How aggressive are you? A detailed aggression test will help you find out this, as well as what kind of aggression you have (see test result).
Aggressiveness test. Aggression Test
Read the statement if it matches your behavior, i.e. "Yes, I am" - tag him. Otherwise, "No" - leave the field blank.
Scales: verbal aggression, physical aggression, objective aggression, emotional aggression, self-aggression.
Purpose of the test
Diagnostics of aggressive behavior
Test Description
In ethnopsychological research, the problem of studying aggressive behavior occupies a special place. Determining the level of aggressiveness can help prevent interethnic conflicts and stabilize the social and economic situation in the country. Aggressive behavior is a specific form of human action, characterized by a demonstration of superiority in strength or the use of force in relation to another or a group of persons whom the subject seeks to harm.
Aggressive behavior should be considered as the opposite of adaptive behavior.
Adaptive behavior involves the interaction of a person with other people, the coordination of interests, requirements and expectations of its participants. Psychologists B. Bass and R. Darki have developed a test that assesses the level of a person's aggressive behavior.
Instructions for the test
Instruction. “The intended questionnaire reveals your usual style of behavior in stressful situations and features of adaptation in the social environment. You need to unequivocally (“yes” or “no”) evaluate the 40 statements below.”
Test
1. During an argument, I often raise my voice.
2. If someone annoys me, I can tell him everything I think about him.
3. If I need to use physical force to protect my rights, I will do it without hesitation.
4. When I meet a person I don't like, I can allow myself to discreetly pinch or push him.
5. In an argument with another person, I may bang my fist on the table to get attention or to prove myself right.
6. I constantly feel that others do not respect my rights.
7. Remembering the past, sometimes I feel sorry for myself.
8. Although I don’t show it, sometimes envy gnaws at me.
9. If I do not approve of the behavior of my acquaintances, then I directly tell them about it.
10. In a strong anger, I use strong expressions, I use foul language.
11. If someone raises a hand on me, I will try to hit him first.
12. I get so mad that I throw things.
13. I often have a need to rearrange the furniture in the apartment or completely change it.
14. In dealing with people, I often feel like a "powder keg" that is constantly ready to explode.
15. Sometimes I have a desire to play an evil joke on another person.
16. When I am angry, I usually get gloomy.
17. In a conversation with a person, I try to listen carefully without interrupting.
18. In my youth, my fists often “itched” and I was always ready to use them.
19. If I know that a person deliberately pushed me, then it can come to a fight.
20. Creative clutter on my desktop allows me to work efficiently.
21. I remember that I used to be so angry that I grabbed everything that came to hand and broke it.
22. Sometimes people annoy me with just their presence.
23. I often wonder what hidden reasons make another person do something nice for me.
24. If someone offends me, I will lose the desire to talk to anyone.
25. Sometimes I deliberately say nasty things about a person I don't like.
26. When I'm furious, I scream the most vicious curse.
27. As a child, I avoided fighting.
28. I know why and when to hit someone.
29. When I'm furious, I can slam the door.
30. It seems to me that the people around me do not like me.
31. I constantly share my feelings and experiences with others.
32. Very often I bring harm to myself with my words and actions.
33. When people yell at me, I answer the same.
34. If someone hits me first, I will hit him back.
35. It annoys me when things are out of place.
36. If I fail to repair a broken or torn object, then in anger I break or tear it completely.
37. Other people always seem successful to me.
38. When I think of a person who is very unpleasant to me, I can get excited from the desire to harm him.
39. Sometimes it seems to me that fate played a cruel joke on me.
40. If someone does not treat me the way they should, I get very upset about this.
Processing and interpretation of test results
Aggressive behavior in the form of manifestation is divided into 5 scales.
Verbal aggression(BA) - a person verbally expresses his aggressive attitude towards another person, uses verbal insults.
physical aggression(FA) - a person expresses his aggression towards another person with the use of physical force.
Subject aggression(PA) - a person vents his aggression on the objects around him.
Emotional aggression(EA) - a person experiences emotional alienation when communicating with another person, accompanied by suspicion, hostility, hostility or hostility towards him.
Self-aggression(SA) - a person is not at peace and in harmony with himself; it lacks or weakens the mechanisms psychological protection; he is defenseless in an aggressive environment.
Key for test processing:
Type of aggression Approval number
VA Yes: 1,2,9,10,25,26,33 No: 17
FA Yes: 3,4,11,18,19,28,34 No: 27
PA Yes: 5,12,13,21,29,35,36 No: 20
EA Yes: 6,14,15,22,30,37,38 No: 23
SA Yes: 7,8,16,24,32,39,40 No: 31
Mathematical processing. First, the scores for each of the five scales are summed up.
If the total score is above 5, this means a high degree of aggressiveness and a low degree of adaptability on the scale.
The sum of points from 3 to 4 corresponds to medium degree aggression and adaptation. The sum of points from 0 to 2 means a low degree of aggressiveness and a high degree of adaptation to this type behavior. The scores on all scales are then summed up.
If the sum exceeds 25 points, this means a high degree of aggressiveness of a person, his low adaptive capabilities.
The sum of points from 11 to 24 corresponds to the average level of aggressiveness and adaptability.
The sum of points from 0 to 10 means a low degree of aggressiveness and a high degree of adapted behavior.
As a result of the research, the validity of the test was checked for 483 subjects. The intrascale correlation coefficients exceed 0.35 and are significant at the 5% level.
Sources
Platonov Yu.P. Fundamentals of ethnic psychology. Proc. allowance. - St. Petersburg: Speech, 2003, p. 383 – 385. REVIEWS FROM CLIENTS:
Galina Ilya Yurievich! Thank you very much for your sessions, in which I was lucky to take part. Thanks to them, I became more confident in many issues and situations that previously caused anxiety and concern. You taught me how to deal with this in a short amount of time. Nice to deal with a professional high level!
Anna Ilya Yurievich, it is difficult to find words to express my gratitude to you for your help. I remembered in what state and with what thoughts I met the last year, 2017. I remember those feelings of bitterness, anxiety that did not come out of me under any circumstances. Finally, I left this desire for self-destruction and now I can breathe differently. Thank you!
Tatiana Thank you, Ilya Yurievich, for the advice. Indeed, she let me look at my life situation from a different angle. Thanks again!
Vladimir Thank you very much for your advice! Indeed, I noticed that memories pop up at a time when I was in a bad mood or irritable, but I could not understand that this was a defense mechanism. At his next appearance, I will try to talk about what exactly causes irritation, instead of plunging into memories.
Daria Thank you very much for help! I am very glad you helped me understand myself and showed me a new way to improve my life!
PSYCHOLOGICAL DIAGNOSTICS AND CORRECTION OF AGGRESSIVE BEHAVIOR IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS
Diagnostic criteria for aggressiveness in a child (questionnaire)
1. At times it seems that an evil spirit has moved into him ..
2. He cannot remain silent when he is dissatisfied with something.
3. When someone harms him, he is sure to try to repay the same.
4. Sometimes he wants to swear for no reason.
5. It happens that he breaks toys with pleasure, breaks something, guts.
6. Sometimes he insists on something so much that others lose patience.
7. He is not averse to teasing animals.
8. It's hard to argue with him.
9. Gets very angry when it seems to him that someone is making fun of him.
10. Sometimes he has a desire to do something bad, shocking others.
11. In response to the usual orders, seeks to do the opposite.
12. Often grouchy beyond his age.
13. Sees himself as independent and determined.
14. Likes to be the first, to command, to subjugate others.
15. Failures cause him strong irritation, a desire to find the guilty ones.
16. Easily quarrels, gets into a fight.
17. Tries to communicate with the younger and physically weaker.
18. He often has bouts of gloomy irritability.
19. Does not consider peers, does not yield, does not share.
20. I am sure that any task will be performed best of all.
A positive response to each proposed statement is worth 1 point.
High aggressiveness - 15 - 20 points.
Average aggressiveness -7 - 14 points.
