Chapter Four-How To Master Thematic Apperception Test
In this chapter we will study how to view an image with a sample image which comes very often during the Thematic Apperception Test.
Chapter 4: How To Analyse An Image
In this chapter we will study how to analyse an image taking example of an image which is very common in the Thematic Apperception Test. We will analyse the image which you are able to see below as figure 4.1
Figure 4.1
Let us first analyse the image on the three important parameters of figure, background and hint.
1) Figure: When it comes to figure, that is the element of human beings in the image, you are able to see that there is a group of students with their hands raised, they are sloganeering. How can you judge that they are students? Very simple: first thing is that they are wearing the same dress which indicates that they are wearing a uniform and thereby it also shows that they are probably students belonging to one particular educational institution. Second thing is that they are all wearing a tie and they all look like they are of the age group of around 15-20. All
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these factors clearly confirm that they are students of one particular educational institution.
Apart from the students, there is one more character who is much more older than them. He is bald and he is wearing glasses and he is approaching them with raised hands in a way which shows that he is trying to stop them and is approaching them with concern.
2) Background: In the background, you are able to see two tall trees and open field. Nothing much is there in the background apart from that.
3) Hint: Finally, when it comes to hint, there are two things here which should draw your attention. First is that they are holding a banner which has students want written on it. What they want is not written and there is a reason behind it. The choice has been left open to you to decide what is the reason of their protest. It is for this reason that the reason of protest has not been specified on the banner. What you will choose as the theme, as the reason for protest, will also show something about you-something negative or positive. The story which we are going to evaluate next will help you understand how the reason which you will choose as the reason for protest will reveal something good or bad about you.
The second element of hint is the sloganeering which is going on which confirms that it is a protest.
If any person with even average intelligence will connect the figure, background and hints given in the image, he will immediately realise that the theme of the story should be around resolving and addressing the reason of protest. Students with banners sloganeering and one
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older person walking towards them trying to calm them down or to stop them is enough to help anyone realise that the story should be around resolving the reason of protest. How will the central character of the story go about solving the issue at hand will reveal qualities related to conflict mitigation, initiative, courage as well as reasoning ability and these are the qualities the board would like to check through this story.
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