The father thinks of how much he has done for the son and can't
understand
why the son did it.
Adorno-T-Authoritarian-Personality-Harper-Bros-1950
Comparison of Stories Told by Low and High Scorers (Men and Women) to Pictures Depicting Minority Group Members.
We expected Pictures 2, 4, 6, and 9 to elicit further information about the way in which high as compared with low scorers conceptualize the social roles of various
group members. The results tend to substantiate other findings regarding at- titudes of these two groups, but they did not differentiate the high and low scorers as sharply as did the pictures from the Murray series.
W e had expected the low scorers to identify more closely with the charac- ters shown in these pictures and to attribute more constructive behavior to them than would the high scorers. We had thought that the high scorers would view the characters more distantly, reject them more often, and tend to endow them with those traits of behavior for which these subjects had, in their interviews, condemned minority group members. As a matter of fact, since the pictures themselves were so expressive, both high and low scorers often describe the picture (the environmental situation) rather than tell a real story about it. They project less into the story than was the case with
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
525 the stories elicited by the Murray pictures. In many cases there was no real clue as to what extent the subject identified with the person in the picture. There was often no clear-cut expression of acceptance or rejection of the heroes, because the test instructions did not call for expression of atti-
tudes.
The problem of identification was complicated by the explicitness of the
activity in the picture. It was clear in most cases that our subjects did not closely identify with the slum area in Picture 4 or the crime aspect of Picture 6. In response to Picture 6, description of antisocial behavior, more specifically of aggression, can hardly be called projective and is certainly "pulled" by the picture itself. Many low scorers as well as high scorers reject any aggres- sive acts. The difference between rejecting the act and rejecting the person committing the act was not always apparent in the short themes produced by our subjects. Pictures 2 and 9 also, because of their lack of equivocality, limit the amount of projectivity possible. However, the overlapping is more in the area of both low and high scorers' identifying with socially acceptable activity-activity that is clearly "pulled" by the picture.
PICTURE 2. Certain differences, however, are apparent. The most common story told to Picture 2 is one in which both figures are described as "zoot- suiters" or young "jitterbugs. " Often our subjects, both high and low scorers, describe them as belonging to a minority group, usually Mexican or Negro. High scorers, men and women alike, more often than low scorers, reject the characters. They consider these people as immoral and antisocial. The men tend to reject them for their sensuality and for their carefree attitude, some- times describing them as "too sexy" and "too playful" (on Sex: Low scorers r, High scorers w; on Play: Low scorers o, High scorers ro. ) The high- scoring women condemn them for their offensive exhibitionism (on Recogni- tion: Low scorers 2; High scorers 14) and rebelliousness (on Aggression: Low scorers o, High scorers 8; on Autonomy: Low scorers 3, High scorers I 5)?
(on Aggression, Autonomy): Because the parents have not been strict enough with the girl, have not given her a sufficient amount of direction and guidance, the girl has gotten into trouble, has done wrong. The story proceeds with an attempt to put her on the right path, to teach her to do the "right thing. " (2: Low- scoring women o, r; High-scoring women 3, 5? . ! . )
(on Play, Recognition, Excitance, Sex): The story-teller rejects the characters because of the clothes they are wearing (e. g. , "I dont like people who wear that kind of clothes so that they can draw attention to themselves. ") or they condemn them as an inferior kind of individual (e. g. , "They are disrespectful citizens. " "Typ- ical zootsuiters," "criminal type," "typical jitterbugs who hang around the U. S. O. " "They are the kind who won't ever accomplish anything. ") They are accused of being noisy, antisocial, exhibitionistic, lacking seriousness. (2: Low-scoring men 2, 3; High-scoring men 4, 8; Low-scoring women 2, 2; High-scoring women 10? . ! , ro1:]. )
? p6 THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
Low scorers tell stories with similar content, but the men in this group more often identify with sensuality and playfulness and the women more often with the exhibitionistic and rebellious aspect of the picture than do the high scorers (Men-n Sex: Low scorers 18, High scorers 19, not dif- ferentiating; n Excitance: Low scorers r6, High scorers s; n Play: Low scorers 34, High scorers 21. Women-n Autonomy: Low scorers 12, High scorers 2; n Aggression: Low scorers 12, High scorers 2; n Play: Low scorers 40, High scorers 2 2 ; n Recognition: Low scorers 2 5 , High scorers 14).
(n Play, n Sentience, n Sex, n Affiliation): The couple in the picture are out on a date having a good time, and finding real enjoyment in dancing or watching others dance. The subject is identified with the heroes and the needs expressed. ("They love to dance. " "They are happy together. " "They are having fun. " "This is a real pleasure for them. ") This thema often is combined with success of n Recognition. They have won a dance contest, are happy that they were awarded the prize, and are having their pictures taken. (2: Low-scoring men 8, II; High-scoring men 7, 6; Low-scoring women 9~, 7; High-scoring women 6, 4. )
A few high- and low-scoring subjects of both sexes place these characters in a situation in which social pressure demands that they give up their rebel- lious ways and conform. However, instead of condemning the rebellious youngsters, as the high scorers do, low scorers often attribute the behavior to a logical resistance to the demoralization that is likely to result from "racial" prejudice; and they usually conclude by saying, in effect, that in growing up the young people will learn to cope with the situation in more constructive ways.
Apparently the mechanism of projection operates in the T. A. T. situa- tion in a fashion that is similar to what has already been suggested as a factor determining some of the interview responses. It is those more primitive, un- sublimated forms of expression so often found in their fantasies (see stories told in response to Pictures Ms and Fs) that the high scorers project onto members of minority groups. Those desires within themselves which remain unsatisfied tend to be magnified and rejected in others whom they suspect of satisfying the same desires. It also becomes understandable why high scorers, both men and women, should reject the independence and non- conformity of the young people in Picture 2 when we remember that these subjects employ submissiveness as a means for denying underlying hostile feelings. Thus, we often find the high scorers defending their own submissive- ness by condemning as brazen the lack of submission suggested by the de- picted clothing and by what they interpret to be a defiant smile of enjoyment.
PICTURE 4? Stories told in response to Picture 4 by low scorers are, on the whole, more intense than stories told by high scorers. Low scorers tend to deal with realistic problems that face persons living in a slum area, such problems as how to earn a living, how to adapt to or to alter the poverty of the surroundings. Low-scoring women often describe thoughts and feel-
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
527
ings of the hero regarding his own life and his relation to society and social goals.
(n Cognizance, n Nurturance): The hero is a philosopher thinking of mankind, of life's pleasures or inconsistencies. He strives to contribute to social betterment or to counteract social injustice directed at society as a whole or toward a particular social group or toward a friend. (4: Low-scoring women 4, 212; High-scoring women 212, 2. )
(n Cognizance, n Abasement-intrapunitive type): The hero is ashamed of his past actions and his past egocentrism. He envies the life of the poorer people who allow themselves to enjoy more sensual and passive activity. He decides that he, too, would like to enjoy such a life. (4: Low-scoring women 4, 5; High-scoring women :Y2, o. )
The high scorers more often label the central character as a "typical East- sider" or as a "greedy Jewish businessman. " They also tend to reject the lack of order and cleanliness in the presented environment.