Low aggressiveness -1 - 6 points.
Aggressiveness questionnaire A. Bass, A. Darki
Target
Motivational aggression is diagnosed as a direct manifestation of the implementation of destructive tendencies inherent in the personality. Having determined the level of these destructive tendencies, it is possible to predict with a greater degree of probability the possibility of manifesting open motivational aggression.
The range of application of the technique
The technique is used to study aggressiveness from adolescence.
Questionnaire text
1. At times, I can't handle the urge to harm others.
3. I am easily irritated, but also quickly calm down.
4. If I am not asked in a good way, I will not fulfill the request.
5. I don't always get what I'm supposed to.
6. I know that people talk about me behind my back.
7. If I don't approve of my friends' behavior, I let them feel it.
8. When I happened to deceive someone, I experienced excruciating remorse.
9. It seems to me that I am not capable of hitting a person.
10. I never get irritated enough to throw things.
11. I am always indulgent to other people's shortcomings.
12. If I do not like the established rule, I want to break it.
13. Others can almost always take advantage of favorable circumstances.
14. I am wary of people who treat me a little more friendly than I expected.
15. I often disagree with people.
16. Sometimes thoughts come to my mind that I am ashamed of.
17. If someone hits me first, I will not answer him.
18. When I get irritated, I slam doors.
19. I am much more irritable than it seems.
20. If someone imagines himself to be the boss, I always act against him.
21. My fate upsets me a little.
22. I think that many people do not like me.
23. I can't resist arguing if people don't agree with me.
24. People who dodge work should feel guilty.
25. Someone who insults me and my family asks for a fight
26. .I am not capable of rude jokes.
27. I am furious when I am mocked.
28. When people build bosses out of themselves, I do everything so that they do not become conceited.
29. Almost every week I see someone I don't like.
30. Quite a few people envy me
31. I demand that people respect me.
32. I am depressed by the fact that I do little for my parents.
33. People who constantly harass you are worth getting punched in the nose.
34. I am never gloomy with anger.
35. If they treat me worse than I deserve, I don't get upset.
36. If someone pisses me off, I don't pay attention.
37. Although I do not show it, I am sometimes envious.
38. Sometimes it seems to me that they are laughing at me.
39. Even if I am angry, I do not use "strong" expressions.
40. I want my sins to be forgiven.
41. I rarely fight back, even if someone hits me.
42. When it doesn't work out my way, I sometimes get offended.
43. Sometimes people annoy me with their mere presence.
44. There are no people I would truly hate
45. My principle: "Never trust strangers."
46. If someone annoys me, I am ready to say everything that I think about him.
47. I do a lot of things that I later regret.
48. If I get angry, I can hit someone
49. Since childhood, I have never shown outbursts of anger.
50. I often feel like a powder keg about to explode.
51. If everyone knew how I feel, I would be considered a person who is not easy to get along with.
52. I always think about what secret reasons make people do something nice for me.
53. When someone shouts at me, I start shouting back.
54. Failures make me sad.
55. I fight no less and no more often than others.
56. I can remember cases when I was so angry that I grabbed a thing that came under my arm and broke it.
57. Sometimes I feel ready to start a fight first.
58. Sometimes I feel that life is treating me unfairly.
59. I used to think that most people are telling the truth, but now I don't believe it.
60. I swear only out of anger
61. When I do wrong, my conscience torments me.
62. If I need to use physical force to protect my rights, I use it
63. Sometimes I express my anger by banging my fist on the table.
64. I can be rude to people I don't like.
65. I have no enemies who would like to harm me
66. I don’t know how to put a person in his place, even if he deserves it.
67. I often think that I lived wrong.
68. I know people who are able to bring me to a fight.
69. I don't get upset over little things.
70. It rarely occurs to me that people are trying to anger or insult me.
71. I often only threaten people, although I am not going to carry out threats.
72. In Lately I became bored.
73. In an argument, I often raise my voice.
74. Usually I try to hide my bad attitude towards people.
75. I'd rather agree with something than argue.
Results processing
The processing of the results of the questionnaire by A. Bass and A. Darki is carried out using indices of various forms of aggressive and hostile reactions, which are determined by summing up the responses received.
1. Physical aggression:
- "yes" - 1, 25, 33, 48, 55, 62.68;
- "no" - 9, 17, 41.
2. Indirect aggression:
- yes - 2, 18, 34, 42, 56, 63;
- no - 10, 26, 49.
3. Irritation:
- yes - 3, 19, 27, 43, 50, 57, 64, 72;
- no - 11, 35, 69.
4. Negativism:
- yes - 4, 12, 20, 23, 36.
5. Resentment:
- yes - 5, 13, 21, 29, 37, 51, 58;
- no - 44.
6. Suspicion:
- yes - 6, 14, 22, 30, 38, 45, 52, 59;
- no - 65, 70.
7. Verbal aggression:
- yes - 7, 15, 28, 31, 46, 53, 60, 71, 73;
- no - 39, 66, 74, 75.
8. Remorse, guilt:
- yes - 8, 16, 24, 32, 40, 47, 54, 61, 67.
The questionnaire reveals the following forms of aggressive and hostile reactions.
1. Physical aggression (attack) - the use of physical force against another person.
2. Indirect aggression - this term is understood as aggression that is directed in a roundabout way to another person (gossip, malicious jokes), and aggression that is not directed at anyone - explosions of rage, manifested in screaming, stamping their feet, beating their fists on the table etc. These explosions are characterized by non-direction and disorder.
3. Tendency to irritation (briefly - irritation) - readiness for manifestation at the slightest excitation of irascibility, harshness, rudeness.
4. Negativism - an oppositional measure of behavior, usually directed against authority or leadership; this behavior can grow from passive resistance to active struggle against established laws and customs.
5. Resentment - envy and hatred of others, due to a feeling of bitterness, anger at the whole world for real or imaginary suffering.
6. Suspicion - distrust and caution towards people, based on the belief that others intend to cause harm.
7. Verbal aggression - the expression of negative feelings both through the form (quarrel, scream, squeal) and through the content of verbal responses (threats, curses, swearing).
8. In addition, the eighth point stands out - remorse, guilt. The answers to the questions on this scale express the restraining influence of guilt on the manifestation of forms of behavior that are usually prohibited (by the norms of society). This item expresses the extent to which the subject is convinced that he is a bad person who does wrong things, and that he has remorse.
physical aggression, indirect aggression, irritation and verbal aggression together form a total index of aggressive reactions, and resentment and suspicion - an index of hostility.
The hostility index includes scales 5 and 6, and the aggressiveness index (direct and motivational) includes scales 1, 3, 7.
The norm of aggressiveness is the value of its index, the average value of aggressiveness is 21, the standard deviation is 4, and the average value of hostility is 6.5-7, the standard deviation is 3. At the same time, attention is drawn to the possibility of achieving a certain value, showing the degree of manifestation of aggressiveness.
During processing, it is recommended to compare the individual values of the subject with the average group data.
2.6. Questionnaire "Aggressive behavior" (children's version)
Target
The questionnaire is used to identify a tendency to verbal and physical aggression.
The age range is from the early teens.
Instruction
Questionnaire text
1. I can't help but use harsh words if someone doesn't agree with me.
2. Sometimes I gossip about people I don't like.
3. I never get irritated enough to throw things.
4. I rarely fight back if I get hit.
5. Sometimes I bluntly demand that my rights be respected.
6. Out of anger, I often silently send curses to the offender.
7. There were times when I was so angry that I grabbed a thing that fell under my hands and broke it.
8. If I get angry, I can hit someone.
9. If someone annoys me, I tell him everything I think about him.
10. When a conflict arises in the classroom (school), I most often “splash out” my irritation in a conversation with friends and relatives.
