HOUSE-TREE-PERSON TEST

BY

JEFFREY KHONGSNI

(DU2021MSC0046)

Under the Guidance of

Dr. Joydeep Das

ASSAM DONBOSCO UNIVERSITY

A PRACTICUM

SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF PSYCHOLOGY AND COUNSELLING,

INPARTIAL FULFILMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE DEGREE OF MSc. COUNSELLING AND

PSYCHOLOGY

2021-2022
CONTENTS

AIM

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

1.2. TEST DESCRIPTION

1.3. RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY

1.4. SCORING STRUCTURE

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. PRELIMINARIES

2.2. MATERIALS USED

2.3. PROCEDURE

2.4. TEST ADMINISTRATION

2.4.1. INSTRUCTION

2.4.2. OBSERVATION

2.4.3. QUESTIONS

2.4.4. SCORING OF THE TEST

2.4.5. INTERPRETATION

2.4.6. SUMMARY

2.4.7. IMPRESSION

2.5. REFERENCES
 HOUSE-TREE- PERSON

AIM: To measure various dynamic aspects of a person's personality with HTP.

1. INTRODUCTION:

The house-tree-person test (HTP) is a projective test intended to measure different aspects
of personality. It was developed by early clinical psychologist John Buck in 1948. Based on the
Draw-A-Man personality test created by Florence Goodenough in 1926, it was originally
designed to assess children’s intelligence. Buck further updated the HTP test together with
psychologist Emanuel Hammer in 1969. The house-tree-person test is one of the most widely
used projective tests for children and adults and is suitable for any individuals aged 3 years and
older.

The test is used by clinical psychologists, occupational therapists, and educators. It

measures intelligence from the standpoint elemental information (details size and spatial
relationship (proportion and perspective) and concept information (as evidence by the
organization and quality of the completed holes drawn and by the subjects spontaneous and or
induce comments concerning them). It is also employed as part of a series of personality test
including the Rorschach, TAT, and WAIS, as a means of personality assessment. What’s more,
the HTP test is an effective tool in evaluating brain damage in patients with schizophrenia.

1.1. THEORETICAL FRAMEWORK

Because drawings are such unique and creative expressions of an individual it is a grave
injustice to interpret them with a rigid dogmatic structure. When this is attempted, the rich
variety of information and the depth of understanding that can be gained about a person are
lost, and the personal characteristics that contribute to the expressions and symbols within the
drawing are often discarded. On the other hand, some guidelines and training are necessary for
the clinician to sharpen his interpretative skills and benefit from the experience of others who
have attempted the same tasks. It is important for the evaluator to become familiar with the
guidelines and use the standard interpretations as springboard or baseline from which to
branch out and explore the intricacies and unique characteristics of the particular drawing
being studied.

The primary tool used by the skilled clinician to integrate to seemingly contradictory
details within the drawing, and to understand the message conveyed through the symbols
represented, is himself. No book or set of rules will contain the unique combination of
characteristics that the evaluator is called upon to examine, and as a result, he must rely on his
personal skill and expertise to determine the meaning of the drawing. Responsibility rests on
the examiner, then, to continue developing himself and familiarizing himself with a variety of
stimuli which will contribute to his skill as clinician. Exposure to various avenues of
understanding people – the arts, literature, psychological studies, and self-exploration – can
greatly enhance the examiner's skill. The key to evaluating drawings is for the examiner to open
himself up o any and all possibilities of interpretation, and the extent of exposure and
interaction he had had with different worlds and people will enhance this process. When strict,
formalized procedures are followed, these more elusive qualities are missed, and the full
impact and meaning of the picture are lost. For the evaluation then, it is important (1) to be
familiar with standard guidelines for drawing interpretation, (2) to be aware of all the
possibilities contained within the drawings, (3) to be open and confront inconsistencies when
evaluating a drawing, and (4) to integrate the observations will all the other information known
out a person to crystallize one's understanding of the present drawing.