(on Aggression, on Acquisition): The hero is rejected as a "typical Eastsider," a "greedy Jewish businessman," "a queer duck," or as a criminal, or a beggar. He is up to no good. The rejected hero is about to commit a crime or has just committed a crime. He is disguised or hiding out. (4: Low-scoring men 212, 212; High-scoring men 4, 3~. ) (4: Low-scoring women 4, 2:l,f! ; High-scoring women 8, 5. )
High-scoring women again exhibit a tendency to project failure, afflic- tion, and death upon a father figure.
(p Failure, p Loss, p Death and/or p Affliction ~ n Succorance): The hero has spent his whole life seeking success. He is now very sad, feels defeated (because he has lost all his money, friends, status, or because he never had any money, status, friends, or because he is old and sick. ) (4: Low-scoring women o, o; High-scoring women 2, 3. )
(p Physical Danger, p Aggression): The hero is a victim of an aggressive or rejective press, enforced on him by the human or physical environment. (4: Low- scoring women o, o; High-scoring women 3, 312. ) ,
These differences in the story content reflect the ethnic prejudice of the high scorer and the contrasting concern of the low scorer over the welfare of society and the individual's role in that society. That no further dif- ferentiation between the two groups was found in the present instance might well have been due to the comparative lack of ambiguity in the structure of the picture.
PICTURE 6. Picture 6 is commonly interpreted as a suspect caught by the police. High scorers often reject the suspect and identify more closely with the police authority. The high-scoring men, especially, describe the man in custody as a dangerous criminal, a Negro or Mexican with an innately weak character. (Men-on Aggression: Low scorers q, High scorers 34; on Autonomy: Low scorers 7, High scorers r6. ) He may have been involved in a strike or race riot for which he is condemned by the story-teller. Subjects
? szB
telling stories in which the suspect is depicted in this manner usually identify with the dominant authoritarian figures who bring the situation under con- trol and protect an imagined white victim.
(on Autonomy, on Aggression~n Dominance): The hero is rejected. He has committed a serious crime and the police have caught him. There is often some identification with the police. The suspect is described as a weak character, a Mexican or Negro, a dangerous person, or a person under the influence of alcohol; he is finally punished for his actions. (6: Low-scoring men 7, 7; High-scoring men 13, 13. )
Low scorers, in contrast, tend to identify more with the captured prisoner. They are more likely to attribute the cause of the act committed to a justified protest against social rejection or exploitation; i. e. , the man has either been striking for higher wages or fighting race prejudice. The attitude of the hero is usually a combination of fear and defiant rebellion.
(p Dominance~ n Autonomy, n Achievement, n Exposition): The story-teller identifies with a hero who has been involved in a strike or race riot or some petty crime. The police have caught him and have him under their control. The expres- sion of Autonomy and Aggression by the hero is a counteractive measure, fighting against an explicitly defined or implied social dominance or rejection (i. e. , employer exploitation, or race prejudice). (6: Low-scoring women 7, 9; High-scoring women o, 3? )
(p Dominance, Aggression~ n Harmavoidance, n Abasement or n Autonomy): The hero has been involved in a strike or race riot or some petty crime. The police have caught him and are unduly hard on him. He is afraid but tries to resist. How- ever, he gives up his resistance when he finds that it would be of no value. (6: Low- scoring men 8, 7; High-scoring men 4, 4. )
Here again the most important differences between stories of high and those of low scorers reflect their attitudes toward minority groups. The projection of instinctual desires upon a rejected individual, one of the common defenses of the high-scoring individuals, is apparent in the T. A. T. as in their more direct verbalizations of prejudices.
PICTURE 9? The portrayed characters in Picture 9 are seldom openly rejected. The high scorers find it difficult to reject them because they appear as "clean," or "neat," and seem to be acting in a socially acceptable way. High scorers often state explicitly, or imply by the uniqueness they give to the story content, that these Negroes are different from most Negroes.
Both high- and low-scoring subjects customarily begin their stories by describing the characters as "grandmother" and "grandson. " Both groups often say that the two people are having their picture taken. Although sub- jects from both groups attribute scholastic accomplishments to the boy, for the high scorers the accomplishments mean achieving a status that is only slightly above the slave position that they attribute to the other members of the family. The low scorers, who apparently identify more closely with the
THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
529
Negro boy, project their own desires for success. They do not, as do the high scorers, limit the success to a minimum amount, implying inferior capacity on the part of the Negro.
Some of the low-scoring women emphasize the positive relationship be- tween the grandmother and grandson.
(p Succorance~n Nurturance): The grandmother and grandson are fond of each other and are proud to be together. She is helping the boy to solve a problem or reach a decision. She is encouraging the boy to go on to further learning and achievement. She is teaching the boy or is explaining something to him. (9: Low- scoring women z, s; High-scoring women o, %. )
Some of the subjects, high and low scorers of both sexes, interpret Picture 9 as two people watching something. For the low scorers it is more com- monly an enjoyable artistic performance. (Men-n Sentience: Low scorers 37, High scorers I6. Women-n Sentience: Low scorers 33, High scorers I1. ) The high scorers emphasize unpleasant scenes involving death and affliction (Men-p Affliction: Low scorers 4, High scorers 10; p Death-object: Low scorers 3, High scorers 8; p Aggression: Low scorers I I, High scorers I6. W omen-p Affliction: Low scorers 7, High scorers q ; p Death-object: Low scorers 7, High scorers I4; p Aggression: Low scorers II, High scorers I6).
(p Physical Danger, p Dominance~ n Abasement-Submission): An unpleasant scene presents itself; or an authoritarian figure representing police, a parent, or another socially dominant figure is demanding that the hero conform to his will. (9: Low-scoring men 4, z%; High-scoring men 6, 3%. )
Here again, low scorers express greater involvement in interpersonal re- lationships and more sensitivity to pleasurable stimuli in the environment than do high scorers; whereas the high scorers tend to be more concerned with environmental threats.
C. THE T. A. T. s OF MACK AND LARRY
An examination of the T. A. T. stories produced by Mack and Larry will illustrate in detail the present approach to the scoring and interpretation of this material; it will show how, in concrete cases, some of the differences be- tween high- and low-scoring men are manifest, and it will at the same time add something to the developing pictures of these two men.
These two cases were not chosen as those best suited for demonstrating the contribution of the T. A. T. to an understanding of "high" and "low" per- sonality structures. The stories of Mack and Larry are used, rather, as a part of our plan for following these two men through all of our procedures; this means that from the point of view of one concerned solely with the T. A. T. , the selection of illustrative cases is entirely random. This is probably
? 530
THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
a good thing, for it will be clear that we are not dealing here with dramatic instances of the T. A. T. at its best, but with virtues and faults and difficul- ties which appe4r in its ordinary application. .