11. Sometimes I express my anger by pounding the table with my fist.
12. If I need to use physical force to protect my rights, I use it.
13. When someone yells at me, I start yelling back.
14. I often talk at home about the shortcomings of classmates who criticize me.
15. With annoyance, I can kick everything that turns up with my foot.
16. As a child, I liked to fight.
17. I often just threaten people, although I am not going to carry out threats.
18. I often think to myself what I need to say to the teacher (coach, leader of the circle), but I never do it.
19. I consider it indecent to knock on the table, even if the person is very angry.
20. If someone took my thing, does not give it back, then I can use force.
21. In a dispute, I often get angry and scream.
22. I think that it is not very ethical to judge a person “behind the back”.
23. There was no case that I broke something out of anger.
24. I never use physical force to resolve controversial issues.
25. Even if I'm angry, I don't use strong language.
26. I don't gossip about people, even if I really don't like them.
27. I can get so angry that I will destroy everything.
28. I am not capable of hitting a person.
29. I do not know how to put a person in his place, even if he deserves it.
30. Sometimes I silently call my teacher (coach, group leader) if I am not satisfied with his decision.
31. To take out evil on children, giving them slaps on the back of the head, I think it is unacceptable.
32. People who constantly harass you are worth hitting.
33. No matter how angry I am, I try not to offend others.
34. After troubles at school, I often get rude to my parents at home.
35. When I get annoyed, I slam doors when I leave.
36. I never liked to fight.
37. I am rude to people I don't like.
38. If someone stepped on my foot in transport, then I swear to myself with all sorts of words.
39. I always condemn parents who beat their children just because they themselves are in a bad mood.
40. It is better to convince a person than to force him physically.
Keys to the scales of the questionnaire
1. Tendency to direct verbal aggression:
- "yes" - 1, 5, 9, 13, 17, 21, 37;
- "no" - 25, 29, 33.
2. Tendency to indirect verbal aggression:
- "yes" - 2, 6, 10, 14, 18, 30, 34, 38;
- "no" - 22, 26.
3. Tendency to direct physical aggression:
- "yes" - 8, 12, 16, 20, 32;
- "no" - 4, 24, 28, 36, 40.
4. Tendency to indirect physical aggression:
- "yes" - 7, 11, 15, 27, 35;
- "no" 3, 19, 23, 31, 39.
For each match with the key, 1 point is awarded. The greater the sum of points scored, the higher the propensity of the subject to this type of aggressive behavior.
The sum of points for direct and indirect physical aggression makes it possible to judge the incontinence or restraint of a given person.
The number of points for indirect verbal aggression only indicates the degree of inclination to this type of aggression.
In order to draw a conclusion about the degree of severity of the tendency to manifest direct and indirect physical, verbal aggression, it is necessary to compare the results of the subject with the average group values for a given age.
2.7. Questionnaire "Personal aggressiveness" (adolescent version)
Target
The questionnaire is used to identify such character traits as irascibility, vindictiveness, intolerance of other people's opinions, suspicion, resentment, a tendency to intransigence, compromise, offensiveness, an attacking style of behavior and communication.
Age range - from adolescence.
Instruction
You are asked several questions about the peculiarities of your behavior and feelings. Each statement in the questionnaire must be answered "Yes" or "No". Work quickly without spending too much time thinking about the questions, as it is your first reaction that is most interesting, and not the result of too much thinking. Remember to answer each question without skipping a single one. There are no good or bad answers here, this is not a test of your abilities, but only the identification of your behavior.
Questionnaire text
1. I am easily irritated, but quickly calm down.
2. In disputes, I always try to seize the initiative.
3. I am most often not rewarded for my deeds.
4. If I am not asked in a good way, I will not give in.
5. I try to do everything to avoid tension in relationships.
6. I am much more irritable than I seem.
7. The opinion that the best defense is an attack is correct.
8. Circumstances are almost always more favorable for others than for me.
9. If I don't like the established rule, I try not to follow it.
10. I try to find a solution to a controversial issue that would satisfy everyone.
11. I am furious when I am mocked.
12. In a dispute, I often interrupt the interlocutor, imposing my point of view on him.
13. I often take offense at the comments of others, even if I understand that they are fair.
14. If someone tries to command me, I always act against him.
15. I try to find a position that is between mine and the position of another person.
16. If someone pisses me off, I don't pay attention to it.
17. I consider it tactless not to let the other side speak in a dispute.
18. I am offended by the lack of attention from others.
19. I do not like to give in to the game even with children.
20. In a dispute, I try to find something that suits both parties.
21. I never have outbursts of anger.
22. I can listen carefully to the end of the arguments of the side arguing with me.
23. I am always offended when I am not among those awarded for the cause in which I took part.
24. If someone in the queue tries to prove that he is ahead of me, I am not inferior to the mind.
25. I try to avoid aggravating relationships.
26. I always react calmly to criticism, even if it seems unfair to me.
27. I always defend my case with conviction.
28. I am not offended by the jokes of friends, even if they are evil.
29. Sometimes I give others the opportunity to take responsibility for solving an issue that is important to everyone.
30. In a controversial situation, I try to convince the other to come to a compromise solution.
31. In a conflict situation, I control myself well.
32. My relatives are often offended by me for “I don’t let them open their mouths”.
33. I do not get upset if my name is not mentioned when praising for a common work.
34. When negotiating with a senior in position, I try not to object to him.
35. In solving any problem, I prefer to choose the "golden mean".
36. I am not outraged when people push me on the street or in transport.
37. When in a conversation a person expresses a point of view different from mine, I am tempted to express my opinion.
38. Sometimes I feel that life is treating me unfairly.
39. I always try to get out of the car (bus, trolleybus) before others.
40. It is hardly possible to find a solution that would satisfy everyone.
41. I cannot help myself when I am undeservedly reproached.
42. In games (intellectual, sports, etc.) I like to attack more than defend.
43. I dislike overly touchy people.
44. Doesn't matter to me of great importance whose point of view in the dispute turns out to be correct - mine or someone else's.
45. Compromise is not always the best solution to a dispute.
46. It's usually hard to piss me off.
47. If I see flaws in people, I do not hesitate to criticize them.
48. I do not see anything wrong with being told about my shortcomings.
49. If I were a seller in the market, I would not give up the price of my goods.
50. To compromise means to show your weakness.
51. If someone treats me unfairly, then I silently send him all sorts of misfortunes.
52. I often get angry when people object to me.
53. I think people talk bad about me behind my back.
54. I believe that kindness is more effective than revenge.
55. I believe in the honesty of the intentions of most people.
56. I believe that the slogan “an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth” is justified.
57. If I have thought everything over, then I do not need the advice of others.
58. With people who are kinder than I could expect, I am wary.
59. The statement “Mind is good, but two is better” is true.
60. The statement “If you don’t deceive, you won’t live” is true.
61. Often I imagine the punishments that could fall on my offenders.
62. I don't think that I'm stupider than others, so their opinion is not my command.
63. I believe that evil can be repaid with good and I act in accordance with this.
64. I often turn to comrades to get their opinion.
65. If they praise me, then people need something from me.
66. I have a negative attitude towards vengeful people.
67. I do not think that the leader should take into account the opinion of his subordinates, because he is still responsible for everything.
68. I am often afraid of tricks from other people.
69. No insult should go unpunished.
70. I don't like it when others come to me with advice.
71. I suspect that many maintain acquaintance with me out of self-interest.
72. I do not calm down until I take revenge on the offender.
73. I think it's better to consult with others than to make decisions alone.
74. I doubt the sincerity of the words of most people.
75. I do not feel disadvantaged if the opinion of another is more correct.
76. Most often, when compliments are given to me, I think that people do it sincerely.
77. Can you forgive the offender for the harm done to you if this act was committed a very long time ago?
78. I never suspect people of dishonesty.
79. Is it always necessary to punish evil?
80. I can listen to criticism, but I will do it my own way.
Key to the questionnaire
Short temper:
- "yes" - 1, 6, 11, 41;
- "no" - 16, 21, 26, 31, 36, 46.
Vengeance:
- "yes" - 51, 56, 61, 69, 72, 79;
- "no" - 54, 63, 66, 77.