In addition to these areas of knowledge which the evaluator needs to develop, the
following general guidelines should be utilized when attempting to interpret a drawing.

1. Once the drawing has been obtained, it is the important to consider it in its totally. Rather
than focusing attention on specific detail, it is valuable to look initially at the whole picture and
notice what mood or message is conveyed. This is a very intuitive process, and involves
stepping "into" the picture to see how it "feels" and what overall impression is portrayed. From
these first impressions of the drawing, it is often possible to see how the individual relates in his
world how receptive he is to outside influences, how he handles emotion, and how he feels
about himself. It is valuable at this point to jot down initial impressions and reactions without
any attempt to analyze, integrate, or understand the observations.

2. After this intuitive, impression gathering stage, the examiner should go back to the drawing
and analyze the specific details in a more logical or rational manner, using published guidelines
and previous clinical experience. Some interpreters conduct this process in a routine and
systematic manner, often using a checklist to categorize the different components. Other
examiner's begin with the details that draw their attention and proceed from there to further
observations. The details within a drawing that initially catch one's attention are usually quite
obvious and can take numerous forms, such as the unusual treatment of a particular figure, a
large inconsistency in how the drawing was executed, intense erasure or scratching over, or
unusual figure placement on the page. They serve the function of focusing the evaluator's
attention onto the drawing and often convey the primary message of the drawing quite clearly.
Both of these approaches are valuable, and the preference of the examiner determines the
most effective style to utilize.
3. The final step in interpreting a drawing is to evaluate the information obtained from steps 1
and 2, and integrate it with any other test results or background data known about the person.
Things that are true and significant for an individual are usually repeated in numerous forms,
and it is important for the evaluator to recognize this and obtain confirmation of his clinical
conclusions from other information known about the person. In other words, drawings can only
be understood in the context of other test data and the individual's personal life and these
must be considered when making final conclusions about a drawing's possible meaning.

Depending on the theoretical framework from which the examiner is operating,

interpretations of a specific drawing may vary greatly. For example, a person with an analytic
bias may see a particular drawing as representing conflicts from early childhood while a family
therapist may emphasize current attitudes and feelings towards family members in the
interpretation. Both interpretations may correctly portray different aspects of the individual,
and both may be useful in terms of understanding the unconscious dynamics operating in
person's life. Some drawing tasks are more conductive to particular theoretical framework than
others, and it is up to the clinician to select the drawing tests that best meet his needs. A
Kinetic Family Drawing or a House-Tree-Person Tests, for example, may be ideal for revealing
attitudes and feelings towards family member, while a Draw-A –Person Test may be more
adept at uncovering sexual attitudes and feelings towards the self.

Once the clinician has found the drawing test that works well for his theoretical
framework, he must become aware of the subtleties of interpretation. There are as many
variations of the same drawing as there are persons doing the drawing. To complicate matters
even further, a person' drawing can change considerably each time it is executed. Within this
wide range of variation, however, there are some common characteristics which the trained
eye can quickly assess to determine the emotional stability and psychological orientation of the
individual.

The more exposure a person has had to interpreting drawings, the more accurate will
his interpretative skills become. Also, the more open the interpreter can be to all the
possibilities contained within a drawing the more he can trust his trained intuitions about the
meaning of that particular drawing. There is a delicate balance in this process, combining the
uses of personal intuitive skills with concrete knowledge based on research and experience.
When the balance is maintained between these two methods of observation, the interpretation
and understanding of particular drawings is likely to be both accurate and meaningful.

1.2. TEST DESCRIPTION

1. The H-T-P is a two phase technique; the first phase is non-verbal creative, relatively
unstructured that of drawing; the second phase the past drawing integration is more formerly
stretch.
 2. Each drawing may arouse both conscious and unconscious associations that of the house,
associations concerning the subjects home and those living with him; the tree, his life role and
his ability to device satisfaction from and his environment is general; person, interpersonal
relationship both specific and general. In each instance past, present and future may be
involved.