In the previous discussion we have spoken only of trends in the stories of low and high scorers; it is not to be expected that all of these trends will appear in the record of any one individual. In examining the stories of Mack and Larry we shall be concerned with the particular combinations of trends that appear to be consistent with the responses of these two subjects on the Ethnocentrism scale, and we shall point out those trends which appear to be inconsistent with the E-scale scores. This analysis will be carried out against the background afforded by the preceding pages of this chapter.
Presented below are the verbatim records of the stories produced by Mack and by Larry in response to our regular set of ten pictures. The two sets of stories were obtained by the same (male) examiner. The figure in parenthesis immediately following the number of the picture indicates the elapsed time, in seconds, between the presentation of the picture and the subject's begin- ning of his story. The examiner's questions are given in parenthesis within the body of the story. The notation (Q-o) refers to a question about the outcome of the story, e. g. , "How does it turn out," (Q-m) to a request for elaboration or explanation of what the subject said immediately before, and (p) indicates a pause on the part of the subject.
After each story the ratings (on the I -5 scale) of the needs and press in the story are given. Tabulation of these ratings appear at the end of each set of stories.
The analyses of the stories, which follow the presentation of the tabulated ratings, were "blind" in the sense that the analyst was not familiar with any of the other material on these two subjects. All that was known was that Mack scored high, and Larry low, on the E scale. If these analyses accord well with what is already known about these subjects, and, more particularly, with the clinical material to be given later, they will constitute evidence in favor of the validity of the T. A. T.
1. LARRY'S STORIES
M 1 ( 5) It looks like a father and son. The son is a criminal and the father is ashamed of him. He has a look of sympathy and not hatred. He is probably in prison and is facing the electric chair.
The father thinks of how much he has done for the son and can't understand why the son did it. The son is in the death cell and the father is seeing him for the last time. They had been talking but have now reached the stage where all they can do is to just think. The guard comes along and leads the son away.
n Aggression 3 n Nurturance 2 n Abasement 4 n Blamavoidance :z n Deference
p Nurturance 2
p Dominance
p Aggression 2 p Exposition 2 p Claustrum 2
3
? M5
THE THEMA TIC
n Cognizance
APPERCEPTION TEST
p Death of Object z
531
2 n Exposition 2
n Succorance on Rejection
3
2 (8) This is a picture of zootsuiters. They seem to be in a prison line-up; they were involved in a crime. They are either confident or trying not to show fear. The latter is probably more true. A gang is standing around them. This gang got together and went to stealing and they are now being taken up for investigation. They are pretty sure of being released to go home because it will be hard for the police to get anything on them. (Are they guilty? ) Yes, they are but they have been able to cover up. They continue with their petty crimes.
n Autonomy 2 n Affiliation 2 n Aggression 3 n Acquisition 2 n Blamescape 3
on Succorance
p Aggression 2 p Dominance 3 p Affiliation 2
3 (10) This is a father and mother grieving over the loss of a son in the war. They have just received word of his death. He was their only son. They are just thinking and saying nothing. The mother thinks of the son, and the father thinks of the mother to comfort her. He thinks of their life together and how it will be changed now. They had been very happy about the accomplishments of their son. They can't bear to think of the tragic end. Neither are crying, so they will con- tinue to make the best of it and will keep a stiff upper lip.
n Succorance 4 _ n Cognizance 2 n Passivity 3
p Succorance 2 p Death of object 4 p Affiliation 2
n Nurturance
3 n Affiliation 2
on Achievement 2
4 (12) This woman is a peddler. The man is a rich banker who is walking through the slums of New York. He is on his way home. He doesn't want to be snobbish and not touch the people. He feels out of his neighborhood. The woman is right at home here. Each goes his own way in sort of contrast of two lives-the rich and the poor. He walks this way on his way home from work each day, and does his best not to be too personal with any of them. He just wants to know what's going on for business reasons.
3 p Uncongenial Environment 3 3 p Lack 3 p Gratuity 3
n Acquisition n Seclusion
n Rejection
n Cognizance
(6) This is a young fellow who drinks a lot. His clothes are all messed up. In a dingy hotel room, he feels he has lost all of his friends. He thinks all of the troubles of the world are on his shoulders. He contemplates suicide. The trouble is with a woman he had an affair with. He doesn't know whether to injure her or destroy himself. (Q-m) To kill her or commit suicide. She isn't much good herself,
3 p Task 2 on Rejection 2
? n Abasement 4 n Succorance 3 n Aggression 4 n Sex 4 n Affiliation
n Counteraction 2 n Nurturance
n Understanding
n Rejection 2
p Uncongenital Environment 3 p Sex 2 p Rejection 4 p Death of Object 2
THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
532
and he isn't too much better. He is in a mixed up mental state. He is pausing there to make some decision. (p) (Q-o) He will try to get revenge on the woman. (Re- venge for what? ) He has been going with her and giving her money and thinks of marrying her. She fools him and is unfaithful, going around with other men. He kills her.
6 (zo) This is a man caught in an alley by the police, just before commmmg some crime. The police were called and he is surprised. He tries to get away but the police have the upper hand. He is frightened for fear they will use their sticks. He is probably a man with a family-a good wife and two or three children. He is a no good, just working once in a while. He steals when he can and keeps it from his wife. (Q-m) She is a good woman and doesn't know he is that type of person. Since he has been caught, he knows she will find it all out. For this reason, he would like to get away from the police, but is afraid if he tries he will get shot. He just backs against the wall and lets himself get caught.
on Aggression 3 on Autonomy 2 on Acquisition 3 on Succorance 2 on Harmavoidance
on Blamescape on Abasement
op Dominance 3
op Aggression
op Affiliation 2
op Cognizance
n Exposition 2 n Achievement 2
n Nurturance
n Succorance
n Passivity 2 n Counteraction 2 n Aggression 2 n Cognizance 2
p Task
4
3 3
4 3 3
M7 (8) This young fellow is going away to the army and his mother is very sad about it. She has been expecting this and they have talked it all over. Now that the moment is here, neither knows just what to say. In silence she thinks of his youth- his birth and what he used to do as a little boy. She thinks of his late teens and the honors he got in high school. He thinks less of the past than of the future-and what it will be like in the army. He determines to make the best of it, and try to get the war over with as soon as possible so he can come back. Both stand there for a few minutes, and when he leaves he kisses her and walks away without saying anything.
