RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BEHAVIORAL INDICES OF AGGRESSION AND HOSTILE CONTENT ON THE TAT (THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST)

• NCJ Number: 47338
• Journal: Journal of Personality Assessment Volume: 40 Issue: 2 Dated: (APRIL 1976) Pages: 130-134
• Author(s): J T MATRANGA
• Date Published: 1976
• Length: 5 pages
• Corporate Author: Society for Personality Assessment, Inc
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Thesis/Dissertation
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America
• Note: STUDY BASED IN PART ON DOCTORAL DISSERTATION SUBMITTED TO CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Annotation

THE ROLE OF FANTASY IN MITIGATING THE OVERT EXPRESSION OF AGGRESSION IS EXAMINED IN A STUDY OF 76 MALE JUVENILE OFFENDERS HOUSED IN THE MARYLAND TRAINING SCHOOL FOR BOYS.

Abstract

TRAINING SCHOOL COUNSELORS COMPLETED A BEHAVIOR RATING SCALE AND A BEHAVIOR CHECKLIST; BOTH WERE DESIGNED TO MEASURE THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF THE SUBJECTS' BEHAVIOR. AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR WAS ALSO MEASURED IN TERMS OF OFFENSE SEVERITY. THE SUBJECTS MADE UP STORIES IN RESPONSE TO SIX TAT (THEMATIC APPERCEPTION TEST ) CARDS, FOUR OF WHICH USUALLY ELICT AGGRESSIVE THEMES. WHILE ONLY ONE BEHAVIOR MEASURE -- THE AGGRESSIVENESS OF OFFENSE SCALE -- CORRELATED SIGNIFICANTLY WITH HOSTILE CONTENT ON THE TAT, ALL THREE CORRELATIONS WERE NEGATIVE, SUGGESTING AN INVERSE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR AND AGGRESSIVE FANTASY. IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS ARE DISCUSSED. SUPPORTING DATA AND A LIST OF REFERENCES ARE PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--LKM)