3. Any emotion exhibited by the subject while drawing or during the past interrogation about
these drawings is presumed to represent his emotional reaction to the relationships situations
needs or posses that he sees or feels which may have been suggested by the drawings.

4. A subject may indicate that a given detail or details complex of the method or presentation
is special significance for him in two general ways. (a). Positively, as by exhibiting over emotion
while drawing it, by excessive erasures and re-drawing, or by presenting it in deviant or bizarre
fashion and (b). Negatively, by presenting a detail incompletely by omitting an essential detail,
by refusing to comment upon a detail.

5. If the HTP details do not have universal and absolute meaning the subjects own meaning
must not be overlooked.

6. Interpretation of the HTP, detail must be made in the light of as complete knowledge of the
subject, of his past and present environment.

7. Chromatic drawings may tap even deeper personality layers than the subject may convey
through a chronic drawings. May top another psychological item.

RELIABILITY AND VALIDITY:

The manual contains no information regarding the reliability and validity of the test.

SCORING STRUCTURE:

Scoring 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.
A. Quantitative: The subject's achromatic and chromatic drawings are to be scored
quantitatively which is based upon the items of detail, proportion and perspective. Their
presence or absence is the basis of the person's intelligence. Detail scores appear to be a
quantitative index of the subject's recognition of his own of his own orientation to the
elementary concrete aspects of everyday life. Proportion scores seem to be an index of his
judgment, to represent a way the elemental relationship of details. Perspective sores seem to
be a measure of the subject's ability to evaluate environment and his relation to those peopling
it on a broad basis.

B. Qualitative Analysis: The meaning of the three whole:

a. House represents the home or the domestic situation.

b. Tree represents the individual's general role in life (wherein the trunk reflects the
individual's feelings of basic power while the branch structure represents the individual's
flexibility.)

c. Person is the self-portrait.

2. METHODOLOGY

2.1. PRELIMINARIES:

Subject’s Name: Vincent

Age: He is a 18 years old student.
Background: He comes from a
Educational Qualification: Studying in the seminary. He has completed his SSLC.
Date: The test was conducted on 24th March 2022.

BACKGROUND:

Vincent is an 18 years old male from Meghalaya who had finished his SSLC exam. He has
3 elder sisters, 4 elder brothers and 3 younger brothers. Vincent is in the 8 th position among the
11 children in the family. His father is a school teacher and his mother is a farmer. Among the
children, only the eldest son got married and the rest of the children are still studying in
colleges and schools. He grew up as a health boy.
 Vincent comes from a happy family. He was born naturally at home. When Vincent was
just one year old his mother delivered another son and it was difficult for the mother to
breastfeed both of them at a time. Vincent was a pale and thin boy among the children. When
he was 6 years old, he was taken to the city for education and remained in the city for 6 years.
Vincent finished his class five from the city and went back to his neighbouring village to
complete his high school till he completed his SSLC exams.

Vincent grew up in good relationship with his siblings in the family. He loved most his 4 th
elder brother. At the age of 12, Vincent was admitted to hospital because of stomach ache and
remained in the hospital for four days. Vincent’s parents and the children are healthy and
strong. There is no hereditary sickness in the family. Vincent has got many friends both male
and females. He never felt lonely at home because he always has friends.

When Vincent was 17, he joined the seminary in Guwahati. He lives with other boys who
have come from different parts of Northeast. He is adapting himself with the food, climate, and
the conditions of the place. He is able to mix up within the group and keep moving in life.

2.2. MATERIALS USED:

(a). Blank Papers (11x8 inches)

(b). Pencil
(c). Crayons
d). Colour pencil
e). Eraser

2.3. PROCEDURE:

Rapport: In the beginning of the test, the tester will built up a rapport with the test taker in
order to make him comfortable and less anxious. The tester will then ask the subject to draw a
house, a tree, and a person in a sheet of paper.