8 ( 15) This is a man lying on his death bed. The other man is an enemy of his. He has been the cause of his death and is glad he has gone because he hates him in- wardly. He gave the impression that he was his friend. He has his hand in the air,
3 3
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
533
not to touch him but as a relief of emotion-just clenching his fist over him. These were both respectable men. (How do you mean? ) They were businessmen, not gangsters. They were competitors in business and were both from the same social group. The dying man has felt no tension between them; its all in the other fellow. The dying man's wife had this fellow come in to sit with him for a few minutes. Now that his competitor has gone, he will have more confidence in himself and more esteem in the community.
n Aggression 3 n Rejection 4 n Achievement 3 n Acquisition
n Recognition
p Affiliation 2 p Death of Object 4 p Deference 3
3 3
9 (7) This is a mother and son at home; I say that because of the pictures on the wall. Both are sad. Something has happened in the family. It's a large family of ten or twelve children. (p) One of the brothers has just gotten in trouble; he stole something. This is a respectable, religious family. The mother makes them go to church. The boy is in jail and they have heard the news. The whole family is sitting around the living room, but in this picture we can see only the two. Both seem to have the same thoughts-the reputation of the family. The boy who committed the crime can't understand why he did it. Though not rich, they had a fairly nice home and enough food; there was just no reason why the boy should do a thing like that. Since he is one of the family they will of course try to help him. They try to pun- ish him in some way, probably by being cool to him, not speaking. (How old is he? ) He is about 25 and unmarried.
n Succorance 3
n Blamavoidance 4 on Aggression 3 on Autonomy 3 on Acquisition
3 3
3 3
p Claustrum 2 p Dominance 3 p Aggression 2 p Gratuity 2
n Abasement
n Affiliation 2
n Nurturance n Rejection
10 ( 12) This reminds me of a Biblical story. It is about Christ on the cross. This is a cloudy sky on a dull, stormy day. This woman is of the modern age; the picture in the background comes to her mind. She has had lots of troubles and doesn't know how to solve them. (p) (What kind? ) It may have been the death of her husband. Sh~ is a very religious woman, and he has meant a lot to her. They always solved therr problems together. All she knows now is to turn to Christ and the Bible to try to figure out a solution to her problems. She has been very religious from the time she was small. Now that the vision has come to her, she is more satisfied-she has found peace of mind and is now able to continue her life. She will be sad but will have the feeling that the Lord will care for her husband and will give her comfort.
n Abasement 3 n Succorance 3 n Affiliation 2 n Deference 4 n Passivity 2 n Counteraction 2
p Bad Luck 2 p Death of Object 3 p Affiliation 3 p Gratuity 3 p Nurturance 3
? 534
THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
2. MACK'S STORIES
M 1 ( 6o) This would indicate to me a man in distress and a comforting friend. Some accident may have happened, or a death in one of the younger man's family. (p) There is a certain dullness to the man's expression, probably from the great shock. (p) {Are the two men related? ) It's possible, but I can't say; I think they may be just friends. I doubt if it's his father. The efforts of the older man to help the other fellow see the brighter side and get him on a steady course again will be successful. The young fellow is a deeply brooding type and maybe won't be too successful, or at best only temporarily. The young fellow indicates the type of person who might do violence if pushed too far. (Q-m) I think he could easily murder somebody on being oppressed. I think he will never completely get over the shock of the death and it affects him in such a way that it makes him hard to get
along with from then on.
n Succorance 3 n Affiliation 3 n Counteraction 2 n Understanding
n Abasement
n Aggression 3
p Nurturance 3 p Death of Object 3 p Physical Danger r p Affiliation 3 p Dominance 3
2 ( 2 0 ) This is a young fellow and his girl. They are all dolled up for the occa- sion. They are just starting out for the night. The style of his clothing is foreign to me; I never saw that sort of thing before. The girl looks to be about 17 and the man about 2 r-considerably older. After a show, they go some place and eat. Then he gets the girl home about ten or eleven o'clock. From the age of the girl they would get in at a reasonable hour. (Are they related? ) No, I don't think they are; they are not the same type. I don't think they are husband and wife; they just go together. The girl has a nice, pleasant personality. He is not so deep, and he has a less full character than the girl. (p) The partial view of the other fellow gives me an idea of another story. This involves the same original setup except that they had their pictures taken at a party. This man stepped up and made a smart remark to make them smile for the picture. That fellows dress doesn't correspond to the girl's.
He looks like he was from another period. It might be the early '3o's. Maybe the suit was designed for a gag. (Q-o) They have other dates but they gradually drifted apart.
n Recognition 3 n Nutriance 2 n Affiliation
n Excitance
n Play 2
p Exposition
p Affiliation
p Superiority 2 p Cognizance
3 (10) My first impression is from what I read in newspapers, you know, about the war. He is saying goodbye to his mother. He is of military age-about 2 3? His mother is about in her early so's. He is advising her not to worry. He says he will write and asks her to keep him informed of the folks and his friends. He tries to lead her to believe he will see her again soon-like most men would. He seems to be a strong individual. He is clean-cut. Of course, we always like to hope they will all come back, but I can't help but guess that he will not come back. He was killed in the war. They are very close and yet are not the kind to show a lot of observable affection and make a lot of one another. They used to kid one another, and make fun of one another and yet if one got in trouble they all came to his rescue. That's the kind of family they were.
3
? n Nurturance n Dominance n Affiliation n Succorance n Deference
3
2
3
2 2
3 p Succorance 2
n Acquisition n Construction n Nurturance
3 p Uncongenial Environment 2 p Affliction 2 2 p Lack 2
THE THEMA TIC
APPERCEPTION TEST p Task
535
4 (;o) It looks something like a street off the main track in New York City. It's a run-down section of the city. These pictures are cleverly done-they don't tell you anything. (What preceded this picture? ) Well, its perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday and this businessman is on his way home. I don't think he is very well, all bundled up like that. I think he must be a tailor. He isn't too well off, but is better off than most of his neighbors. He is a family man. As for the woman, it's difficult to give a motive for her. She has something to sell, is poor, and can just keep her family in food and clothes. (Q-o) There is no relationship between these people. It is just the end of the day and each is going home. Each represents a class-the well off and the poor. This is just a typical scene.
M5' (7o) Oh, oh! This is apt to be rather sordid. It doesn't represent a family scene to me! It may be a prostitute, and I see the old bottle there. This may be a young American down in the tropics; he is dressed in white because of the tempera- ture. As for the woman, it's difficult to say because of the shadows, but she appears of darker skin. The place has crude furnishings. (p) (What preceded? ) The natural assumption is that they had sexual intercourse. The fellow is about half drunk and is about to consume more. The fellow looks kind of "hang-dog"; perhaps he regrets his recent act or perhaps his station in life. He is down and out and liquor isn't much of a boon to him. He has sufficient depth of character to take himself out of a place like that and to genuinely regret what he did to the woman. She doesn't enter into the story, except to be the object of his lust. He is a better type than she. He can take care of himself. He finally drags himself out of such surroundings and gradually amounts to something. Do I take too long? I get quite involved in these stories.
n n n n n n
Excitance
Abasement
Blamavoidance 2 Sex
Blamescape
Counteraction
p Death of Hero 3
p Affiliation p Nurturance
3 3
p Sex 3 3 p Uncongenial Environment 1
3 3
6 (45') This is a public disturbance, perhaps a strike or a race disturbance. He has some Negroid features. He started a riot and has now been separated from the group he organized. The police have frightened him and he expects the worst. He is lodged in the local jail for a time and is scared out of such activities again. Maybe he was the fall guy for the group. Without the crowd influence he was pretty docile.
group members. The results tend to substantiate other findings regarding at- titudes of these two groups, but they did not differentiate the high and low scorers as sharply as did the pictures from the Murray series.
