas; apesar disso, foi identificada uma tendência (ainda que pequena) de o nível de escolaridade e o NSE favorecerem um melhor desempenho nas variáveis relativas à organização formal das histórias. São discutidas as implicações dos dados obtidos em termos do perfil normativo de desempenho nas variáveis do sistema morvaliano, suas evidências preliminares de validade e futuras direções para estudos sobre o TAT nesse sistema. / Within the context of research and practice with self-expression techniques, the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) presents several advantages widely acknowledged. However, in spite of well-developed research with this instrument being seen in other countries, no recent Brazilian studies have been carried out up to date. Such situation arise the need of efforts in order to show the properties of the TAT in the current Brazilian cultural context, so that its strengths and weaknesses can be known. In this sense, the development of norms on the typical performance of a non-clinic population is an important first step toward resuming the Brazilian studies on the TAT, at the same time such norms could be used by applied professionals. Considering that the validation of self-expression techniques is related to classification systems (and not the instruments themselves), the present project adopts - among the myriad of categorizing systems for TAT stories - the one proposed by Monique Morval, which was developed for students and professionals with no experience with the TAT. Such system adopts assumptions from Henry Murray\'s Personology, Cognitive Psychology and Ego Psychology, providing both objective and qualitative data on the stories. Due to resemblance of this system with the one currently approved for use by the Evaluation System of Psychological Tests (Sistema de Avaliação dos Testes Psicológicos, SATEPSI) of the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychological, there is a potential for the adoption of such system by Brazilian psychologists. In order to carry out the present project, the now called morvalian system was improved by revising and adding new categories and subcategories, which was based on both Brazilian and international studies regarding. The present project, thus, aimed to develop norms for the TAT (morvalian system) in adults from a randomized, non-clinical sample, which was stratified in terms of age, gender, schooling and socialeconomical levels. The study was carried out in the city of Ribeirão Preto (Brazilian state of São Paulo), with a n = 100 sample (25-44 years of age). Participants were invited to take part of the study during visits to randomly selected houses, located in regions of different socialeconomical levels. Participants were individually assessed, using a semi-structured interview script, a measure of intelligence (the TIG-NV - General Non-Verbal Intelligence Test) and 20 TAT cards, selected according to the original manual of this instrument. Data was compiled with the morvalian system\'s categories and went through both statistically and qualitative analyzes in search for performance differences related to gender, schooling and socialeconomical levels. The results showed few differences across the groups, which do not support for the elaboration of specific norms. However, results also showed a significant (although small) trend for better performance of groups with better schooling and socialeconomical levels on the variables related to stories\' formal organization. Such results are discussed in terms of their implication for describing the normative performance on the morvalian system, preliminary validity evidence and future directions for the TAT within this system.

Este Doutorado teve como objetivo o entendimento sobre a construção da conjugalidade homossexual feminina e masculina, a partir da eleição de casais longevos, com mais de vinte anos de relacionamento. A partir de coleta de dados por meio de entrevista semidirigida com o casal, acrescida da aplicação de pranchas previamente selecionadas do teste projetivo TAT (Teste de Apercepção Temática), individualmente, sob o método clínico-qualitativo, foram analisados quatro casais, dois masculinos e dois femininos, com e sem filhos vindos de relação heterossexual anterior, sob a perspectiva da psicanálise vincular. Os resultados apontaram para casamentos românticos, com vínculos protetivos e de afeto, porém com influências pós-modernas no que diz respeito ao fato de estarem juntos somente pelo desejo, com flexibilização das performances de gênero e democratização das relações. Os quatro casais demonstraram empenho na construção e manutenção do vínculo conjugal e harmonia no convívio, ressaltando a singularidade de cada um. Esses casais concretizaram suas relações amorosas em uma época não permissiva e patologizante da homossexualidade, fazendo uso do disfarce e da vida dupla como estratégia de sobrevivência, atitude presente ainda na vida de dois dos quatro pares. Essa característica em particular pode fazer com que casais gays