Mental Status Examination:

Appearance: The subject was pleasant and showed no sign of anxiousness. The rapport
was going on smoothly with the subject. He was willing to listen and having an approachable
attitude. He was dressing well for the test. He did not ask many questions and proceeded with
the task.
 General Behaviour: His level of consciousness is normal. His appearance and general
behaviour is pleasant. He was able to have eye contact while speaking.
Cognition: He is able to process information correctly when the instruction was given
and when he had to answer the questionnaire.
Speech: The subject speaks softly and not in haste.
Emotion: In the beginning of the test he was restless and anxious. Later he was able to
remain subject was calm and not anxious anymore.
Thinking Process: He was able to think normally.

2.4. TEST ADMINISTRATION:

2.4.1. INSTRUCTION:

The subject will be instructed as follows: “I will provide you blank sheets (8 x 11 inches)
where you can draw a picture which includes a house, a tree and a person. You can choose
either to draw with a crayon or with a pencil. You can start the drawing from anywhere in the
paper and you can take as much time as you need to complete the drawing. Please use the
eraser only when required and don’t use frequently. Even if you feel that you are not a good
artist, yet you can try your best to draw a complete and decent picture”.

2.4.2. OBSERVATION:

In the beginning, the subject made a rough drawing of a man and a house. Since the
picture was not as he wanted, he tore the sheet into two halves and made a rule of one half in
order to use it to draw a straight outline of the house in another sheet. He became confused
and anxious when he was doing so. When I told him not to worry about the making a perfect
outline of the house, he listened and then proceeded to draw naturally. He steadily drew the
picture. He took so much of time because he wanted to draw a better picture. In between he
was anxious and restless. The subject completed the draw after one hour.

Precautions:

1. It was ensured that the subject was comfortable, interested and had well understood
the instruction.
2. The test did not have any time limit but it was ensured that it was done as soon as
possible.
 3. It was ensured that all the external factors like proper lighting, proper ventilation was
maintained and there were no unnecessary disturbances or noises.
4. The test was done under supervision of an expertise.
5. The scoring and interpretation was done carefully.

2.4.3. QUESTIONS:

These are the Questions asked to the subject.

The House

Who live in the House? An old man lives alone since Indicating an Introvert who
he was young. He lives a long enjoys being alone and with
life by breathing fresh air in the nature.
the morning.
Is it a happy house? Yes, because of the melodious Happy and content being by
singing of the birds. himself.
Do people visit the house? No, because nobody cares for Desire to be loved and cared.
him.
What is the house made of? The house if made of planks. Intellectually average.
What goes on inside the The house is clean, it is safe to Indicating self security.
house? stay.
Why did you draw this type of Since the man is far away Happy and content with
house and not other type? from the people, the man a himself.
simple house for himself.
Is the window open or close? The windows are open but Open up to others, but with
there are wooden bars. conditions.
What is like at night? It is dark. The house is lit with Not anxious or afraid.
a fire and firewood.
Is the door open or close? The door is open wide but the Welcoming attitudes and
curtain is half folded. hides many things.
The Tree:

What kind of tree is it? It is a pine tree. Able to perceive self clearly
How old is the tree? The tree is the same age as Sees himself as the old man.
the man (70 years old).
What season is it? It is summer Indicating Warmth and
growth
Is the tree alive? Yes, it is alive Dynamic and vibrancy
Who waters the tree? The old man himself gives Able to care for himself.
water to the tree.
Has anyone tried to cut it No, nobody tries to cut down No Life threatening incident.
down? the tree.
Does the tree get enough Yes, It gets sufficient sunlight. Able to grow strong
sunshine?