W e had expected the low scorers to identify more closely with the charac- ters shown in these pictures and to attribute more constructive behavior to them than would the high scorers. We had thought that the high scorers would view the characters more distantly, reject them more often, and tend to endow them with those traits of behavior for which these subjects had, in their interviews, condemned minority group members. As a matter of fact, since the pictures themselves were so expressive, both high and low scorers often describe the picture (the environmental situation) rather than tell a real story about it. They project less into the story than was the case with
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
525 the stories elicited by the Murray pictures. In many cases there was no real clue as to what extent the subject identified with the person in the picture. There was often no clear-cut expression of acceptance or rejection of the heroes, because the test instructions did not call for expression of atti-
tudes.
The problem of identification was complicated by the explicitness of the
activity in the picture. It was clear in most cases that our subjects did not closely identify with the slum area in Picture 4 or the crime aspect of Picture 6. In response to Picture 6, description of antisocial behavior, more specifically of aggression, can hardly be called projective and is certainly "pulled" by the picture itself. Many low scorers as well as high scorers reject any aggres- sive acts. The difference between rejecting the act and rejecting the person committing the act was not always apparent in the short themes produced by our subjects. Pictures 2 and 9 also, because of their lack of equivocality, limit the amount of projectivity possible. However, the overlapping is more in the area of both low and high scorers' identifying with socially acceptable activity-activity that is clearly "pulled" by the picture.
PICTURE 2. Certain differences, however, are apparent. The most common story told to Picture 2 is one in which both figures are described as "zoot- suiters" or young "jitterbugs. " Often our subjects, both high and low scorers, describe them as belonging to a minority group, usually Mexican or Negro. High scorers, men and women alike, more often than low scorers, reject the characters. They consider these people as immoral and antisocial. The men tend to reject them for their sensuality and for their carefree attitude, some- times describing them as "too sexy" and "too playful" (on Sex: Low scorers r, High scorers w; on Play: Low scorers o, High scorers ro. ) The high- scoring women condemn them for their offensive exhibitionism (on Recogni- tion: Low scorers 2; High scorers 14) and rebelliousness (on Aggression: Low scorers o, High scorers 8; on Autonomy: Low scorers 3, High scorers I 5)?
(on Aggression, Autonomy): Because the parents have not been strict enough with the girl, have not given her a sufficient amount of direction and guidance, the girl has gotten into trouble, has done wrong. The story proceeds with an attempt to put her on the right path, to teach her to do the "right thing. " (2: Low- scoring women o, r; High-scoring women 3, 5? . ! . )
(on Play, Recognition, Excitance, Sex): The story-teller rejects the characters because of the clothes they are wearing (e. g. , "I dont like people who wear that kind of clothes so that they can draw attention to themselves. ") or they condemn them as an inferior kind of individual (e. g. , "They are disrespectful citizens. " "Typ- ical zootsuiters," "criminal type," "typical jitterbugs who hang around the U. S. O. " "They are the kind who won't ever accomplish anything. ") They are accused of being noisy, antisocial, exhibitionistic, lacking seriousness. (2: Low-scoring men 2, 3; High-scoring men 4, 8; Low-scoring women 2, 2; High-scoring women 10? . ! , ro1:]. )
? p6 THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
Low scorers tell stories with similar content, but the men in this group more often identify with sensuality and playfulness and the women more often with the exhibitionistic and rebellious aspect of the picture than do the high scorers (Men-n Sex: Low scorers 18, High scorers 19, not dif- ferentiating; n Excitance: Low scorers r6, High scorers s; n Play: Low scorers 34, High scorers 21. Women-n Autonomy: Low scorers 12, High scorers 2; n Aggression: Low scorers 12, High scorers 2; n Play: Low scorers 40, High scorers 2 2 ; n Recognition: Low scorers 2 5 , High scorers 14).
(n Play, n Sentience, n Sex, n Affiliation): The couple in the picture are out on a date having a good time, and finding real enjoyment in dancing or watching others dance. The subject is identified with the heroes and the needs expressed. ("They love to dance. " "They are happy together. " "They are having fun. " "This is a real pleasure for them. ") This thema often is combined with success of n Recognition. They have won a dance contest, are happy that they were awarded the prize, and are having their pictures taken. (2: Low-scoring men 8, II; High-scoring men 7, 6; Low-scoring women 9~, 7; High-scoring women 6, 4. )
A few high- and low-scoring subjects of both sexes place these characters in a situation in which social pressure demands that they give up their rebel- lious ways and conform. However, instead of condemning the rebellious youngsters, as the high scorers do, low scorers often attribute the behavior to a logical resistance to the demoralization that is likely to result from "racial" prejudice; and they usually conclude by saying, in effect, that in growing up the young people will learn to cope with the situation in more constructive ways.
Apparently the mechanism of projection operates in the T. A. T. situa- tion in a fashion that is similar to what has already been suggested as a factor determining some of the interview responses. It is those more primitive, un- sublimated forms of expression so often found in their fantasies (see stories told in response to Pictures Ms and Fs) that the high scorers project onto members of minority groups. Those desires within themselves which remain unsatisfied tend to be magnified and rejected in others whom they suspect of satisfying the same desires. It also becomes understandable why high scorers, both men and women, should reject the independence and non- conformity of the young people in Picture 2 when we remember that these subjects employ submissiveness as a means for denying underlying hostile feelings. Thus, we often find the high scorers defending their own submissive- ness by condemning as brazen the lack of submission suggested by the de- picted clothing and by what they interpret to be a defiant smile of enjoyment.
PICTURE 4? Stories told in response to Picture 4 by low scorers are, on the whole, more intense than stories told by high scorers. Low scorers tend to deal with realistic problems that face persons living in a slum area, such problems as how to earn a living, how to adapt to or to alter the poverty of the surroundings. Low-scoring women often describe thoughts and feel-
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
527
ings of the hero regarding his own life and his relation to society and social goals.
(n Cognizance, n Nurturance): The hero is a philosopher thinking of mankind, of life's pleasures or inconsistencies. He strives to contribute to social betterment or to counteract social injustice directed at society as a whole or toward a particular social group or toward a friend. (4: Low-scoring women 4, 212; High-scoring women 212, 2. )
(n Cognizance, n Abasement-intrapunitive type): The hero is ashamed of his past actions and his past egocentrism. He envies the life of the poorer people who allow themselves to enjoy more sensual and passive activity. He decides that he, too, would like to enjoy such a life. (4: Low-scoring women 4, 5; High-scoring women :Y2, o. )
The high scorers more often label the central character as a "typical East- sider" or as a "greedy Jewish businessman. " They also tend to reject the lack of order and cleanliness in the presented environment.