Intolerance to other people's opinions:
- "yes" - 52, 57, 62, 67, 70, 80;
- "no" - 59, 64, 73, 75.
Suspicion:
- "yes" - 53, 58, 60, 65, 68, 71, 74;
- "no" - 55, 76, 78.
Touchiness:
- "yes" - 3, 8, 13, 18, 23, 38;
- "no" 28, 33, 43, 48.
Tendency to be unyielding:
- "yes" - 4, 9, 14, 19, 24, 39, 49;
- "no" - 29, 34, 44.
Tendency to compromise
- "yes" - 5, 10, 15, 20, 25, 30, 35;
- "no" - 40, 45, 50.
Tendency to offensive, attacking style of behavior and communication:
- "yes" - 2, 7, 12, 27, 32, 37, 42, 47;
- "no" - 17, 22.
1 point is awarded for a match with the key. For each studied parameter, the sum of points can range from 0 to 10. In order to draw a conclusion about the degree of severity of the tendency to manifest direct and indirect physical, verbal aggression, it is necessary to compare the results of the subject with the average group values for a given age.
2.8. Graphic technique "Cactus"
Target
The technique is used to study the emotional - personal sphere of the child. Such personal qualities as: aggressiveness, impulsiveness, egocentrism, self-doubt, anxiety, etc. are explored.
Age Range
The technique is designed to work with children older than 3 years.
Equipment
During the diagnostics, the subject is given a sheet of A4 paper and a simple pencil. A variant with the use of eight "Lusher" colors is possible. In this case, the interpretation takes into account the corresponding indicators of the Luscher test.
Instruction
"On a sheet of white paper, draw a cactus - the way you imagine it." Questions and additional explanations are allowed.
Data processing
When processing the results, the data corresponding to all graphical methods are taken into account, namely:
- spatial arrangement;
- the size of the picture;
- line characteristics;
- pressure force on the pencil.
In addition, specific indicators characteristic of this particular technique are taken into account:
- characteristics of the "image of a cactus" (wild, domestic, primitive, feminine, threatening, etc.);
- characteristics of the manner of drawing (drawn, carelessly depicted, schematic, etc.);
- characteristics of the needles (size, location, number).
After finishing the work, the child can be asked questions, the answers to which can clarify the interpretation of the drawing.
- Is this cactus domestic or wild?
Does this cactus prickle a lot? Can he be touched?
- Does the cactus like being looked after, watered, fertilized?
- Does the cactus grow alone or with some plant in the neighborhood?
- When the cactus grows up, how will it change (needles, volume, shoots, other cacti, etc.)?
Interpretation of results
Based on the results of the processed data on the drawing, it is possible to diagnose the personality traits of the child being tested.
Aggressiveness - the presence of needles, especially their a large number of. Strongly protruding, long, closely spaced needles reflect a high degree of aggressiveness.
Impulsivity - jerky lines, strong pressure.
Egocentrism, the desire for leadership - a large figure located in the center of the sheet.
Self-doubt, dependence - a small picture located at the bottom of the sheet.
Demonstrativeness, openness - the presence of protruding processes in the cactus, pretentiousness of forms.
Stealth, caution - the location of zigzags along the contour or inside the cactus.
Optimism - the image of "joyful" cacti, the use of bright colors in the version with colored pencils.
Anxiety - the predominance of internal shading, broken lines, the use of dark colors in the version with colored pencils.
Femininity - the presence of soft lines and shapes, jewelry, flowers.
Extroversion - the presence in the picture of other cacti or flowers.
Introversion - the figure shows only one cactus.
The desire for home protection, a sense of family community - the presence of a flower pot in the picture, the image of a home cactus.
Lack of desire for home protection, a feeling of loneliness - the image of a wild, desert cactus.
When interpreting the completed drawings, the visual experience of the child is necessarily taken into account. The presence or absence of visual skills (according to age), the use of stereotypes, patterns, age characteristics - all this affects the diagnostic portrait of the child's personality, but at the same time it is also an indicator for the interpretation of the personality portrait.
2.9. Method "Non-existent animal"
Target
Diagnosis of emotional personality traits, aggressiveness, spheres of communication.
Age Range
The technique is applied starting from the oldest preschool age.
general characteristics methods
The research method is based on the theory of psychomotor communication. To register the state of the psyche, the study of motor skills is used (in particular, the motor skills of the dominant right hand drawing, fixed in the form of a graphic trace of movement, drawing). According to I.M. Sechenov, any idea that arises in the psyche, any tendency associated with this idea, ends with a movement (literally - “Every thought ends with a movement”).
If for some reason real movement is not carried out, then in respective groups muscles, a certain tension of energy is summed up, which is necessary for the implementation of a response movement (for a representation - a thought). For example, images and thoughts-representations that cause fear stimulate tension in the leg muscles and in the muscles of the arms, which would be necessary in the event of a response to fear by flight or protection with the help of hands - to hit, to shield. The trend of movement has a direction in space: moving away, approaching, tilting, straightening, rising, falling. When drawing a drawing, a sheet of paper (or the canvas of a picture) is a model of space and, in addition to the state of the muscles, fixes the relationship to space, i.e. emerging trend. Space, in turn, is associated with the emotional coloring of the experience and the time period: present, past, future. It is also connected with the effectiveness or the ideal mental plan of the work of the psyche. The space located behind and to the left of the subject is associated with the past period and inactivity (lack of active connection between thought-imagination, planning and its implementation). The right side, the space in front and above are associated with the future period and effectiveness. On the sheet (space models) left-hand side and bottom are associated with negatively colored and depressive emotions, with uncertainty and passivity. The right side (corresponding to the dominant right hand) - with positively colored emotions, energy, activity, concreteness of action.
Apart from general patterns psychomotor connection and attitude to space in the interpretation of the test material, the theoretical norms of operating with symbols and symbolic geometric elements and figures are used.
By its nature, the "Non-existent animal" test is one of the projective ones. For statistical verification or standardization, the analysis result can be presented in descriptive forms. In terms of composition, this test is indicative as the only research method is usually not used and requires combination with other methods as a battery research tool.
Instruction
Invent and draw a non-existent animal and call it a non-existent name.
Indicators and interpretation
Position in the figure. Normally, the figure is located on middle line vertical sheet. It is best to take a sheet of paper white or slightly creamy, not glossy. Use a pencil of medium softness; You can't draw with a pen or marker.
The position of the picture closer to the top edge of the sheet (the closer, the more pronounced) is interpreted as a high self-evaluation, as dissatisfaction with one's position in society, lack of recognition from others, as a claim for promotion and recognition, a tendency to self-affirmation.
The position of the picture in the lower part is the reverse trend: self-doubt, low self-esteem, depression, indecision, disinterest in one's position in society, in recognition, lack of a tendency to self-affirmation.
The central semantic part of the figure (the head or its replacement part). The head is turned to the right - a steady tendency towards activity, efficiency: almost everything that is thought about, planned, is carried out or, at least, begins to be carried out (if not even brought to an end). The subject actively proceeds to the implementation of his plans, inclinations.
The head is turned to the left - a tendency to reflection, to reflection. This is not a man of action: only an insignificant part of the plans is being implemented or at least is beginning to be implemented. Often also fear of active action and indecision. (Option: no tendency to act or fear of activity - should be decided additionally.)
Full face position, i.e. the head is directed at the drawing (at oneself), is interpreted as egocentrism.
On the head are details corresponding to the sense organs - ears, mouth, eyes. The meaning of the detail "ears" is direct: interest in information, the significance of the opinions of others about oneself. Additionally, according to other indicators and their combination, it is determined whether the subject is doing something to win a positive assessment or only produces appropriate emotional reactions (joy, pride, resentment, chagrin) to the assessments of others without changing his behavior. A parted mouth in combination with the tongue in the absence of a drawing of the lips is interpreted as a large speech activity(talkiness), in combination with the drawing of the lips - as sensuality; sometimes both together. An open mouth without drawing the tongue and lips, especially a drawn one, is interpreted as the ease of fears and fears, distrust. Mouth with teeth - verbal aggression, in most cases - protective (snarls, bullies, is rude in response to a negative appeal to him, condemnation, censure). For children and adolescents, a pattern of a drawn round mouth is characteristic (fearfulness, anxiety).
