Psychoanalytic theory as a unifying framework for 21st century personality aSsessment

Abstract

Psychoanalysis represents a valuable unifying framework for 21st century personality assessment, with the potential to enhance both research and clinical practice. After reviewing recent trends in psychological testing I discuss how psychoanalytic principles can be used to conceptualize and integrate personality assessment data. Research from three domains-the role of projection in shaping Rorschach responses, contrasting patterns of gender differences in self-report and free-response dependency measures, and the use of process dissociation procedures to illuminate test score convergences and divergences-illustrates how psychoanalytic concepts may be combined with ideas and findings from other areas of psychology to offer unique insights regarding assessment-based personality dynamics. © 2010 American Psychological Association.