(on Aggression, on Acquisition): The hero is rejected as a "typical Eastsider," a "greedy Jewish businessman," "a queer duck," or as a criminal, or a beggar. He is up to no good. The rejected hero is about to commit a crime or has just committed a crime. He is disguised or hiding out. (4: Low-scoring men 212, 212; High-scoring men 4, 3~. ) (4: Low-scoring women 4, 2:l,f! ; High-scoring women 8, 5. )
High-scoring women again exhibit a tendency to project failure, afflic- tion, and death upon a father figure.
(p Failure, p Loss, p Death and/or p Affliction ~ n Succorance): The hero has spent his whole life seeking success. He is now very sad, feels defeated (because he has lost all his money, friends, status, or because he never had any money, status, friends, or because he is old and sick. ) (4: Low-scoring women o, o; High-scoring women 2, 3. )
(p Physical Danger, p Aggression): The hero is a victim of an aggressive or rejective press, enforced on him by the human or physical environment. (4: Low- scoring women o, o; High-scoring women 3, 312. ) ,
These differences in the story content reflect the ethnic prejudice of the high scorer and the contrasting concern of the low scorer over the welfare of society and the individual's role in that society. That no further dif- ferentiation between the two groups was found in the present instance might well have been due to the comparative lack of ambiguity in the structure of the picture.
PICTURE 6. Picture 6 is commonly interpreted as a suspect caught by the police. High scorers often reject the suspect and identify more closely with the police authority. The high-scoring men, especially, describe the man in custody as a dangerous criminal, a Negro or Mexican with an innately weak character. (Men-on Aggression: Low scorers q, High scorers 34; on Autonomy: Low scorers 7, High scorers r6. ) He may have been involved in a strike or race riot for which he is condemned by the story-teller. Subjects
? szB
telling stories in which the suspect is depicted in this manner usually identify with the dominant authoritarian figures who bring the situation under con- trol and protect an imagined white victim.
(on Autonomy, on Aggression~n Dominance): The hero is rejected. He has committed a serious crime and the police have caught him. There is often some identification with the police. The suspect is described as a weak character, a Mexican or Negro, a dangerous person, or a person under the influence of alcohol; he is finally punished for his actions. (6: Low-scoring men 7, 7; High-scoring men 13, 13. )
Low scorers, in contrast, tend to identify more with the captured prisoner. They are more likely to attribute the cause of the act committed to a justified protest against social rejection or exploitation; i. e. , the man has either been striking for higher wages or fighting race prejudice. The attitude of the hero is usually a combination of fear and defiant rebellion.
(p Dominance~ n Autonomy, n Achievement, n Exposition): The story-teller identifies with a hero who has been involved in a strike or race riot or some petty crime. The police have caught him and have him under their control. The expres- sion of Autonomy and Aggression by the hero is a counteractive measure, fighting against an explicitly defined or implied social dominance or rejection (i. e. , employer exploitation, or race prejudice). (6: Low-scoring women 7, 9; High-scoring women o, 3? )
(p Dominance, Aggression~ n Harmavoidance, n Abasement or n Autonomy): The hero has been involved in a strike or race riot or some petty crime. The police have caught him and are unduly hard on him. He is afraid but tries to resist. How- ever, he gives up his resistance when he finds that it would be of no value. (6: Low- scoring men 8, 7; High-scoring men 4, 4. )
Here again the most important differences between stories of high and those of low scorers reflect their attitudes toward minority groups. The projection of instinctual desires upon a rejected individual, one of the common defenses of the high-scoring individuals, is apparent in the T. A. T. as in their more direct verbalizations of prejudices.
PICTURE 9? The portrayed characters in Picture 9 are seldom openly rejected. The high scorers find it difficult to reject them because they appear as "clean," or "neat," and seem to be acting in a socially acceptable way. High scorers often state explicitly, or imply by the uniqueness they give to the story content, that these Negroes are different from most Negroes.
Both high- and low-scoring subjects customarily begin their stories by describing the characters as "grandmother" and "grandson. " Both groups often say that the two people are having their picture taken. Although sub- jects from both groups attribute scholastic accomplishments to the boy, for the high scorers the accomplishments mean achieving a status that is only slightly above the slave position that they attribute to the other members of the family. The low scorers, who apparently identify more closely with the
THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
529
Negro boy, project their own desires for success. They do not, as do the high scorers, limit the success to a minimum amount, implying inferior capacity on the part of the Negro.
Some of the low-scoring women emphasize the positive relationship be- tween the grandmother and grandson.
(p Succorance~n Nurturance): The grandmother and grandson are fond of each other and are proud to be together. She is helping the boy to solve a problem or reach a decision. She is encouraging the boy to go on to further learning and achievement. She is teaching the boy or is explaining something to him. (9: Low- scoring women z, s; High-scoring women o, %. )
Some of the subjects, high and low scorers of both sexes, interpret Picture 9 as two people watching something. For the low scorers it is more com- monly an enjoyable artistic performance. (Men-n Sentience: Low scorers 37, High scorers I6. Women-n Sentience: Low scorers 33, High scorers I1. ) The high scorers emphasize unpleasant scenes involving death and affliction (Men-p Affliction: Low scorers 4, High scorers 10; p Death-object: Low scorers 3, High scorers 8; p Aggression: Low scorers I I, High scorers I6. W omen-p Affliction: Low scorers 7, High scorers q ; p Death-object: Low scorers 7, High scorers I4; p Aggression: Low scorers II, High scorers I6).
(p Physical Danger, p Dominance~ n Abasement-Submission): An unpleasant scene presents itself; or an authoritarian figure representing police, a parent, or another socially dominant figure is demanding that the hero conform to his will. (9: Low-scoring men 4, z%; High-scoring men 6, 3%. )
Here again, low scorers express greater involvement in interpersonal re- lationships and more sensitivity to pleasurable stimuli in the environment than do high scorers; whereas the high scorers tend to be more concerned with environmental threats.
C. THE T. A. T. s OF MACK AND LARRY
An examination of the T. A. T. stories produced by Mack and Larry will illustrate in detail the present approach to the scoring and interpretation of this material; it will show how, in concrete cases, some of the differences be- tween high- and low-scoring men are manifest, and it will at the same time add something to the developing pictures of these two men.
These two cases were not chosen as those best suited for demonstrating the contribution of the T. A. T. to an understanding of "high" and "low" per- sonality structures. The stories of Mack and Larry are used, rather, as a part of our plan for following these two men through all of our procedures; this means that from the point of view of one concerned solely with the T. A. T. , the selection of illustrative cases is entirely random. This is probably
? 530
THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
a good thing, for it will be clear that we are not dealing here with dramatic instances of the T. A. T. at its best, but with virtues and faults and difficul- ties which appe4r in its ordinary application. .
In the previous discussion we have spoken only of trends in the stories of low and high scorers; it is not to be expected that all of these trends will appear in the record of any one individual. In examining the stories of Mack and Larry we shall be concerned with the particular combinations of trends that appear to be consistent with the responses of these two subjects on the Ethnocentrism scale, and we shall point out those trends which appear to be inconsistent with the E-scale scores. This analysis will be carried out against the background afforded by the preceding pages of this chapter.