necessitem de maiores espaços de fusionamento do que os heterossexuais, para que possam se fortalecer ante os desconfortos sociais pelos quais passam - principalmente os que têm filhos de uniões heterossexuais anteriores. Neste caso, além da própria separação, há também o confronto com a orientação sexual do ex-parceiro. Somente um casal de homens havia se casado legalmente, por temor aos bens conquistados frente aos filhos de um deles; o de mulheres com filho também havia legitimado a relação com União Estável e testamento. Os dois casais sem filhos não haviam providenciado nenhuma legitimação e nem estavam preocupados com isso. A herança heteronormativa que receberam foi adaptada aos seus estilos de vida, embora não tenha havido um espaço familiar e social a ser ocupado a homossexualidade e a homoconjugalidade, embora vistas, são ainda muitas vezes não-nomeadas ou reconhecidas. Não houve referências a traições, sendo que os filhos foram os deflagradores de crises em dois dos casais, ambas superadas. Os resultados alcançados confirmam a teoria psicanalítica vincular no sentido de enfatizar o conceito de alteridade, entre um e outro, como base para a compreensão desse tipo de conjugalidade / This Doctoral thesis aimed to understand the construction of female and male homosexual conjugality by selecting long-lived couples, with more than twenty years of relationship. Based on data collection through semi-structured interviews with the couples and the use of previously selected cards of the projective measure TAT (Thematic Apperception Test), under the clinical-qualitative method, four couples - two male and two female, with and without children from previous heterosexual relationships - were analyzed under the perspective of linkage psychoanalysis. Results point to romantic marriages, with protective and emotional bonds, but under post-modern influence based on the fact they are together only by their desire, with flexibility of the gender performances and democratization of the relations. The four couples demonstrated a commitment to building and sustaining the conjugal bond as well as coexisting in harmony, highlighting the individuality of each one. These couples materialized their love relationships at a nonpermissive and pathologizing time for homosexuality, using disguises and double lives as a strategy for survival, an attitude still present in the lives of two out of the four couples. This characteristic, in particular, may lead a gay couple to need bigger spaces of fusioning when compared to heterosexual couples, so that they can strengthen themselves in the face of the social discomfort which they go through particularly the ones who have kids from previous heterosexual relationships. In this case, in addition to the divorce itself, there is also the confrontation related to the sexual orientation of the ex-partner. Only one couple of men had legally married due to the fear of losing the assets acquired to the children of one of them; the couple of women with a child had also legitimated their relationship through common-law marriage and testament. Both couples without children hadnt sought any type of legal legitimacy nor were worried about it. The heteronormative heritage they received was adapted to their lifestyles, although there hadnt been a family and social place to be occupied homosexuality and homo-conjugality, while seen, are often not named nor recognized. There were no references to betrayals, although, among two of the couples, the children had been the triggers of already overcome crises. The findings confirm the linkage psychoanalysis theory, which emphasizes the concept of otherness, between one and another, as a basis to comprehend this type of conjugality

The aim of the research was to establish how accurate an Objective Thematic Apperception Test can measure typical behavioral constructs of adolescents such as anxiety, stress, aggression, interpersonal relations and self-concept. An empirical investigation was carried out using a newly developed questionnaire, the Structured Objective TAT (SOTAT) as well as a control questionnaire (CQ). The items of the SOTAT were based on a selection of TAT cards and the CQ measured certain affective variables in the traditional way. Both questionnaires were completed by 378 adolescents. The SOTAT was found to be reliable but not construct valid since low correlation coefficients between the SOTAT and CQ were obtained. There is the possibility that projection did not occur during completion of the SOTAT. / Psychology / M. Ed. (Voorligting)