The Person:

Who is the person? The person is an old man. A content person, old man
can also be a wise man
How old is the person? The old man is about 70 years Contradictory to the drawing.
old. Person in drawing looks young
How does that person feel? He feels happy because he Self content person
doesn’t worry about anything.
Is the man happy? Yes, because of the birds Able to enjoy his life and
coming and singing nice being positive.
songs. He has good fresh air,
good food. He does not
bother about anything.
What does the person like He likes to get up early in the Closely connected to nature,
doing? morning to breath fresh air, introversion.
planting vegetables, and the
birds give him pleasure.
Has anyone tried to hurt him? Yes, the people try to hurt Hurt feelings are present.
him.
What is the thing that he does He does not like to get alone Avoidant personality.
not like? with people.
What is his favorite thing? To breathe fresh air in the Health conscious and love
morning. being connected to nature.
Do you like the person you Yes, I like the person drawn in Self portrait.
draw? the picture.
2.4.4. SCORING OF THE TEST:

A house-tree-person test can be scored either in an objective quantitative or subjective

qualitative manner. Quantitative scoring provides a general assessment of intelligence.
Research shows that the quantitative assessment correlates highly with other well-established
intelligence tests.

A. Quantitative analysis:

The subject's achromatic and chromatic drawings are to be scored quantitatively which is
based upon the items of detail, proportion and perspective. Their presence or absence is the
basis of the person's intelligence.

Detail scores appear to be a quantitative index of the subject's recognition of his own of his
own orientation to the elementary concrete aspects of everyday life.

Proportion scores seem to be an index of his judgment, to represent a way the elemental
relationship of details.

Perspective sores seem to be a measure of the subject's ability to evaluate environment and
his relation to those peopling it on a broad basis.

The placement of the picture is proportionately spread out.

B. Qualitative Analysis:

The meaning of the three wholes:

a. House represents the home or the domestic situation.
b. Tree represents the individual's general role in life (wherein the trunk reflects the
individual's feelings of basic power while the branch structure represents the individual's
flexibility.)
c. Person is the self-portrait.
1. Details:
a. Essential [normal drawing]. The house has a roof, a door, and two windows.
The tree has a trunk and branches.
The person has a head, a trunk, two legs, two arms, facial characteristics, a mouth, a
nose, and eyes.
 b. Non-Essential Details/Irrelevant: The picture has non-essential details like a Curtain,
a walkway, birds, hills, grass, sun, trees, and mountains. The tree has birds sitting on
its branches.
c. There is no bizarre detailing in the picture.
2. Proportion: The drawing is proportionately drawn. The placement of the picture is
normal.
3. Perspective: The drawing is not rigidly framed, but well balanced and flexible.

ASPECTS OF DRAWING:

THE HOUSE:

SIZE The house is well sized and many Relationship in Family is healthy.
aspects of the house are
proportionate
CHIMNEY The chimney is absent It can indicate that the subject is lacking
psychological warmth or conflict with
significant male figure.
ROOF Meticulous roof, made of planks Balance intellectual and spiritual life
WALL Indicator of ego Thick wall line can indicate the effort to
maintain control of himself or having a
strong ego.
FENCE The fence is present around the The person is protecting himself from
house. other people or has a need for emotional
protection.
GRASS Grasses are present Artistic ability
DOOR Direct contact with environment. An accessible person and has a strong
(a). Open need to receive warmth from external
world. He is a welcoming attitude.
The subject is also unwilling to reveal
(b). Curtain: Half folded curtain much about himself.
WINDOW Media of contact with environment
(a). Thick bars in the windows. The Subject wants to keep himself away
from others.

(b). No panes There is oppositional tendencies and

feeling of emptiness within the person.
WALKWAY Walkway is present The subject is a friendly person and
anyone can access him.
SHRUBS Trees are present in the Mild anxiety but it is channelized and
AND TRESS background under control.
THE TREE:

SIZE Proportionate Basis self portrait is normal.

SCARES Scares are present on the tree May have scarring event of the past
TRUNK Normal trunk but heavily shaded Indicates a flexible personality and
has ego strength or can indicate
anxiety about one’s self.
BIRDS Birds on tree and in the surrounding Indicate the warm hearted person.
BRANCHES Open ended branches are drawn. May indicate the lack of ego
boundary; involved with arms and
legs.
LEAVES Crude drawing of leaves Less intelligent.
ROOTS The roots are covered by grass and Stabilizing strength of personality is
leaves and surrounded with concrete. constraint.
MANY TREES Many trees are drawn. Sibling rivalry, anxiety.