The eyes are of particular importance. This is a symbol of the experience of fear inherent in a person: it is emphasized by the sharp drawing of the iris.
Pay attention to the presence or absence of eyelashes.
Eyelashes - hysteroid - demonstrative behavior; for men: feminine character traits rarely coincide with the drawing of the pupil and iris. Eyelashes - also an interest in the admiration of others by the external beauty and manner of dressing, attaching great importance to this.
The enlarged (in accordance with the figure as a whole) head size indicates that the subject appreciates the rational principle (perhaps erudition) in herself and those around her.
Additional details are also located on the head: for example, horns - protection, aggression. Determine by combination with other signs - claws, bristles, needles - the nature of this aggression: spontaneous or defensive-response. Feathers - a tendency to self-decoration and self-justification, to demonstrativeness. Mane, hair, a kind of hairstyle - sensuality, emphasizing one's gender and, sometimes, orientation to one's sexual role.
The bearing, supporting part of the figure (legs, paws, sometimes - a pedestal). The solidity of this part is considered in relation to the size of the whole figure and in shape:
a) thoroughness, deliberation, rationality of decision-making, ways to conclusions, formation of judgment, reliance on significant provisions and significant information;
b) superficiality of judgments, frivolity in conclusions and unfounded judgments, sometimes impulsive decision-making (especially in the absence or almost absence of legs).
Pay attention to the nature of the connection of the legs with the body: the connection is accurate, carefully or carelessly, weakly connected or not connected at all - this is the nature of control over one's reasoning, conclusions, decisions. Uniformity and unidirectional shape of the legs, paws, any elements of the supporting part - the conformity of judgments and attitudes in decision-making, their standardity, banality. Variety in the form and position of these details - the originality of attitudes and judgments, independence and non-banality; sometimes even creativity (according to the unusual form) or dissent (closer to pathology).
Parts rising above the level of the figure. Can be functional or decorative: wings, extra legs, tentacles, carapace details, feathers, bows like curls - curls, floral - functional details - the energy of covering different areas human activity, self-confidence, "self-propagation" with indelicate and indiscriminate oppression of others, or curiosity, a desire to participate as much as possible in more the affairs of others, winning a place under the sun, dedication to one's activities, courage of enterprises (according to the meaning of the symbol detail - wings or tentacles, etc.). Decorating details - demonstrativeness, a tendency to attract the attention of others, mannerisms (for example, a horse or its non-existent likeness in a peacock feather sultan).
Tails. They express their attitude to their own actions, decisions, conclusions, to their verbal products - judging by whether these tails are turned to the right (on the sheet) or to the left. Tails turned to the right - attitude towards their actions and behavior.
To the left - attitude to one's thoughts, decisions; to missed opportunities, to their own indecision. The positive or negative coloring of this attitude is expressed by the direction of the tails upwards (confidently, positively, cheerfully) or a falling downward movement (dissatisfaction with oneself, doubts about one's own rightness, regret about what has been done, said, remorse, etc.). Pay attention to the tails, consisting of several, sometimes repeating, links, to especially magnificent tails, especially long and sometimes branched.
The contours of the figure. They are analyzed by the presence or absence of protrusions (such as shields, shells, needles), drawing and darkening of the contour line. This is protection from others, aggressive - if it is performed in sharp corners; with fear and anxiety - if there is a darkening, "staining" of the contour line; with apprehension, suspicion - if shields, "barriers" are placed, the line is doubled. The direction of such protection is in accordance with the spatial arrangement: the upper contour of the figure is against the superiors, against persons who have the opportunity to impose a ban, restriction, to exercise coercion, i.e. against elders, parents, teachers, bosses, leaders; lower contour - protection against ridicule, non-recognition, lack of authority among subordinate subordinates, juniors, fear of condemnation; lateral contours - undifferentiated apprehension and readiness for self-defense of any order and in different situations; the same - elements of "protection" located not along the contour, but inside the contour, on the body of the animal itself.
On the right - more in the process of activity (real).
On the left - more protection of their opinions, beliefs, tastes.
General energy. The number of details depicted is estimated - is it only the necessary amount to give an idea of a fictional non-existent animal (body, head, limbs or body, tail, wings, etc.): with a filled outline, without shading and additional lines and parts, just primitive contour, - or there is a generous image of not only necessary, but "complicating" the design of additional details. Accordingly, the more constituent parts and elements (beyond the most necessary), the higher the energy. In the opposite case - energy saving, asthenia of the body, chronic somatic disease. (The same is confirmed by the nature of the line - a weak cobweb-like line, "carries a pencil on paper" without pressing it.) The reverse character of the lines - bold with pressure - is not polar: this is not energy, but anxiety. Attention should be paid to sharply pressed lines, visible even on reverse side sheet (convulsive, high muscle tone of the drawing hand) - sharp anxiety.
Pay attention also to what detail, what symbol is made in this way (that is, what the alarm is attached to).
Evaluation of the nature of the line (duplication of the line, negligence, inaccurate connections, “islands” of overlapping lines, blackening of parts of the drawing, “smearing”, deviation from the vertical axis, line stereotypes, etc.). The evaluation is carried out in the same way as in the analysis of the pictogram. The same - fragmentation of lines and forms, incompleteness, raggedness of the picture.
Thematically, animals are divided into threatened, threatening, neutral (likeness of a lion, hippopotamus, wolf or bird, snail, ant, or squirrel, dog, cat). This is an attitude to one's own person and to one's "I", an idea of one's position in the world, as if identifying oneself by significance (with a hare, an insect, an elephant, a dog, etc.). In this case, the drawn animal is a representative of the drawing person himself.
Assimilation of the drawn animal to a person, starting with placing the animal in the upright position on two legs, instead of four or more, and ending with dressing the animal in human clothes (pants, skirts, bows, belts, dresses), including the similarity of the muzzle to the face, legs and paws to the hands , - testifies to infantilism, emotional immaturity, according to the degree of severity of the "humanization" of the animal. The mechanism is similar (and parallel) to the allegorical meaning of animals and their characters in fairy tales, parables, etc.
The degree of aggressiveness is expressed by the number, location and nature of the angles in the drawing, regardless of their connection with one or another detail of the image. Especially weighty in this regard are direct symbols of aggression - claws, teeth, beaks. Attention should also be paid to the emphasis on sexual characteristics - udders, nipples, breasts with a humanoid figure, etc. This is an attitude to sex, up to a fixation on the problem of sex.
The figure of a circle (especially an empty one) symbolizes and expresses a tendency towards secrecy, isolation, closeness of one’s inner world, unwillingness to give information about yourself to others, and finally, unwillingness to be tested. Such figures usually provide a very limited amount of data for analysis.
Pay attention to the cases of mounting mechanical parts in the body of the "animal" - placing the animal on a pedestal, tractor or tank tracks, a tripod; attachment to the head of the propeller, screw; mounting in the eye of an electric lamp, in the body and limbs of the animal - handles, keys and antennas. This is observed more often in patients with schizophrenia and deep schizoids.
Creative possibilities are usually expressed by the number of elements combined in the figure: banality, lack of creativity take the form of a “ready-made”, existing animal (people, horses, dogs, pigs, fish), to which a “ready-made” existing detail is attached so that the painted animal becomes non-existent - a cat with wings, a fish with feathers, a dog with flippers, etc. P. Originality is expressed in the form of constructing a figure from elements, and not whole blanks.
