Contribution of Projective Techniques to the Study of Happiness

        Positive Psychology has been an emerging force in the field of psychology and mental health for the past 3 decades (Chang et al., 2022; Snyder & Lopez, 2002), and the topic of ‘Happiness’ is a major construct of study in this movement (Selin & Davey, 2012). Indeed, the subject matter of happiness has attracted extensive research attention in India or by Indian scholars (e.g., Arunachalam, 2019; Banavathy & Choudry, 2014; Deb et al., 2020; Gotise & Upadhyay, 2018; Holder et al., 2012; Nagar, 2018; Peltzer & Pengpid, 2013; Reddy, 2023; Sahoo & Sahu, 2009; Singh & David, 2018; Singh & Jha, 2008; Srivastava & Misra, 2003). Interestingly, a perusal of scholarly repositories confirms that projective psychology has not made a significant impact in the field of positive psychology (see Brown, 2009; Piotrowski, 2017). However, a review of the scientific literature clearly indicates that projective assessment techniques have been applied in the study of the issue of Happiness. This commentary provides a brief overview of this body of literature and argues that projective tests are, indeed, ideal measures in gaining an understanding on the role of happiness in maintaining not only emotion regulation but also positive mental health.

        Early on, projective techniques were utilized in the study of happiness within the landscape of the emotional life of the individual (Wallen, 1954). Using the Rorschach, Mukerji (1969) studied the dimensions of love, aggression, and happiness as proposed by the Indian psychologist Das Gupta. Based on a thematic analysis, Newbigging (1955) found that the affective features of TAT cards prompt corresponding levels of happiness depicted in the feeling-tone of produced stories. Subsequent research on adult samples using projective methods (Rorschach, TAT, Sentence Completion) has studied the issue of happiness in reference to Vipassana meditation, drug usage, marital adjustment, athletics, and personality factors (see Benson, 2000; McAdams & Bryant, 1987; Sharma & Sharma, 2009; Sharma et al., 2008; Sheimbein, 1974; Stillerman, 1987; Thakur & Thakur, 1980; Yadav & Singh, 2010). Almost all investigations on the study of happiness in children have utilized Human-Figure-Drawings, where the focus has been on emotional-affective states (Bonoti & Misalidi, 2015; Misalidi & Bonoti, 2014; Oncu et al., 2009; Winston et al., 1995). The construct ‘Happiness’ comprises a state of contentment, well-being, openness, and the unadulterated freedom to enjoy life. The main Rorschach indicator is the ratio of unpleasant versus pleasant affect in the record; hostility, anxiety, dependency, negative affect, and somatic preoccupation responses tend to reflect a state of unhappiness (Mukerji, 1969).

        Noteworthy, only one study utilized multiple projective tests (Healy, 1984), and only one involved an adolescent sample (Guo et al., 2007). The current review of the literature identified a very interesting methodological observation; that is, none of the studies cited above attempted to substantiate findings based on projective test results by including self-report measures specific in the assessment of happiness. Recent advances in the assessment field emphasize the importance of multi-source evaluation in order to provide a more detailed and integrated perspective on clinical constructs (see Hopwood & Bornstein, 2014). Likewise, obtaining corroborating evidence, via multi-method designs, would greatly buttress research findings in conjunction with clinical data from projective techniques. Hence, the table below lists several of the major measures, specific to the construct of happiness, evident in the research literature.

Prominent Self-Report Measures on Happiness

References:

Arunachalam, T. (2019). An investigation on the factor structure of Hindi version of Oxford Happiness Questionnaire. Universitas Psychologica, 18(1), 1-11.

Banavathy, V.K., & Choudry, A. (2014). Understanding happiness: A Vendantic perspective. Psychological Studies, 59(2), 141-152. Benson, H.D. (2000). The relationship between self-reported happiness and perception of TAT cards. Dissertation Abstracts

International, 61(5-B), 2745.

Bonoti, F., & Misalidi, P. (2015). Social emotions in children’s human figure drawings: Drawing shame, pride and jealousy. Infant and Child Development, 24, 661-672.

Brown, D. (2009). Mastery of the mind East and West: Excellence in being and doing and everyday happiness. In W.C. Bishell et al. (Eds.), Longevity, regeneration, and optimal health (pp. 231-251): New York, NY: Wiley-Blackwell.

Chang, E.C., et al. (Eds.) (2022). International handbook of positive psychology. Cham, Switzerland: Springer.

