HTP (House-Tree-Person)

INTRODUCTION

The House-Tree-Person (HTP) technique, conceived by John Buck in 1948 and later updated
in 1969, emerged from the Goodenough scale, initially used for assessing intellectual
abilities. Buck posited that artistic expression reflected various aspects of one's personality,
which could be depicted through graphic art.

He theorized that subjects revealed unconscious issues by portraying inner imagery through
drawings, thereby externalizing primary processes. This method, suitable for individuals aged
three and above, was not solely influenced by external stimuli, according to Buck, but rather
stemmed from inherent personality traits. As an extension of an intelligence assessment, Buck
devised both a quantitative scoring mechanism to evaluate intelligence levels and a
qualitative interpretive approach to assess overarching personality traits.

PURPOSE

 It measures aspects of a person’s personality through interpretation of drawings and

responses to questions.
 It is also used to assess IQ of children.
 It is used for the assessment of neurological functioning and brain damage.

INSTRUCTIONS

Use plain paper and give it to the person and say,

“Here I want you to draw as good a house as you can”. Questions, give the next sheet. “Draw
as good a tree as you can”, questions, give the next sheet. “Draw as good a person as you
can.” (if a profile or head only, say, “wait, I want you to draw a whole person, not just the
head or profile”), you can also use a single sheet to draw house tree and person.

SCORING

Scoring can be both qualitative and quantitative. The post drawing interrogation form
consists of 60 questions wearing from direct to concrete and indirect abstract. When the post
drawing questioning form has been completed then the examiner records the items of detail in
the scoring folder. After completing the scoring tables, the examiner drives an IQ figure for
the percentage of raw G which is net weighted score labeled as ‘good’ or ‘flaw’ which then
comprise the item for profile configuration.

INTERPRETATION

The HTP is scored in both an objective quantitative manner and a subjective qualitative
manner. The quantitative scoring scheme involves analyzing the details of drawings to arrive
at a general assessment of intelligence, using a scoring method devised by the test creators.
Research has shown this assessment of intelligence correlates highly with other intelligence
tests such as the Wechsler adult intelligence scale (WAIS).

The primary use of the HTP, however, is related to the qualitative scoring scheme in which
the test administrator subjectively analyzes the drawings and the responses to questions in a
way that assesses the test taker's personality.

Other methods of interpretation focus on the function of various parts in each of the
drawings. In the house drawing, the roof might represent one's intellectual side, the walls
might represent the test taker's degree of ego strength, and the doors and windows might
represent the individual's relation to the outside world. In the tree drawing, the branches
might indicate the test taker's relation to the outside world and the trunk might indicate inner
strength.

House Interpretations

These are loosely based on research and on the symbolic meaning of the aspects of the house.
They should hopefully be nurturing places with normal levels of detail and normal size. Too
little and the client may reject family life; too big and they may be overwhelmed by it.

Lines and walls represent boundaries and strength of the ego, thus weak lines in the structure
of the house are weaknesses in the ego, while strong lines are problems with anxiety and a
need to reinforce boundaries.

The roof symbolized the fantasy life, and extra attention to it can indicate extra attention to
fantasy and ideation, while incomplete, tiny, or burning roofs can indicate avoidance of
overpowering and frightening fantasies (think about fears of ghosts in the attic- these are
based on the association for us).

Windows, doors, and sidewalks are all ways that others enter or see into the house, so they
relate to openness, willingness to interact with others, and ideas about the environment. Thus,
shades, shutters, bars, curtains, and long and winding sidewalks indicate some unwillingness
to reveal much about yourself (think about expression like windows to the soul or the door to
the mind). Cars could be signs of visitors coming or people in the home leaving. Lights could
be the signs to welcome visitors or reveal prowlers. Open doors or many windows could
mean strong needs to engage others. Big windows, especially in the bathroom, could be
exhibitionist desires.

Psychotics tends to show ground lines (their need for grounding), clear visions of the insides
of the house (they believe their thoughts and mind are open to view by others), strange angles
(like their strange thought processes), or a house on the verge of a collapse (like their ego).

Questions

 Who lives here, are they happy?