Presented below are the verbatim records of the stories produced by Mack and by Larry in response to our regular set of ten pictures. The two sets of stories were obtained by the same (male) examiner. The figure in parenthesis immediately following the number of the picture indicates the elapsed time, in seconds, between the presentation of the picture and the subject's begin- ning of his story. The examiner's questions are given in parenthesis within the body of the story. The notation (Q-o) refers to a question about the outcome of the story, e. g. , "How does it turn out," (Q-m) to a request for elaboration or explanation of what the subject said immediately before, and (p) indicates a pause on the part of the subject.
After each story the ratings (on the I -5 scale) of the needs and press in the story are given. Tabulation of these ratings appear at the end of each set of stories.
The analyses of the stories, which follow the presentation of the tabulated ratings, were "blind" in the sense that the analyst was not familiar with any of the other material on these two subjects. All that was known was that Mack scored high, and Larry low, on the E scale. If these analyses accord well with what is already known about these subjects, and, more particularly, with the clinical material to be given later, they will constitute evidence in favor of the validity of the T. A. T.
1. LARRY'S STORIES
M 1 ( 5) It looks like a father and son. The son is a criminal and the father is ashamed of him. He has a look of sympathy and not hatred. He is probably in prison and is facing the electric chair.
The father thinks of how much he has done for the son and can't understand why the son did it. The son is in the death cell and the father is seeing him for the last time. They had been talking but have now reached the stage where all they can do is to just think. The guard comes along and leads the son away.
n Aggression 3 n Nurturance 2 n Abasement 4 n Blamavoidance :z n Deference
p Nurturance 2
p Dominance
p Aggression 2 p Exposition 2 p Claustrum 2
3
? M5
THE THEMA TIC
n Cognizance
APPERCEPTION TEST
p Death of Object z
531
2 n Exposition 2
n Succorance on Rejection
3
2 (8) This is a picture of zootsuiters. They seem to be in a prison line-up; they were involved in a crime. They are either confident or trying not to show fear. The latter is probably more true. A gang is standing around them. This gang got together and went to stealing and they are now being taken up for investigation. They are pretty sure of being released to go home because it will be hard for the police to get anything on them. (Are they guilty? ) Yes, they are but they have been able to cover up. They continue with their petty crimes.
n Autonomy 2 n Affiliation 2 n Aggression 3 n Acquisition 2 n Blamescape 3
on Succorance
p Aggression 2 p Dominance 3 p Affiliation 2
3 (10) This is a father and mother grieving over the loss of a son in the war. They have just received word of his death. He was their only son. They are just thinking and saying nothing. The mother thinks of the son, and the father thinks of the mother to comfort her. He thinks of their life together and how it will be changed now. They had been very happy about the accomplishments of their son. They can't bear to think of the tragic end. Neither are crying, so they will con- tinue to make the best of it and will keep a stiff upper lip.
n Succorance 4 _ n Cognizance 2 n Passivity 3
p Succorance 2 p Death of object 4 p Affiliation 2
n Nurturance
3 n Affiliation 2
on Achievement 2
4 (12) This woman is a peddler. The man is a rich banker who is walking through the slums of New York. He is on his way home. He doesn't want to be snobbish and not touch the people. He feels out of his neighborhood. The woman is right at home here. Each goes his own way in sort of contrast of two lives-the rich and the poor. He walks this way on his way home from work each day, and does his best not to be too personal with any of them. He just wants to know what's going on for business reasons.
3 p Uncongenial Environment 3 3 p Lack 3 p Gratuity 3
n Acquisition n Seclusion
n Rejection
n Cognizance
(6) This is a young fellow who drinks a lot. His clothes are all messed up. In a dingy hotel room, he feels he has lost all of his friends. He thinks all of the troubles of the world are on his shoulders. He contemplates suicide. The trouble is with a woman he had an affair with. He doesn't know whether to injure her or destroy himself. (Q-m) To kill her or commit suicide. She isn't much good herself,
3 p Task 2 on Rejection 2
? n Abasement 4 n Succorance 3 n Aggression 4 n Sex 4 n Affiliation
n Counteraction 2 n Nurturance
n Understanding
n Rejection 2
p Uncongenital Environment 3 p Sex 2 p Rejection 4 p Death of Object 2
THE AUTHORITARIAN PERSONALITY
532
and he isn't too much better. He is in a mixed up mental state. He is pausing there to make some decision. (p) (Q-o) He will try to get revenge on the woman. (Re- venge for what? ) He has been going with her and giving her money and thinks of marrying her. She fools him and is unfaithful, going around with other men. He kills her.
6 (zo) This is a man caught in an alley by the police, just before commmmg some crime. The police were called and he is surprised. He tries to get away but the police have the upper hand. He is frightened for fear they will use their sticks. He is probably a man with a family-a good wife and two or three children. He is a no good, just working once in a while. He steals when he can and keeps it from his wife. (Q-m) She is a good woman and doesn't know he is that type of person. Since he has been caught, he knows she will find it all out. For this reason, he would like to get away from the police, but is afraid if he tries he will get shot. He just backs against the wall and lets himself get caught.
on Aggression 3 on Autonomy 2 on Acquisition 3 on Succorance 2 on Harmavoidance
on Blamescape on Abasement
op Dominance 3
op Aggression
op Affiliation 2
op Cognizance
n Exposition 2 n Achievement 2
n Nurturance
n Succorance
n Passivity 2 n Counteraction 2 n Aggression 2 n Cognizance 2
p Task
4
3 3
4 3 3
M7 (8) This young fellow is going away to the army and his mother is very sad about it. She has been expecting this and they have talked it all over. Now that the moment is here, neither knows just what to say. In silence she thinks of his youth- his birth and what he used to do as a little boy. She thinks of his late teens and the honors he got in high school. He thinks less of the past than of the future-and what it will be like in the army. He determines to make the best of it, and try to get the war over with as soon as possible so he can come back. Both stand there for a few minutes, and when he leaves he kisses her and walks away without saying anything.