Deb, S., et al. (2020). Happiness, meaning, and satisfaction in life as perceived by Indian university students and their association with spirituality. Journal of Religion & Health, 59(5), 2469-2485.

Gotise, P., & Upadhyay, B.K. (2018). Happiness from ancient Indian perspective: Hitopadesa. Journal of Happiness Studies, 19(3), 863-879.

Guo, H., et al. (2007). Development of Group Personality Projection Test for adolescents. Chinese Journal of Clinical Psychology, 15(5), 472-475.

Healy, J. (1984). The happy princess: Psychological profile of a psychic. Journal of the Society for Psychical Research, 52, 289-296. Holder, M.D., et al. (2012). Temperament and happiness in children in India. Journal of Happiness Studies, 13(2), 261-274.

Hopwood, C.J., & Bornstein, R.F. (Eds.). (2014). Multimethod clinical assessment. New York, NY: Guilford.

McAdams, D.P., & Bryant, F.B. (1987). Intimacy motivation and subjective mental health in a national sample. Journal of Personality, 55(3), 395-413.

Misalidi, P., & Bonoti, F. (2014). Children’s expressive drawing strategies: The effects of mood, age and topic. Early Child Development and Care, 184(6), 882-896.

Mukerji, M. (1969). Rorschach indices of love, aggression, and happiness. Journal of Projective Techniques, 33(6), 526-529.

Nagar, I. (2018). Self-regulation for sustaining happiness and well-being: An Indian perspective. Psychological Studies, 63(2), 181-186.

Newbigging, P.L. (1955). Influence of a stimulus variable on stories told to certain TAT pictures. Canadian Journal of Psychology, 9(4), 195-206.

Oncu, E.C., et al. (2009). A report on traumatized and non-traumatized children’s human figure drawings reflecting emotional effects

of disastrous conditions. Australasian Journal of Disaster & Trauma Studies, 1, 1-11.

Peltzer, K., & Pengpid, S. (2013). Subjective happiness and health behavior among a sample of university students in India. Social Behavior & Personality, 41(6), 1045-1056.

Piotrowski, C. (2017). Creativity and projective techniques: An historical perspective, 1950-2016. Psychology & Education, 54(3), 66-77.

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Reddy, N.Y. (2023). Perceived well-being, happiness, and related challenges among Indian college students. Psychological Studies, in press.

Sahoo, F.M., & Sahu, R. (2009). The role of flow experience in human happiness. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 35, 40-47.

Selin, H., & Davey, G. (Eds.) (2012). Happiness across cultures. New York, NY: Springer Science.

Sharma, M.G., & Sharma, V. (2009). Effect of psychotherapy and vipassana meditation on pathological gamblers. Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, 16(2), 147-151.

Sharma, V., et al. (2008). Personality differences between treated and non-treated cannabis (Charas) dependence cases. Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, 15(2), 128-133.

Sheimbein, M.L. (1974). Multiplicity of marital adjustment ratings. Journal of Family Counseling, 2(1), 49-52.

Singh, K., & Jha, S.D. (2008). Positive and negative affect, and grit as predictors of happiness and life satisfaction. Journal of the Indian Academy of Applied Psychology, 34, 4045.

Singh, S., & David, R. (2018). Organizational virtuousness and work engagement: Mediating role of happiness in India. Advances in Developing Human Resources, 20(1), 88-102.

Snyder, C.R., & Lopez, S.J. (Eds.) (2002). Handbook of positive psychology. New York, NY: Oxford University Press.

Srivastava, A.K., & Misra, G. (2003). Going beyond the model of economic man: An indigenous perspective on happiness. Journal of Indian Psychology, 21(2), 12-29.

Stillerman, J.C. (1997). Adult male survivors of intrafamilial versus extrafamilial childhood sexual abuse: A comparison of personality characteristics. Dissertation Abstract International, 57(8-B), 5345.

Thakur, G.P., & Thakur, M. (1980). Personality differences between the athlete and the non-athlete college males. International Journal of Sport Psychology, 11(3), 180-188.

Wallen, R.W. (1954). Emotional labels and projective test theory. Journal of Projective Techniques, 18(2), 240-247.

Winston, A.S., et al. (1995). Children’s sensitivity to expression of emotion in drawings. Visual Arts Research, 21(1), 1-14.

Yadav, S., & Singh, P. (2010). A comparative study of empathy in schizophrenics and normal males and females. Indian Journal of Community Psychology, 6(2), 247-253.

Chris Piotrowski, PhD,

Senior Editor

University of West Florida,

Email: piotrowskichris@hotmail.com