Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Verified for the 2026 exam
Verified for the 2026 exam•Written by the Fiveable Content Team • Last updated August 2025
Definition
A projective test is a psychological assessment tool that presents ambiguous stimuli, such as inkblots or pictures, to elicit subjective responses that reflect an individual's unconscious thoughts and emotions.
This projective test uses ambiguous pictures to assess an individual's underlying motives, needs, and conflicts.
Inkblot Test: Similar to the Rorschach inkblot test, this projective test uses symmetrical inkblots for individuals to interpret their meanings.
Sentence Completion Test: In this projective test, individuals are asked to complete open-ended sentences, providing insights into their thoughts, attitudes, and emotions.