Personality Test
Introduction
The following essay will compare and contrast two different measures of personality that can be used to assess a child’s personality. A projective and an objective measure will be discussed elaborately. Hence, based on the research done, only one measure will concluded as a better option in assessing a child’s personality.
Personality
The underlying cause within an individual’s behaviour and experiences is defined as personality (Cloninger, 2007). By observing one’s behaviour casually, inferences about his personality cannot be made. An assessment of personality can only be determined from the results generated from a series of special tests that have been designed to identify particular personality characteristics (Martin, Carlson & Buskist, 2010).
Assessing Children’s personality
Studies have shown that most individuals are involved in various personality assessments all throughout their lives. For example, mothers tend to label their children happy, cranky, and active based on the way they react and carry out certain activities (Kamphaus & Frick, 2005). These are typical observations made by parents and hence they are not concrete enough to tell a child’s personality. Every child has a certain physical traits that underlie his or her basic personality. Thus, an assessment of their personality is required to be carried in order to identify their personalities.
There are two types of assessment measures; Children’s Apperception Test (Projective Measure) and Personality Inventory for Children (Objective Measure), which will be elaborated in depth.
Children’s Apperception Test (CAT) Thematic Approach - Projective Measure
The Children’s Apperception Test (CAT) is a projective personality test used to assess the variations in children’s responses to stimuli presented to them. These stimuli come in form of picture cards of animals (CAT-A) or humans (CAT-H) or family situations (CAT-S). This test is being carried out with children aged
The following essay will compare and contrast two different measures of personality that can be used to assess a child’s personality. A projective and an objective measure will be discussed elaborately. Hence, based on the research done, only one measure will concluded as a better option in assessing a child’s personality.
Personality
The underlying cause within an individual’s behaviour and experiences is defined as personality (Cloninger, 2007). By observing one’s behaviour casually, inferences about his personality cannot be made. An assessment of personality can only be determined from the results generated from a series of special tests that have been designed to identify particular personality characteristics (Martin, Carlson & Buskist, 2010).
Assessing Children’s personality
Studies have shown that most individuals are involved in various personality assessments all throughout their lives. For example, mothers tend to label their children happy, cranky, and active based on the way they react and carry out certain activities (Kamphaus & Frick, 2005). These are typical observations made by parents and hence they are not concrete enough to tell a child’s personality. Every child has a certain physical traits that underlie his or her basic personality. Thus, an assessment of their personality is required to be carried in order to identify their personalities.
There are two types of assessment measures; Children’s Apperception Test (Projective Measure) and Personality Inventory for Children (Objective Measure), which will be elaborated in depth.
Children’s Apperception Test (CAT) Thematic Approach - Projective Measure
The Children’s Apperception Test (CAT) is a projective personality test used to assess the variations in children’s responses to stimuli presented to them. These stimuli come in form of picture cards of animals (CAT-A) or humans (CAT-H) or family situations (CAT-S). This test is being carried out with children aged
References: Cloninger, S. C. (2007). Theories of Personality: Understanding persons. (5 ed.). New Jersey: Pearson Prentice Hall. Martin, G. N., Carlson, N. R., & Buskist, W. (2010). Psychology. (4 ed.). England: Pearson Education Limited. Kamphaus, R. W., & Frick, P. J. (2005). Clinical assessment of child and adolescent personality behaviour. (2 ed.). United States of America: Springer. Knoff, H. M. (2003). The Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality. New York: The Guilford Press. Obrzut, J. E., & Boliek, C. A. (2003). Thematic approaches to personality assessment with children and adolescents. The Assessment of Child and Adolescent Personality, 185-186. Ellis, A., Abrams, M., & Abrams, L Slomski, G. (2006). Gale Encyclopedia of Children’s Health. In Retrieved from http://www.answers.com/topic/children-s-apperception-test Lachar, D., Gdowski, C.L & Synder, D.K Lachar,D. & Wirt, R.D. (1981). A data-based analysis of the psychometric performance of the Personality Inventory for Children (PIC): An alternative to the Achenbach review. Journal of Personality Assessment, 45,614-616.