The name can express a rational combination of semantic parts (flying hare, "begekot", "flycat", etc.). Another option is word formation with a book-scientific, sometimes Latin suffix or ending (“ratoletyus”, etc.). The first is rationality, a specific setting for orientation and adaptation; the second is demonstrativeness, aimed mainly at demonstrating one's own mind, erudition, and knowledge. There are superficial-sound names without any comprehension (“lyalie”, “lioshana”, “grateker”, etc.), which signify a frivolous attitude towards others, the inability to take into account the danger signal, the presence of affective criteria at the basis of thinking, the predominance of aesthetic elements in judgments over rational ones.
There are ironic-humorous names ("rhinochurka", "bubble", etc.) - with a correspondingly ironically condescending attitude towards others. Infantile names usually have repeating elements (“tru-tru”, “lu-lu”, “couscous”, etc.). The tendency to fantasize (more often of a defensive nature) is usually expressed by elongated names ("aberosynoticliron", "gulobarnicletamieshinia", etc.). In the illustrated guide by A.L. Wenger presents the following option for conducting, analyzing and interpreting the "Non-existent animal" methodology.
Low level of aggressiveness
Most full information about the level of aggressiveness of the subject gives a comparison of the classical version of the technique "Non-existent animal" with additional option"Evil animal" (according to A.L. Wenger). In particular, such a comparison makes it possible to reveal hidden, including deliberately concealed, aggressive tendencies. An indicator of the absence of such tendencies is the absence of aggressive symbols (attack weapons) in the main drawing and a slight increase in aggressive accessories in the transition to "Evil Animal" An example of this is the drawings of Polina Sh. fig.1). Aggressiveness is also completely absent in the description of the lifestyle of the animal, which Polina called the round log - minke whale: “A very kind and sweet animal, very devoted to people. He likes to eat grass, eats apples and wild berries. A very smart creature. It lives mainly in villages closer to the forest. He himself is brightly colored and can be seen from afar. He himself originated in a hybrid from various most beautiful animals. He lives in a hut with his family and children.”
In the drawing of the “Most Evil and Terrible” animal, a very moderate symbolism of verbal aggression appears: a toothy mouth ( rice. 2).
In the story about her animal-sorcerer, Polina provided him with many negative characteristics, but there is no aggression among them: “This creature lives in deep space, away from people. Rude, arrogant traitor and liar. A very big pretender is a chameleon. Hates people and seeks to destroy the earth. It feeds on small organisms that live on his planet, where he lives alone, called Witchcraft.
The statement that "the most evil and terrible" animal "feeds on small organisms" is a sign of a very low level aggressiveness. Sometimes similar statements (for example, that the animal eats vegetables and fruits) appear in subjects who deliberately hide their aggressiveness. However, in this case, such an assumption would be extremely doubtful, since Polina conscientiously provided her animal with negative signs and even reported that it "hates people and seeks to destroy the earth." This message itself is not a sign of aggressiveness, since the girl, neither in the drawing nor in the story, gave the animal any means that would allow it to realize its anti-human aspirations.
Increased aggressiveness
One of the most common signs of increased aggressiveness in the drawing of a non-existent animal is the presence of sharp protrusions and outgrowths, regardless of what they represent (horns, ears, tentacles, claws).
An example of such a drawing is the drama robot depicted by Arthur S. ( fig.3). The most sharp outgrowths directed upwards are the hands. Arthur explained: “He has iron hands. They hit. The head can tear off someone's head. He has drool - poison. If someone fights against him, he immediately melts (that is, his opponents melt from poisonous saliva). When he cuts off his head, blood flows out, he feeds on blood. When asked what the drama robot likes to do, the boy replied: “Attacks enemies. He is scary and powerful. He attacks unnoticed. It can attack from a tree. When asked why he attacked “invisibly”, the answer was received: “Because the enemies also attack, they can kill. They seem to take revenge on other enemies. When asked who his enemies were, Arthur replied: “I don’t know. Maybe cyborgs, "and about his friends he said that they are" the same as him and a little different look. He also said that the Drambot lives in another galaxy and that the three things he would ask of the wizard are: "to have very powerful troops to attack enemies"; "infinite life, so that it was very difficult to kill him"; "so that it becomes larger - in appearance, growth." Such a vivid manifestation of aggressive tendencies in a story about the life of an animal is relatively rare. Usually it is inhibited due to social control. In this case social control weakened, because Arthur has serious violations of socialization. Besides, Arthur is only eight years old, and at that age the control mechanisms are still far from being fully developed. In the above story, in addition to their own aggressive tendencies, there is also a fear of retaliatory aggression from others around. It can be assumed that this fear is acquired as a result of the accumulation negative experience. Probably, it was she who led to the fact that recently (the last year and a half), the boy, according to his parents, began to fight much less than before.
Fourteen-year-old Volodya S., according to the standard instructions (draw a non-existent animal), portrayed a boxer ( rice. 4), writing an extremely short story about him: “This is a boxer. He defeats everyone” (which is also noted in the inscription on the drawing itself: “Hurrah - Victory”). The underlined drawing of the muscle-tour, fists and especially broad shoulders speak of the high importance of masculine (male) values. In combination with the main occupation of the depicted creature (boxing is an aggressive sport), this allows one to suspect elevated level aggressiveness. However, the direct symbolism of aggression is presented in the drawing rather little: these are fangs and fists (boxing gloves), drawn with strong pressure.
The special brevity of the story seems to serve as a means of avoiding self-disclosure. It is very likely that aggressiveness is hiding. An additional reason for this assumption is that in the drawing Volodya set a socially acceptable form of aggressiveness. About a pronounced tendency to control external forms behavior is indicated by a sharply emphasized fence around the depicted figure (the ropes of the ring).
Any doubts about the true level of Volodya's aggressiveness disappear when looking at the evil and terrible animal depicted by him ( rice. 5). Since in this version of the test the instruction itself legitimizes aggressiveness, that is, makes it permissible, this time the corresponding symbolism is presented in full. There are two sharp horns on the head and one on the nose, long spikes on the shoulders and on the knee, claws on the legs, a serrated dagger or sword in one hand and a mace with large spikes in the other. All these accessories are underlined with a strong pressure line, partially blackened.
The story about the evil animal is somewhat more detailed than about the usual one: “It's a Vikongorygosaurus. He lives in the mountains. He is evil, he conquers all. Lives alone. It feeds on people."
Interestingly, with the exception of aggressive symbolism, Vikongorygosaurus looks exactly like a boxer. It’s as if they say to the viewer: “I try to look like this (boxer), but this is how I really am (Vikongorygosaurus)”.
Tendency to verbal aggression.
In the drawing of a non-existent animal, the tendency to verbal aggression, as in the drawing of a person, is expressed in emphasizing the teeth. Like general aggressiveness, it can be hidden when depicting a simply non-existent animal, manifesting itself only in the drawing of an evil and terrible animal. So, Lena F., according to the standard instructions, depicted an animal called a merry fellow ( rice. 6). About her animal, she wrote the following: “Funny, kind, cute animal. This is what his name says. Lives in the land of laughter. In this country, you can not be sad, cry. Veselchak helps everyone to have fun, comes up with various funny games, activities, stories.
Anxiety appeared in the drawing (hatching, especially large ears); possible fears (large blackened eyes). In the story, as one might assume, the girl's own attitude is expressed in order not to allow herself to be sad (“one cannot be sad in this country”). Apparently, she, like her character, usually tries to distract herself from her negative experiences. There is no aggressive theme in the drawing or in the story.
In the image of an evil and terrible animal, the symbolism of physical aggression is presented very moderately: these are claws drawn with strong pressure ( rice. 7).
However, the symbolism of verbal aggression is clearly expressed in it: a huge mouth with underlined (shaded) teeth. The story reads as follows: “The Scarecrow lives in the land of fear. He is very harmful, loves to lie, avoids everyone, and at night on a full moon he likes to scare everyone, this is his favorite pastime. The statement that the "scarecrow" loves to scare everyone, as well as the general appearance of the drawing, speaks of a tendency to verbal aggression.