8 ( 15) This is a man lying on his death bed. The other man is an enemy of his. He has been the cause of his death and is glad he has gone because he hates him in- wardly. He gave the impression that he was his friend. He has his hand in the air,
3 3
? THE THEMA TIC APPERCEPTION TEST
533
not to touch him but as a relief of emotion-just clenching his fist over him. These were both respectable men. (How do you mean? ) They were businessmen, not gangsters. They were competitors in business and were both from the same social group. The dying man has felt no tension between them; its all in the other fellow. The dying man's wife had this fellow come in to sit with him for a few minutes. Now that his competitor has gone, he will have more confidence in himself and more esteem in the community.
n Aggression 3 n Rejection 4 n Achievement 3 n Acquisition
n Recognition
p Affiliation 2 p Death of Object 4 p Deference 3
3 3
9 (7) This is a mother and son at home; I say that because of the pictures on the wall. Both are sad. Something has happened in the family. It's a large family of ten or twelve children. (p) One of the brothers has just gotten in trouble; he stole something. This is a respectable, religious family. The mother makes them go to church. The boy is in jail and they have heard the news. The whole family is sitting around the living room, but in this picture we can see only the two. Both seem to have the same thoughts-the reputation of the family. The boy who committed the crime can't understand why he did it. Though not rich, they had a fairly nice home and enough food; there was just no reason why the boy should do a thing like that. Since he is one of the family they will of course try to help him. They try to pun- ish him in some way, probably by being cool to him, not speaking. (How old is he? ) He is about 25 and unmarried.
n Succorance 3
n Blamavoidance 4 on Aggression 3 on Autonomy 3 on Acquisition
3 3
3 3
p Claustrum 2 p Dominance 3 p Aggression 2 p Gratuity 2
n Abasement
n Affiliation 2
n Nurturance n Rejection
10 ( 12) This reminds me of a Biblical story. It is about Christ on the cross. This is a cloudy sky on a dull, stormy day. This woman is of the modern age; the picture in the background comes to her mind. She has had lots of troubles and doesn't know how to solve them. (p) (What kind? ) It may have been the death of her husband. Sh~ is a very religious woman, and he has meant a lot to her. They always solved therr problems together. All she knows now is to turn to Christ and the Bible to try to figure out a solution to her problems. She has been very religious from the time she was small. Now that the vision has come to her, she is more satisfied-she has found peace of mind and is now able to continue her life. She will be sad but will have the feeling that the Lord will care for her husband and will give her comfort.
n Abasement 3 n Succorance 3 n Affiliation 2 n Deference 4 n Passivity 2 n Counteraction 2
p Bad Luck 2 p Death of Object 3 p Affiliation 3 p Gratuity 3 p Nurturance 3
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THE AUTHORIT ARIAN PERSONALITY
2. MACK'S STORIES
M 1 ( 6o) This would indicate to me a man in distress and a comforting friend. Some accident may have happened, or a death in one of the younger man's family. (p) There is a certain dullness to the man's expression, probably from the great shock. (p) {Are the two men related? ) It's possible, but I can't say; I think they may be just friends. I doubt if it's his father. The efforts of the older man to help the other fellow see the brighter side and get him on a steady course again will be successful. The young fellow is a deeply brooding type and maybe won't be too successful, or at best only temporarily. The young fellow indicates the type of person who might do violence if pushed too far. (Q-m) I think he could easily murder somebody on being oppressed. I think he will never completely get over the shock of the death and it affects him in such a way that it makes him hard to get
along with from then on.
n Succorance 3 n Affiliation 3 n Counteraction 2 n Understanding
n Abasement
n Aggression 3
p Nurturance 3 p Death of Object 3 p Physical Danger r p Affiliation 3 p Dominance 3
2 ( 2 0 ) This is a young fellow and his girl. They are all dolled up for the occa- sion. They are just starting out for the night. The style of his clothing is foreign to me; I never saw that sort of thing before. The girl looks to be about 17 and the man about 2 r-considerably older. After a show, they go some place and eat. Then he gets the girl home about ten or eleven o'clock. From the age of the girl they would get in at a reasonable hour. (Are they related? ) No, I don't think they are; they are not the same type. I don't think they are husband and wife; they just go together. The girl has a nice, pleasant personality. He is not so deep, and he has a less full character than the girl. (p) The partial view of the other fellow gives me an idea of another story. This involves the same original setup except that they had their pictures taken at a party. This man stepped up and made a smart remark to make them smile for the picture. That fellows dress doesn't correspond to the girl's.
He looks like he was from another period. It might be the early '3o's. Maybe the suit was designed for a gag. (Q-o) They have other dates but they gradually drifted apart.
n Recognition 3 n Nutriance 2 n Affiliation
n Excitance
n Play 2
p Exposition
p Affiliation
p Superiority 2 p Cognizance
3 (10) My first impression is from what I read in newspapers, you know, about the war. He is saying goodbye to his mother. He is of military age-about 2 3? His mother is about in her early so's. He is advising her not to worry. He says he will write and asks her to keep him informed of the folks and his friends. He tries to lead her to believe he will see her again soon-like most men would. He seems to be a strong individual. He is clean-cut. Of course, we always like to hope they will all come back, but I can't help but guess that he will not come back. He was killed in the war. They are very close and yet are not the kind to show a lot of observable affection and make a lot of one another. They used to kid one another, and make fun of one another and yet if one got in trouble they all came to his rescue. That's the kind of family they were.
3
? n Nurturance n Dominance n Affiliation n Succorance n Deference
3
2
3
2 2
3 p Succorance 2
n Acquisition n Construction n Nurturance
3 p Uncongenial Environment 2 p Affliction 2 2 p Lack 2
THE THEMA TIC
APPERCEPTION TEST p Task
535
4 (;o) It looks something like a street off the main track in New York City. It's a run-down section of the city. These pictures are cleverly done-they don't tell you anything. (What preceded this picture? ) Well, its perhaps on a Saturday or Sunday and this businessman is on his way home. I don't think he is very well, all bundled up like that. I think he must be a tailor. He isn't too well off, but is better off than most of his neighbors. He is a family man. As for the woman, it's difficult to give a motive for her. She has something to sell, is poor, and can just keep her family in food and clothes. (Q-o) There is no relationship between these people. It is just the end of the day and each is going home. Each represents a class-the well off and the poor. This is just a typical scene.
M5' (7o) Oh, oh! This is apt to be rather sordid. It doesn't represent a family scene to me! It may be a prostitute, and I see the old bottle there. This may be a young American down in the tropics; he is dressed in white because of the tempera- ture. As for the woman, it's difficult to say because of the shadows, but she appears of darker skin. The place has crude furnishings. (p) (What preceded? ) The natural assumption is that they had sexual intercourse. The fellow is about half drunk and is about to consume more. The fellow looks kind of "hang-dog"; perhaps he regrets his recent act or perhaps his station in life. He is down and out and liquor isn't much of a boon to him. He has sufficient depth of character to take himself out of a place like that and to genuinely regret what he did to the woman. She doesn't enter into the story, except to be the object of his lust. He is a better type than she. He can take care of himself. He finally drags himself out of such surroundings and gradually amounts to something. Do I take too long? I get quite involved in these stories.
n n n n n n
Excitance
Abasement
Blamavoidance 2 Sex
Blamescape
Counteraction
p Death of Hero 3
p Affiliation p Nurturance
3 3
p Sex 3 3 p Uncongenial Environment 1
3 3
6 (45') This is a public disturbance, perhaps a strike or a race disturbance. He has some Negroid features. He started a riot and has now been separated from the group he organized. The police have frightened him and he expects the worst. He is lodged in the local jail for a time and is scared out of such activities again. Maybe he was the fall guy for the group. Without the crowd influence he was pretty docile.
