HTP Reporting

Submitted By

Syeda Zoha Fatima

Fa18/BPY/069

Submitted to

Ma’am Tayyaba Hanif

Course:

Psychological Testing 2

DEPARTMENT OF HUMANITIES

COMSATS UNIVERSITY ISLAMABAD CAMPUS

(1996)
 Introduction

The House-Tree-Person test (HTP) is a projective test designed to measure aspects of a person’s personality.
The test can also be used to assess brain damage and general mental functioning. A test is a diagnostic tool for
clinical psychologists, educators, and employers. The subject receives a short, unclear instruction (the stimulus)
To draw a house, a tree, and the figure of a person. Once the subject is done, he is asked to describe the pictures
that he has taken. The assumption is that when the subject is drawing, he is projecting his inner world onto the
page. The administrator of the test uses tools and skills that have been established for the purpose of
investigating the subject's inner world through the drawings.

Author

John N. Buck

Year

Developed in 1948 and updated in 1969

Brief History

HTP was designed by John Buck and was originally based on the Goodenough scale of intellectual functioning.
The HTP was developed in 1948 and updated in 1969. Buck included both qualitative and quantitative
measurements of intellectual ability in the HTP (V). A 350-page manual was written by Buck to instruct the
test-giver on proper grading of the HTP, which is more subjective than quantitative. In contrast with him, Zoltán
Vass published a more sophisticated approach, based on system analysis (SSCA, Seven-Step Configuration
Analysis).

Test Material

A four-page scoring folder, a post-drawing interrogation form, four white papers, several lead pencils, and the
tentative manual.

Administering the test

HTP is given to a person and takes approximately 150 minutes (about 2 and a half hours) to complete based on
the subject's level of mental functioning. During the first phase, the test-taker is asked to draw the house, tree,
and person and the test-giver asks questions about each picture. There are 60 questions originally designed by
Buck, but art therapists and trained test givers can also design their own questions or ask follow up questions.
This phase is done with a crayon.[1] During the second phase of HTP, the test-taker draws the same pictures
with a pencil or pen. Again, the test-giver asks similar questions about the drawings. Note: some mental health
professionals only administer phase one or two and may change the writing instrument as desired. Variations of
the test may ask the person to draw one person of each sex or put all drawings on the same page.

Objective and rationale

There are two main objectives for this test; to measure aspects of a person’s personality through interpretation
of drawings and responses; and to assess brain damage or overall neurological functioning

Scoring and Interpretation

The post-drawing interrogation form consists of 60 questions varying from direct and concrete to indirect and
abstract. Once the post-drawing interrogation form has been submitted. The examiner records items of details,
proportion, and perspective in the scoring folder. After completing the scoring tables, the examiners derives an
IQ figure for the percentage of raw G, a net weighted score, a weighted good score, and a weighted flaw score
which then comprise the items for the profile configuration.
 Report

Psychological Report

Examiner. Ms. Zoha Fatima

Supervisor: Ma’am Tayyaba Hanif

Demographic Information

Name: Nissa Malik

Sex: Female

Date of Birth: 22 January 1999

Age: 22years

Reason for evaluation: Learning

Test Administration and Assessment battery: Paper, Pen, HTP test.

Test taking Attitudes

The client, who was 22 years old, performed the test in a conductive environment and was willing to collaborate
to the fully extent. She performed the test in the classroom, she was very relaxed and focused. She did not feel
any pressure or anxiety while attempting the test. The subject was given instructions according to the manual.
After listening to the set of instructions carefully, the subject completed the whole test by herself.

Behavioral observation

Nissa was in her comfortable attire and appeared to have good hygiene. She wrote with her right hand. She
seemed very friendly and polite. She did not seem in a hurry, and she was conscious of what she was drawing.
She did not use the eraser and was rather drawing freehandedly and carefree, her motivation for testing was
good therefore the tests are considered a valid assessment of her psychological functioning.

Qualitative Analysis

House

Details

The subject made a single-story and normal size house on the edge of the left side of the paper which indicated
her low energy, low insight, and that she is a superficial optimistic person. She seems introverted; preoccupied
with her needs and she is self-conscious. Shrubs on the edge of the left indicated that she is insecure and worries
about her future. There is the presence of a smoking chimney which suggests that Miss Nissa feels considerable
inner tension/ anxiety in the home situation. The closed doors of the house predict that she is not very social and
has a very guarded personality, she emphasizes the door-knob which indicated that her excessive concern for
her interpersonal relations. She also drew strong walls which show her strong ego strength. The interstices in
the window suggest that some aspects of the environment feels like a prison. She drew a car too which could be
signs of visitors coming or people in the home leaving.

Post drawing Comments

When asked about the house it is a single-story house that is located in a northern area. It is made up of bricks
and it belongs to someone else. It seems to be nearby and above her sight. She said she wants to own this house
because it is peaceful and quiet. She wanted to live in this house with someone she loved.

Tree

Details

Nissa has drawn a gigantic tree which suggests that she has aggressive tendencies. She drew many branches
which signifies a feeling of being overwhelmed by incoming stimuli and outside pressures. There are many
leaves on the branches which indicate her racing thoughts, clouds like crowns show her low energy level and
her active fantasizing in a childish avoidance of reality and also suggests obsessive-compulsive tendencies.
Broad trunks show that subject is inhibited, and slow to comprehend. The lack of roots and addition of extra
plants around the tree emphasizes feelings of insecurity and a need for protection and balance

Post drawing comments

When asked about where tree located the client responded by saying it is located at nowhere, she randomly
drew it. She said it’s a young tree, very strong and healthy. She said that the tree is living because it’s very
green and lively, it is something you feel beautiful and peaceful looking at. And the tree stand in a pleasant
weather. It seems to be front and above her sight.

Man

Details

Ms. Nissa has drawn a female figure. She drew wavy hair which signifies her aggressive tendencies, self-
centeredness, sexual preoccupation, and compensation for fears of sexual inadequacy. There is the omission of
ears which suggests that the subject is healthy with normal adjustment, auditory hallucination and she
minimizes contact with the environment. The Pointed nose and full lips indicated her acting out tendencies, and
self-centered, sensual, and dependent behavior. She drew squared shoulders which signifies that subject is
hostile/ aggressive and excessively defensive. There is omission of breasts which indicate that subject is
unaffectionate, ungenerous toward children, Subject drew chopped off legs by the bottom of the page which
signifies that the subject has the feeling of dependent and lack of autonomy. There is the omission of feet which
indicate that the subject has dependent, helpless feelings or it might be psychosomatic or severe disorder.

Post Drawing Comment

When asked about who the person is she said she drew her friend where she is happy and satisfied in her life,
she stated that the girl was thinking that she is not pretty. She said one thing that her friend needs is self
confidence and need to see how strong she is.

Summary

It is concluded that the subject’s performance on the House-Tree Person Projective Test shows the continuing
themes of insecurity, inadequacy, and aggressive nature. She is worried about her future and interpersonal
relations. The subject appears to be dominated and self-centered, she shows slight obsessive-compulsive
tendencies.