Fear of aggression and defensive
In addition to the level of their own aggressiveness, the drawing of a non-existent animal shows an attitude towards possible aggression from others. Fear of attack leads to the desire to protect the invented animal. As protection, a shell can be depicted, as in the drawing by Masha R, scales, armor, especially thick skin (it may not be in the picture, but it is described in the story). The image of quills, like those of a porcupine, or thorns is very widespread. An example is an animal called a dragon ( rice. 8). He has two arms, six legs, thorns on his body, “so that no one bites him,” and numerous bites, depicted as circles with a dot in the center.
Grisha spoke about the lifestyle of the animal as follows: “He lives in the mountains, in a cave. Only he's already dead. This is a dinosaur. He loves meat, a lot of meat,
he loves to eat." When asked what this animal eats, the boy replied: "Other dragons and people that were a long time ago." When asked to describe the size of the animal, he said the dragon was “terrible and big and huge; like three houses. When asked about friends, the answer was unequivocal: “No. One lives." Dinosaurs were named as enemies. When the inspector asked what this animal likes to do, Grisha replied: "Eat." When asked to name any other favorite activities of the animal, the boy said: "Fight, bite," and when asked about what he does not like, he said: "Eating stones." It also turned out that the "dragon" is afraid "to be eaten and to throw huge stones at him." The inspector asked who could do this, and Grisha explained: “There are dinosaurs even bigger than him.”
Three desires of the "dragon": "to be big"; “so that they don’t eat him, so that they don’t throw stones at him”; "to have friends."
Regarding the first desire, the inspector expressed some surprise: "He's already very big." “No, little one,” Grisha replied. - It is necessary that there was more of all.
When analyzing Grisha's drawing of a person, both anxious and depressive symptoms are noted. The state of anxiety is also diagnosed by the image of a non-existent animal (greatly enlarged). Depressive symptoms did not appear in the drawing, but were reflected in the story: this is the theme of death (“only he has already died”).
Based on the drawing and the story, one can more specifically determine the nature of Grisha's anxious fears. This is, first of all, the fear of aggression: the animal is afraid “to be eaten and to throw stones at it”; his desire is “so that they don’t eat him, so that they don’t throw stones at him”; despite the thorns, it's all bitten. The image of bites, like any wounds, is an expressive sign of a neurotic state.
Apparently, Grishina's fear of aggression is connected with his inability to communicate with peers. It is reflected in widely spaced hands with very large brushes (high unsatisfied need for communication), empty eyes. "Dragon" lives alone in a cave, he has no friends, one of the desires is to have friends. The theme of eating stones is also typical of communication disorders.
The fear of aggression is characterized by a description of the gigantic size of the animal (in Grisha it is “huge, like three houses”) and the desire to become even larger (“it is necessary that it be the largest of all”). At the same time, the drawing itself can be large (as in this case), or it can be small, so that the theme of gigantic dimensions only occurs in the story.
In the story, Grisha repeatedly tries to oppose the aggression of the dragon himself depicted by him to an external threat. He is "terrible", eats "other dragons and humans", loves to "fight, bite". This shows a tendency to defensive aggression. However, judging by the absence of aggressive accessories in the drawing and the conciseness of the aggressive theme in the story (it sounds only in answers to questions), this trend is not sufficiently realized.
A more pronounced tendency to defensive aggression is manifested in the fourteen-year-old Ilya R ( rice. 9). The “three-horned monster” depicted by him is completely covered with thorns. Along with this, he has five large sharp spikes on his back, which could be used not only for defense, but also for attack. The thorns themselves are also protected by thorns.
In the story, the themes associated with the fear of aggression are combined with the actual aggressive themes and with statements that reflect a feeling of loneliness: “This is a three-horned monster. It is very evil and eats everyone. It is very large, about the size of an elephant. It is protected by thorns so that no one attacks it. He has another mouth with teeth on his body." From the answers to the questions, it turns out that the three-horned monster lives in the forest, alone. He has neither friends nor enemies. To the question of whom it defends itself with thorns, if it has no enemies, Ilya replied: "For example, from a tiger."
Ilya said that the animal would express the following desires: “that all the animals that he likes come to him; for example, he likes to eat rabbits”; “to look not scary so that they would not be afraid of him; someone comes to him - and he eats"; "to make him have an eye from behind."
When asked why the three-horned monster had an eye from behind, the boy replied: “To see the prey.” The desire to increase sensitivity - feature anxiety, fear. The motivation indicated by Ilya (“to see the prey”) reflects attempts to overcome fears using one of the psychological defense mechanisms - rationalization.
Parents brought Ilya to a psychological consultation with a complaint that he did not communicate with anyone. If, walking along the street, he sees one of his classmates, he tries to hide so as not to meet him, although, according to his parents, his classmates treat him well. Impaired not only communication with peers, but also communication with teachers. In particular, Ilya does not answer in class, although he copes well with all written work.
All these complaints can be explained by a greatly increased anxiety and fear of aggression, on the basis of which a fear of any communication in general has developed. In Ilya's behavior, the parents did not notice a tendency to defensive aggression, which manifested itself in the test materials. This can be explained either by the fact that it is suppressed by fears, or simply by the absence of conflict situations in which it could be realized. The absence of conflicts is ensured by Ilya's tendency to exclude contacts, combined with a good attitude towards him from classmates.
Defensive aggression is not always so harmless. It is not uncommon for it to be actively manifested at the behavioral level. Despite the fact that the person himself perceives it as protective, in reality it can become proactive: expecting an attack (perhaps without any reason), a person rushes to attack first in advance.
neurotic aggression
Neurotic aggression, like defensive aggression, is a response to an unfavorable external situation.
However, this is a much more generalized reaction than defensive aggression: it is not directed directly at the source of a potential threat, but at the entire environment. In such cases, it is said that a person is angry at the whole world because of his failures.
A sign of neurotic aggression in the "Non-existent animal" test is a combination of neurotic and aggressive manifestations.
At the same time, the case is very common when in the original version of the test (simply a non-existent animal) there is only neurotic symptoms, and aggression is manifested in the drawing of an angry and scary animal ( rice. 10, 11). Hatching with strong pressure indicates high anxiety and emotional tension. The special care of shading suggests that Valera is also distinguished by a high level of rigidity. The carefully underlined outline is evidence of a high level of control. An indicator of good control is also considered to be the image of a long neck. Consequently, neurotic symptoms should not be particularly noticeable in the boy's behavior, since at the level of external manifestations they are inhibited due to increased self-control.
The story he wrote states: “My non-existent animal lives in the swamps. This is a flying turtle. It feeds on worms and algae. Her enemies are snakes and some people, and her friends are fish and birds. Fleeing from danger, she flies into the air and disappears from sight in the blink of an eye.
This story has a typically neurotic theme. This is, firstly, an emotionally unpleasant place of life - a swamp (the indication that the animal lives in mud, in mud is also interpreted). Secondly, this is a mention of unpleasant food - worms (food with slugs, garbage, muck, etc. is interpreted similarly). And finally, for a neurotic state, certain types of fears are typical - neurotic fears. These include, in particular, the fear of small animals (insects, mice, etc.) and the fear of snakes. The presence of such fears can manifest itself when answering the question of what the animal is afraid of, or (as in this case) when describing its enemies.
Valera's story reflects unspecified disturbing fears (“escaping from danger ...”).
Valera depicted the most evil and terrible animal in the form of a sea serpent with an open mouth ( rice. eleven).
He refused to give it a name.
The figure shows signs of both defensive and active aggression. The former are represented by spikes (or ridges) on the back of the animal, the latter by an open, toothy mouth (a sign of verbal aggression) and sharp tusks. The signs of anxiety, emotional tension, rigidity and high control noted in the first figure also persist.
There is an aggressive theme in the story, but in rather mild terms: “My animal lives in the depths of the ocean. It feeds on sharks and other large fish. In length reaches 20 meters. Sometimes attacks ships. His friends are the same as he is, but he has no enemies (there has not yet been found such an animal that would overcome him).
It seems that Valera is more inclined not to real aggression, but to demonstrating an aggressive position in order to scare off a possible enemy. This position of his is associated with a neurotic state that creates general feeling discomfort and vague threat posed by the outside world.