This diploma thesis makes use analytical methods of the Grounded theory to explore the theme "Reflection of relationship experiences by women in imprisonment". The goal of this thesis is qualitatively describing relationship experiences by women offenders of criminal activity and contribute to a deeper understanding of the psychosocial aspects of crime. Because the method of Grounded theory is chosen, which in a qualitative way makes it significant. Methods of data collection were chosen in the form of an interview and test method of the Thematic- apperceptive test. The research sample consists of five women, who are in the prison. Three levels of coding were used to analyze the interviews. The TAT analysis was followed by a qualitative method in the form of interpretation. The main topics covered include unsatisfied childhood relationships, rejection of guilt, the use of neutralizing techniques to maintain a positive self- image and passive role in life. Keywords Attachment, conscience, criminal behavior, criminal motivation, guilt, psychic development

No contexto da pesquisa e utilização prática das técnicas de autoexpressão, o Teste de Apercepção Temática (TAT) apresenta reconhecidas vantagens. Apesar de linhas de pesquisa bastante desenvolvidas internacionalmente, não existem estudos atuais sobre as propriedades deste instrumento no Brasil, levantando a necessidade de conhecer seus alcances e limites nesse contexto cultural. Desse modo, o desenvolvimento de normas que descrevam o desempenho típico de uma população não clínica se mostra um importante passo inicial rumo à retomada da pesquisa com o TAT e sua adoção por profissionais. Tendo em vista que a validação das técnicas de autoexpressão se refere aos sistemas de classificação e não aos instrumentos em si, o presente estudo adotou, dentre a miríade de sistemas de categorização das histórias do TAT descritos na literatura, o sistema proposto por Monique Morval, que foi desenvolvido para estudantes e profissionais com pouca experiência com o TAT, utilizando pressupostos da Personologia de Henry Murray, Psicologia Cognitiva e Psicologia do Ego, possibilitando leituras objetivas e qualitativas do material. Considerando o potencial de utilização desse sistema por parte dos psicólogos brasileiros - visto sua semelhança com o atual sistema aprovado para uso pelo Sistema de Avaliação dos Testes Psicológicos (SATEPSI) do Conselho Federal de Psicologia - foram feitos aprimoramentos no assim chamado sistema morvaliano, possibilitando sua adoção no estudo normativo proposto pelo presente projeto. Tais aprimoramentos consistiram na revisão e adição de categorias e subcategorias, a partir de trabalhos brasileiros e internacionais sobre o instrumento. Desta forma, o presente estudo teve por objetivo desenvolver normas para o TAT (Sistema Morvaliano) em adultos, a partir de uma amostra não clínica, aleatória e estratificada por critérios de idade, sexo, escolaridade e nível socioeconômico (NSE) da cidade de Ribeirão Preto (SP). Os participantes foram 100 adultos (25 a 44 anos de idade), selecionados através de visita a domicílios sorteados em bairros de diferentes NSE. Foram realizadas entrevistas de avaliação psicológica individuais, utilizando um roteiro de entrevista semiestruturada, o Teste de Inteligência Geral Não-Verbal (TIG-NV) e 20 cartões do TAT, pré-selecionados de acordo com as recomendações do manual original do instrumento. As histórias do TAT foram categorizadas no sistema morvaliano revisado e seus dados passaram por análises estatísticas e sínteses qualitativas em busca de diferenças de desempenho relacionadas ao sexo, escolaridade e NSE. Os resultados mostram poucas diferenças entre os grupos que justifiquem a elaboração de normas específicas; apesar disso, foi identificada uma tendência (ainda que pequena) de o nível de escolaridade e o NSE favorecerem um melhor desempenho nas variáveis relativas à organização formal das histórias. São discutidas as implicações dos dados obtidos em termos do perfil normativo de desempenho nas variáveis do sistema morvaliano, suas evidências preliminares de validade e futuras direções para estudos sobre o TAT nesse sistema. / Within the context of research and practice with self-expression techniques, the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) presents several advantages widely acknowledged. However, in spite of well-developed research with this instrument being seen in other countries, no recent Brazilian studies have been carried out up to date. Such situation arise the need of efforts in order to show the properties of the TAT in the current Brazilian cultural context, so that its strengths and weaknesses can be known. In this sense, the development of norms on the typical performance of a non-clinic population is an important first step toward resuming the Brazilian studies on the TAT, at the same time such norms could be used by applied professionals. Considering that the validation of self-expression techniques is related to classification systems (and not the instruments themselves), the present project adopts - among the myriad of categorizing systems for TAT stories - the one proposed by Monique Morval, which was developed for students and professionals with no experience with the TAT. Such system adopts assumptions from Henry Murray\'s Personology, Cognitive Psychology and Ego Psychology, providing both objective and qualitative data on the stories. Due to resemblance of this system with the one currently approved for use by