Object relations and physical abuse: a TAT analysis

Malevolent object relations: A multimethod study of female survivors of childhood abuse

Although childhood victimization is associated with impairments in object relations, it is not clear how different measures comparatively perform in assessing this relationship. This study examined the connection between emotional, physical, and sexual abuse in childhood and three methods of assessing malevolent object representations. Sixty adult women, recruited from an urban primary-care clinic, were administered the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), the Object Relations Inventory (ORI) interview, and a version of the Early Memories Test (EMT)/interview. Ratings of malevolent object relations were obtained using the affect-tone dimension from the Social Cognition and Object Relations (SCORS-G) scale with both TAT and early memory narratives and through Malevolence ratings from the ORI interview. It was found that, outside of emotional abuse, ORI interview ratings of malevolence consistently differentiated adult childhood abuse groups and nonabuse groups, whereas early memory ratings of malevolence differentiated groups in two of four analyses. Malevolence ratings based upon TAT ratings failed to differentiate any type of abuse from nonabuse. These findings suggest that the use of malevolence ratings from the ORI and early memory narratives are preferred methods for assessing malevolent object relations in urban-dwelling women who have been victimized as children.

SCORS-G and Card Pull Effect of TAT Stories: A Study With a Nonclinical Sample of Children

Previous research has shown that stimulus pull is one of the contributory factors influencing Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) responses. In recent years, there has been a resurgence of studies examining this. In particular, the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale-Global Rating Method (SCORS-G) has been employed to examine stimulus pull in adult clinical and nonclinical samples. The present study is the first attempt to examine this issue in a nonclinical sample of children. Ninety-eight children from Italian elementary (1st to 5th grade) and middle (6th to 8th grade) schools provided narratives to six TAT cards (1, 2, 3BM, 4, 8BM, and 16). Some important findings with regard to variance within scales replicate prior findings from other studies. Furthermore, some findings regarding the specific nature of pull for particular TAT cards (1, 2, 3BM, and 4) replicate prior work. Given that Cards 8BM and 16's SCORS-G stimulus properties have not been previously studied, the pull of these cards is explored. Last, SCORS-G differences/similarities across these two age groups are highlighted. Suggestions for further research in this field are also provided, particularly concerning the use of SCORS-G and TAT for clinical assessment.

Thematic Apperception Tests for Child and Adolescent Assessment: A Practitioner's Consumer Guide

This article reviews the thematic apperception tests that are currently available to the practitioner for child and adolescent assessment. Besides the well-established CAT and TAT, various new tests have been developed to address contemporary issues relevant to young children and adolescents. The discussion of the comparative strengths and weaknesses of these instruments' is related to issues of test validity and reliability

Attachment, social cognition, and posttraumatic stress symptoms in a traumatized, urban population: evidence for the mediating role of object relations

Research has linked multiple risk and resiliency factors to developing posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One potentially important construct for understanding connections between trauma and PTSD is attachment. Although relationships between attachment and risk for PTSD have been described theoretically, limited research has addressed these relationships empirically. Furthermore, aspects of object relations overlap with attachment and PTSD, but have not been adequately incorporated in empirical research. One proposed pathway between attachment and PTSD involves the mediating role of object relations, particularly views of self and others. Present data were from a larger study investigating environmental and genetic risk factors for PTSD in an impoverished, primarily African American sample seeking care at a public urban hospital. Correlations indicated that adult attachment (with the exception of dismissing) and object relations relate to childhood traumas, (|r|s = .19-.29), adult traumas (|r|s = .14-.20), and self-reported PTSD symptoms (|r|s = .20-.36). Analyses also found support for mediational roles of object relations in relationships between attachment and PTSD symptoms (Model R(2) range = .136-.160). These data have theoretical, clinical, and research implications for understanding how particular aspects of attachment, specifically its effects on object relations, may protect against or predispose one to develop PTSD.

Validation of a theory-driven profile interpretation of the Dutch short form of the MMPI using the TAT Social Cognitions and Object Relations Scale (SCORS)

In this study, we investigated the construct validity of the theory-driven profile interpretation of the Dutch Short Form of the MMPI (DSFM; Luteijn & Kok, 1985), an interpretation method aimed at assessing structural features of personality based on Kernberg and Caligor's (2005) views concerning personality organization. We utilized the four dimensions of the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS; Westen, Lohr, Silk, Gold, & Kerber, 1990) as external criteria. Results showed that, congruent with theoretical expectations, the DSFM profiles predicted structural features of personality functioning, especially identity diffusion as measured by the SCORS, after adjustment for the effect of the single scales used to construct the profiles. These findings provide further support for the construct validity of the DSFM profiles to measure structural features of personality organization. We discuss directions for future research and clinical implications.

Victim–victimizer relational dynamics as maintained by representational, defensive, and neurobiological functioning

Cognitive-affective, defensive, and neurobiological aspects of victim-victimizer relational dynamics are illustrated. Observations of a 26-year-old mother and her 9-year-old son during a semistructured play task and projective and objective assessment data provide the sources of inference regarding how the parent and child's thematic structures are relationally expressed, maintain their psychopathology, and foster a victim-victimizer interactional cycle. By way of complementary interpersonal, psychological, and neurobiological processes, a victim-victimizer relational dynamic is maintained and intergenerationally transmitted.