 Are windows and doors closed or open?
 What goes on inside, do people visit here, tell me about the atmosphere of the house,
is it happy or sad?
 What else do the people in the house what to add to the drawing?

Tree Interpretations:

It indicates person’s growth, vitality, and development. The trunk is seen to represent the ego,
sense of self, and the intactness of the personality. Thus, heavy lines or shadings to represent
bark indicate anxiety about oneself, small trunks are limited ego strength, and large trunks are
more strength. (Think about the saying that a tree that bends lasts through the wind, but one
that doesn’t snap, like the ego that is flexible and healthy lasts through the world, but the
flexible and neurotic ego ends up broken). If Tree slips down the middle, as if they hit by
something can indicate a split personality and serious mental illness.

Questions

 What kind of tree is this?

 How old is it?
 Is it fresh or dead?
 What season is it?
 Has anyone tried to cut it down?
 What else grows nearby?
  Who waters the tree?
 Tree needs sunshine to live so does it get enough sunshine?

Person Interpretations

Legs and feet are like roots of trees and represent grounding and power too. If cut off at the
bottom of the paper (think of cutting someone off at the knees) it can mean loss of autonomy,
small feet (inadequate base) can indicate a need for security, while big feet can indicate the
same.

The neck separates the head (cognition) from the body (drives and needs), so no neck is no
separation, long neck is desire for more separation of two, etc.

Mouth is how we get needs met (think Freud and oral stuff), so big or open mouth is
neediness, cupid bow or luscious lips is sexualized needs, closed tight mouth is denial of
needs or some passive aggression, and frowns, sneers and smiles mean with they do in real
life. There is limited support for oral-dependency themes, and more for slash mouths and
teeth to be consistent with verbal aggression.

Genitalia, breasts, etc are seldom drawn, and indicate sexual concerns and discomfort.
Emphasis on breasts though is not uncommon in prepubescent girls, and both disturbed and
non-disturbed boys emphasized pectorals.

Drawing clowns (hiding face and person), robots (loss of emotions in a psychotic way),
cowboys (masculinized needs), snowmen (rounded bodies, regressive themes), stick man
(childish or regressive themes) etc, can mean what is noted in parenthesis above. Excessive
details are consistent with some obsessiveness when dealing with anxiety, while a marked
lack of detail can indicate withdrawal, low energy, or boredom.

Questions

 Who are these persons?

 Which one is male, and which one is female?
 How old are they?
 What are their relationships?
 Tell me about their mood in this picture, are they happy or sad?
 What’s their Favorite thing to do?
 What’s something they do not like?
  Has anyone tried to hurt them?
 Who looks out for them?

REPORTING

Psychological Report

Examiner: Your information goes here.

Supervised by:

Date of report writing:

Demographic Information

Name:

Sex:

Date of Birth:

Age:

Date of Test Administration and Assessment:

Reason for Evaluation

Test Administered and Assessment Battery

Behavioral Observations

Personality Assessment

House: Patient (your name) drew a house that appears to have appropriate size and structure
etc here you go through your interpretation. Things you might include:

 Size & structure

 General mood and level of warmth
 Simplicity or level of detail of the drawing
 An indication of ego boundaries
 Inner world of fantasy
 Introverted? Accessible to others?
 Accessories on the house, e.g. chimney, door, windows
Tree: Patient (your name) sketched a centrally located tree that had a full, balanced feel and
tone; however, the foremost specific feature is that it has an absence of detail, especially
branches etc. Things you might include:

• Level of detail

• Branches

• Interpersonal contact

• Relationship to the environment

• Root structure

• Size of the tree

• Central trunk

• Lines of the tree

Person: This patient (your name) was asked to draw a human figure subsequent to those of
the house and tree. He chose a …… etc. Things you might include:

• Level of detail
• Sex drawn.
• Type of view
• Head
• Ego intact, emotional, and social adjustment
• Facial features
• Hair, ears, hands, feet, clothing
• Size and symmetry of drawing.

Overall impression of all 3 drawings. Make an attempt here to integrate patterns that you
might see. What might you comment on?

• Placement of the figure

• Erasures
• Pressure
• Size and symmetry of the drawings
• Common patterns