the Evaluation System of Psychological Tests (Sistema de Avaliação dos Testes Psicológicos, SATEPSI) of the Brazilian Federal Council of Psychological, there is a potential for the adoption of such system by Brazilian psychologists. In order to carry out the present project, the now called morvalian system was improved by revising and adding new categories and subcategories, which was based on both Brazilian and international studies regarding. The present project, thus, aimed to develop norms for the TAT (morvalian system) in adults from a randomized, non-clinical sample, which was stratified in terms of age, gender, schooling and socialeconomical levels. The study was carried out in the city of Ribeirão Preto (Brazilian state of São Paulo), with a n = 100 sample (25-44 years of age). Participants were invited to take part of the study during visits to randomly selected houses, located in regions of different socialeconomical levels. Participants were individually assessed, using a semi-structured interview script, a measure of intelligence (the TIG-NV - General Non-Verbal Intelligence Test) and 20 TAT cards, selected according to the original manual of this instrument. Data was compiled with the morvalian system\'s categories and went through both statistically and qualitative analyzes in search for performance differences related to gender, schooling and socialeconomical levels. The results showed few differences across the groups, which do not support for the elaboration of specific norms. However, results also showed a significant (although small) trend for better performance of groups with better schooling and socialeconomical levels on the variables related to stories\' formal organization. Such results are discussed in terms of their implication for describing the normative performance on the morvalian system, preliminary validity evidence and future directions for the TAT within this system.

Este Doutorado teve como objetivo o entendimento sobre a construção da conjugalidade homossexual feminina e masculina, a partir da eleição de casais longevos, com mais de vinte anos de relacionamento. A partir de coleta de dados por meio de entrevista semidirigida com o casal, acrescida da aplicação de pranchas previamente selecionadas do teste projetivo TAT (Teste de Apercepção Temática), individualmente, sob o método clínico-qualitativo, foram analisados quatro casais, dois masculinos e dois femininos, com e sem filhos vindos de relação heterossexual anterior, sob a perspectiva da psicanálise vincular. Os resultados apontaram para casamentos românticos, com vínculos protetivos e de afeto, porém com influências pós-modernas no que diz respeito ao fato de estarem juntos somente pelo desejo, com flexibilização das performances de gênero e democratização das relações. Os quatro casais demonstraram empenho na construção e manutenção do vínculo conjugal e harmonia no convívio, ressaltando a singularidade de cada um. Esses casais concretizaram suas relações amorosas em uma época não permissiva e patologizante da homossexualidade, fazendo uso do disfarce e da vida dupla como estratégia de sobrevivência, atitude presente ainda na vida de dois dos quatro pares. Essa característica em particular pode fazer com que casais gays necessitem de maiores espaços de fusionamento do que os heterossexuais, para que possam se fortalecer ante os desconfortos sociais pelos quais passam - principalmente os que têm filhos de uniões heterossexuais anteriores. Neste caso, além da própria separação, há também o confronto com a orientação sexual do ex-parceiro. Somente um casal de homens havia se casado legalmente, por temor aos bens conquistados frente aos filhos de um deles; o de mulheres com filho também havia legitimado a relação com União Estável e testamento. Os dois casais sem filhos não haviam providenciado nenhuma legitimação e nem estavam preocupados com isso. A herança heteronormativa que receberam foi adaptada aos seus estilos de vida, embora não tenha havido um espaço familiar e social a ser ocupado a homossexualidade e a homoconjugalidade, embora vistas, são ainda muitas vezes não-nomeadas ou reconhecidas. Não houve referências a traições, sendo que os filhos foram os deflagradores de crises em dois dos casais, ambas superadas. Os resultados alcançados confirmam a teoria psicanalítica vincular no sentido de enfatizar o conceito de alteridade, entre um e outro, como base para a compreensão desse tipo de conjugalidade / This Doctoral thesis aimed to understand the construction of female and male homosexual conjugality by selecting long-lived couples, with more than twenty years of relationship. Based on data collection through semi-structured interviews with the couples and the use of previously selected cards of the projective measure TAT (Thematic Apperception Test), under the clinical-qualitative method, four couples - two male and two female, with and without children from previous heterosexual relationships - were analyzed under the perspective of linkage psychoanalysis. Results point to