Children's internal representations, empathy, and fantasy play: a validity study of the SCORS-Q

The authors investigated relationships among internal representations, empathy, and affective and cognitive processes in fantasy play to test the validity of the Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale Q-Sort (SCORS-Q; D. Westen, 1995) with children. Eighty-six 8-10-year-olds were administered 8 Thematic Apperception Test cards, a standardized play task, and a self-report empathy measure. Teachers rated children's empathy and helpfulness. As predicted, internal representations were related to empathy, helpfulness, and quality of fantasy play. Developmental differences on the SCORS-Q were consistent with object relations theory and with results from the original SCORS. The findings support the value of internal representations as a means of understanding children's interpersonal functioning and contribute to the validity of the SCORS-Q for use with children.

Attributions and adjustment following child sexual and physical abuse

Individuals who experience child physical orsexual abuse are at greater risk for adjustment problems. However, the heterogeneity of symptomatology observed across individuals following child abuse suggests that outcome is determined by multiplefactors. The authors review literature examining the relationships among childhood physical or sexual abuse, attributions, and adjustment. Implications for application and future research are discussed.

Narrative representations of caregivers and emotion dysregulation as predictors of maltreated children's rejection by peers

This study examined whether maltreated children were more likely than nonmaltreated children to develop poor-quality representations of caregivers and whether these representations predicted children's rejection by peers. A narrative task assessing representations of mothers and fathers was administered to 76 maltreated and 45 nonmaltreated boys and girls (8-12 years old). Maltreated children's representations were more negative/constricted and less positive/coherent than those of nonmaltreated children. Maladaptive representations were associated with emotion dysregulation, aggression, and peer rejection, whereas positive/coherent representations were related to prosocial behavior and peer preference. Representations mediated maltreatment's effects on peer rejection in part by undermining emotion regulation. Findings suggest that representations of caregivers serve an important regulatory function in the peer relationships of at-risk children.

Use of the TAT in the assessment of DSM-IV cluster B personality disorders

The Social Cognition and Object Relations Scale (SCORS), developed by Western, Lohr, Silk, Kerber, and Goodrich (1985), is a diagnostic instrument used to assess an array of psychological functioning by using clinical narratives such as the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT; Murray, 1943) stories. This study investigated the utility of the SCORS to differentiate between Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed. [DSM-IV]; American Psychiatric Association, 1994) antisocial personality disorder (ANPD), borderline personality disorder (BPD), narcissistic personality disorder (NPD), and Cluster C personality disorder (CPD). A sample of 58 patients was separated into four groups: ANPD (n = 9), BPD (n = 21; 18 with a primary BPD diagnosis and 3 with prominent borderline traits who met 4 of the 5 DSM-IV criteria necessary for a BPD diagnosis), NPD (n = 16; 8 with a primary NPD diagnosis and 8 with prominent narcissistic traits who met 4 of the 5 DSM-IV criteria necessary for a NPD diagnosis), and CPD (n = 12). These groups were then compared on the 8 SCORS variables by using 5 TAT cards (1, 2, 3BM, 4, and 13MF). Spearman-Brown correction for 2-way mixed effects model of reliability for the 8 SCORS variables ranged from .70 to .95. The results of categorical and dimensional analyses indicate that (a) SCORS variables can be used to differentiate ANPD, BPD, and NPD; (b) the BPD group scored significantly lower (greater maladjustment) than did the CPD group on certain variables; (c) the BPD group scored significantly lower (greater maladjustment) than did the NPD group on all 8 SCORS variables; (d) the ANPD group scored significantly lower than did the NPD group on certain variables; (e) certain variables were found to be empirically related to the total number of DSM-IV ANPD, BPD, and NPD criteria; and (f) certain variables were found to be empirically related to Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2; Butcher, Dahlstrom, Graham, Tellegen, & Kaemmer, 1989) Personality disorder scales. The results of this study are discussed in terms of clinical utility, conceptual, and theoretical implications.

Rorschach assessment of malevolence in sexually abused girls

Clinical samples of sexually abused and nonabused girls were compared on COP/AG, a proposed Rorschach index of malevolence. Defined as the co-occurrence of COP and AG in a single response, this variable is introduced as a Rorschach analog of a measure of malevolence devised for use with narrative material. Sexually abused girls scored significantly higher on COP/AG than did nonabused girls (p < .01), with no group differences emerging for either COP or AG alone. These findings provide empirical support for the salience of malevolence in the interpersonal perceptions and expectancies of victims of childhood sexual abuse. Clinical implications and directions for future research are discussed.

Psychological assessment (MMPI-2) of male African-American substance-abusing patients with and without histories of childhood physical abuse

Twenty-nine drug addicted patients in a VA substance abuse program with a history of childhood physical abuse were compared to 29 drug addicted patients without a history of childhood abuse, using the MMPI-2 as a measure of personality traits and functioning. Drug addicted patients with an abuse history showed psychological maladjustment on almost all measures and at greater levels of intensity and severity than the nonabused group. We conclude that drug addicted patients who have been abused represent a unique subset of the drug addicted population and may require targeted psychological treatment for residual problems associated with childhood abuse. This may then also improve the efficacy of substance abuse treatment as well.