A similar picture, but with less pronounced neuroticism, is observed in Lyudmila K. She portrayed a pretty animal called "eye" ( rice. 12). About her animal, she wrote the following story: “His name is Big Eyes. Since he has very long legs, and there are suction cups at their ends, he sticks them to the eaves of the roofs of houses and sleeps there (upside down). He has a third eye on his back, which helps him during sleep in case of any danger (it is always open during sleep). Since he lives in the city, he is very fond of sweet food (chocolate, cookies). His friends are only his brothers. Together they fly out of town (for the weekend), go to the bathhouse together. His enemies are forest animals." Both the drawing and the story make a favorable impression. The figure shows very moderate aggressiveness (sharp beak). There are equally mild signs of anxiety, possibly fears (increased size of the drawing, eyes with a blackened iris, a third eye on the back in case of "any danger"). Numerous circles on the body, scales on the legs and on the ears are evidence of some rigidity. All these features, judging by the low degree of their severity, do not go beyond the psychological norm. A significantly different impression is made by Lyudmila's drawing of an "evil and terrible" animal, for which she did not come up with a name ( rice. 13). About this animal, she wrote: “The food of this monster is land animals. With his long arms he pulls them out of the ground. It also poses a danger to animals. It sucks the blood out of them with its sharp stings.
This time, both neuroticism and aggression were clearly manifested. The whole drawing is painted over with an even gray tone, some parts of the drawing are erased and redone. These are signs of high anxiety. There is a desire to protect themselves from a possible threat (thorns on the body and on the tail).
A gross distortion of the shape of the eyes (in this case, their transformation into aggressive points) is one of the indicators of neuroticism. Neuroticization also manifested itself in a sharp change in the style of description. If the description of a simply non-existent animal is made quite literary, with detailed phrases, then when describing an evil and terrible animal, chopped, extremely simplified phrases are used; coordination is violated, gross errors of attention appear (“the food of this monster is ...”).
The description of such a way of feeding as sucking the blood of victims is often found in people prone to neurotic aggression. Aggressive symbolism is also represented by sharp stings, pointed eyes, forked claws at the ends of the hands. The tip also ends with a tail. As already noted, a massive tail pulled up is a sexual symbol. Therefore, it can be assumed that in the perception of Lyudmila, sexuality is closely connected with aggression. In the drawing of a simply non-existent animal, the tail, although it is present, is by no means as massive as that of an evil and terrible animal.
Manifestations of aggressiveness in Luda's drawing of an evil and terrible animal significantly exceed the level typical for girls of her age. They are combined with signs of neuroticism, which makes it possible to qualify aggressiveness as neurotic. There are no such manifestations in the drawing made according to the standard instructions. This suggests that Luda's neurotic aggression is not constant, but arises in response to emotional stress.
TEST OF AGGRESSIVENESS (QUESTIONNAIRE L. G. POCHEBUT)
Scales: verbal aggression, physical aggression, objective aggression, emotional aggression, self-aggression.
Purpose of the test : diagnostics of aggressive behavior
Test Description:
In ethnopsychological research, the problem of studying aggressive behavior occupies a special place. Determining the level of aggressiveness can help prevent interethnic conflicts and stabilize the social and economic situation in the country. Aggressive behavior is a specific form of human action, characterized by a demonstration of superiority in strength or the use of force in relation to another or a group of persons whom the subject seeks to harm.
Aggressive behavior should be considered as the opposite of adaptive behavior.
Adaptive behavior involves the interaction of a person with other people, the coordination of interests, requirements and expectations of its participants. Psychologists B. Bass and R. Darki have developed a test that assesses the level of a person's aggressive behavior.
Test instructions:
Instruction. “The intended questionnaire reveals your usual style of behavior in stressful situations and features of adaptation in the social environment. You need to unequivocally (“yes” or “no”) evaluate the 40 statements below.
TEST
1. During an argument, I often raise my voice.
2. If someone annoys me, I can tell him everything I think about him.
3. If I need to use physical force to protect my rights, I will do it without hesitation.
4. When I meet a person I don't like, I can allow myself to discreetly pinch or push him.
5. In an argument with another person, I may bang my fist on the table to get attention or to prove myself right.
6. I constantly feel that others do not respect my rights.
7. Remembering the past, sometimes I feel sorry for myself.
8. Although I don’t show it, sometimes envy gnaws at me.
9. If I do not approve of the behavior of my acquaintances, then I directly tell them about it.
10. In a strong anger, I use strong expressions, I use foul language.
11. If someone raises a hand on me, I will try to hit him first.
12. I get so mad that I throw things.
13. I often have a need to rearrange the furniture in the apartment or completely change it.
14. In dealing with people, I often feel like a "powder keg" that is constantly ready to explode.
15. Sometimes I have a desire to play an evil joke on another person.
16. When I am angry, I usually get gloomy.
17. In a conversation with a person, I try to listen carefully without interrupting.
18. In my youth, my fists often “itched” and I was always ready to use them.
19. If I know that a person deliberately pushed me, then it can come to a fight.
20. Creative clutter on my desktop allows me to work efficiently.
21. I remember that I used to be so angry that I grabbed everything that came to hand and broke it.
22. Sometimes people annoy me with just their presence.
23. I often wonder what hidden reasons make another person do something nice for me.
24. If someone offends me, then I will lose the desire to talk to anyone, whatever it is.
25. Sometimes I deliberately say nasty things about a person I don't like.
26. When I'm furious, I scream the most vicious curse.
27. As a child, I avoided fighting.
28. I know why and when to hit someone.
29. When I'm furious, I can slam the door.
30. It seems to me that the people around me do not like me.
31. I constantly share my feelings and experiences with others.
32. Very often I bring harm to myself with my words and actions.
33. When people yell at me, I answer the same.
34. If someone hits me first, I will hit him back.
35. It annoys me when things are out of place.
36. If I fail to repair a broken or torn object, then in anger I break or tear it completely.
37. Other people always seem successful to me.
38. When I think of a person who is very unpleasant to me, I can get excited from the desire to harm him.
39. Sometimes it seems to me that fate played a cruel joke on me.
40. If someone does not treat me the way they should, I get very upset about this.
PROCESSING AND INTERPRETATION OF TEST RESULTS
Aggressive behavior in the form of manifestation is divided into 5 scales.
Verbal aggression (BA) - a person verbally expresses his aggressive attitude towards another person, uses verbal insults.
physical aggression (FA) - a person expresses his aggression towards another person with the use of physical force.
Subject aggression (PA) - a person vents his aggression on the objects around him.
Emotional aggression (EA) - a person experiences emotional alienation when communicating with another person, accompanied by suspicion, hostility, hostility or hostility towards him.
Self-aggression (SA) - a person is not at peace and in harmony with himself; he has no or weakened psychological defense mechanisms; he is defenseless in an aggressive environment.
Key for test processing:
Type of aggression Approval number
VA Yes: 1,2,9,10,25,26,33 No: 17
FA Yes: 3,4,11,18,19,28,34 No: 27
PA Yes: 5,12,13,21,29,35,36 No: 20
EA Yes: 6,14,15,22,30,37,38 No: 23
SA Yes: 7,8,16,24,32,39,40 No: 31
Mathematical processing. First, the scores for each of the five scales are summed up.
If the total score is above 5, this means a high degree of aggressiveness and a low degree of adaptability on the scale.
The sum of points from 3 to 4 corresponds to the average degree of aggression and adaptability. The sum of points from 0 to 2 means a low degree of aggressiveness and a high degree of adaptation for this type of behavior. The scores on all scales are then summed up.
If the sum exceeds 25 points, this means a high degree of aggressiveness of a person, his low adaptive capabilities.
The sum of points from 11 to 24 corresponds to the average level of aggressiveness and adaptability.
The sum of points from 0 to 10 means a low degree of aggressiveness and a high degree of adapted behavior.