romantic marriages, with protective and emotional bonds, but under post-modern influence based on the fact they are together only by their desire, with flexibility of the gender performances and democratization of the relations. The four couples demonstrated a commitment to building and sustaining the conjugal bond as well as coexisting in harmony, highlighting the individuality of each one. These couples materialized their love relationships at a nonpermissive and pathologizing time for homosexuality, using disguises and double lives as a strategy for survival, an attitude still present in the lives of two out of the four couples. This characteristic, in particular, may lead a gay couple to need bigger spaces of fusioning when compared to heterosexual couples, so that they can strengthen themselves in the face of the social discomfort which they go through particularly the ones who have kids from previous heterosexual relationships. In this case, in addition to the divorce itself, there is also the confrontation related to the sexual orientation of the ex-partner. Only one couple of men had legally married due to the fear of losing the assets acquired to the children of one of them; the couple of women with a child had also legitimated their relationship through common-law marriage and testament. Both couples without children hadnt sought any type of legal legitimacy nor were worried about it. The heteronormative heritage they received was adapted to their lifestyles, although there hadnt been a family and social place to be occupied homosexuality and homo-conjugality, while seen, are often not named nor recognized. There were no references to betrayals, although, among two of the couples, the children had been the triggers of already overcome crises. The findings confirm the linkage psychoanalysis theory, which emphasizes the concept of otherness, between one and another, as a basis to comprehend this type of conjugality

The mystery surrounding serial homicide is the apparent lack of motive for the murder. No extrinsic motive such as robbery, financial gain, passion or revenge exists, as there usually is in the case of other murders. Serial homicide is a serious, worldwide problem that has received a large amount of media attention, but only a relatively small amount of scientifically based research exists on this phenomenon. Since the 1970s various models such as the psychosocial theory model, learning theory, the motivational, fantasy, neurological theory, psychiatric, post-modern, feminist and the paranormal/demonological models were used to explain the phenomenon of serial homicide. The researcher, however, states that these models do not satisfactorily address the intrapsychic/object relation development of the serial killers personality. The structure of the research project consists of analysis of the background information of two serial killers which was gathered from one semi-structured personal interview, psychometric testing (Thematic Apperception Test, Test of Object Relations and the Picture Test of Separation and Individuation) as well as from relevant literary sources. The information was interpreted using the selected psychoanalytic theory of Sigmund Freund and the object relation theory of Melanie Klein and the data was then analysed, interpreted and tested against the following research questions: “What is the intrapsychic origin of serial homicide?”; “What is the parent-child relationship like?”; “How does the parent-child relationship influence the object relations of the serial killer?”; “How does the parental relationship influence the serial killer’s interpersonal relationships?”. These questions determine the specific internalised factors that may have contributed to the eventual development of a serial killer’s personality. The research method that is employed is a qualitative, exploratory case study method. A qualitative study was selected due to the fact that there are currently not enough incarcerated serial killers in South Africa and from those incarcerated serial killers only two were willing to participate in the research. The case study method was selected because it deals with contemporary events, multiple data sources may be used and the findings can be generalised to other case studies. Data gathering was done by psychometric testing (TAT, PTSI and TOR), a semi-structured interview and other biographical information on the subjects. The data was analysed by the descriptive-dialogic case study method. The data integration method that was selected is the data integration method of the descriptive-dialogic case study method. The data was discussed in relation to the already developed theories. This implies that parallels were drawn between the processed information and the theories. Similarities and differences between the two case studies were discussed and a general overview of the intrapsychic structure of the serial killer was stated. / Dissertation (MA (Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2006. / Psychology / unrestricted