THE PERSON

SIZE The size of the person is The person feels adequate and self
proportionate with the background concept is normal.
HEAD Head is drawn first - Concept of self is focused in the
head or face.
Flat top head - May suggest feelings of castration
especially intellectual and learning
area.
HAIR Standing hairs: Gives hair a great deal Narcissistic or homosexual
or attention and care. individual.
FACE Main index of social adjustment
EYES Pinpoint eyes or dot eyes Subject wants to see as little as
possible.
EAR Ears are omitted entirely Possibility or auditory hallucinations
should be explored.
TRUNK Seat of Basic need and desire Balanced
WAIST Coordination of power drive Balanced
NECK Long neck is drawn Coordinating element is not
balanced.
HANDS Heavily shaded Suggest guilt, masturbation
ARMS Arms at the back Guilt no desire to meet people
2.4.5. INTERPRETATION:

THE HOUSE:

The subject describes the house as made of planks in which only an old man lives in it.
The house is clean and safe. At night when the house becomes dark, the fire burned from
firewood dispels the darkness. Nobody comes and visits the house, but still the subject
describes the house as a happy house. The windows have no panes, but there are wooden bars.
The house represents the home or the domestic situation. The house has all the essential detail
like a door, two windows, and walls. It has no chimney. The irrelevant details are also present
like three skylight windows, a curtain, trees, fence, grass, a walkway, birds, sun, and mountains.

The drawing of the house is proportionate with the rest of the drawings. We can be
interpreted that the subject has come from a healthy family. The roof of the house is
meticulous, but made of planks. It can indicate that the subject seems to have a balanced
emotion and able to adapt himself in any situation, but he may be less intelligent or average.
The chimney of the house is absent. I can indicate that the subject is lacking psychological
warmth or conflict with significant male figure. The subject drew fences around the house, the
door is wide open but there is a curtain in it. These can indicate that the subject is a person,
who is open for warmth and a kind hearted, but when there someone hurts him; he tends to
shut off himself. He also shows an introvert characteristics where he is avoiding people, but also
enjoying being alone and spending his time with the nature. He is also unwilling to reveal some
of his self to others. The widows are protected with thick bars and they have no panes. This
indicate that media of contact with the environment or with people is minimum. He seems to
keep away from others and there could be oppositional tendencies and feeling of emptiness
within him. The walkway is present and is drawn normally. It can indicate the subject is a
friendly person and people can have access with him.

THE TREE:

The tree has the essential parts like the trunk, the branches. It is a simple tree with birds
sitting on it. The subject has drawn a pine tree which is 70 years old. The tree grows in the
summer where it gets sufficient light from the sun. The roots of the tree are covered with grass
and are being watered daily by the subject.

The subject drew a well proportionate drawing of the tree, which indicate that his basis
self portrait is normal. There are many scares on the trunk of the tree which indicate that the
subject may have scarring event of the past. The trunk of the tree is normal but heavily shaded.
It can mean that the subject is a flexible personality and has ego strength or anxiety about his
self. On the tree there are many birds sitting and singing. They can indicate that the subject is a
warm hearted person and having a welcoming attitude. The branches are drawn as open
ended, which can indicate that the subject lack of is lacking ego boundary. The leaves of the
tree are drawn crudely. It can indicate that the subject is less intelligent or an average. The
roots of the tree surrounded by the concrete wall are covered by the grass and leaves. This can
indicate that the subject’s stabilizing strength of personality is constraint. The subject also has
drawn many trees in the background. This can indicate that the subject has sibling rivalry or
anxiety. The age of the tree can indicate that the subject is matured and standing strong.

THE PERSON:

The person is the conscious self concept. The subject drew the person he likes. The
subject told that the person in the drawing is an old man of 70 years. The old man lives alone
because he doesn’t want anybody to disturb and to hurt him. The old man enjoy breathing
fresh air in the morning, doing gardening, and listening to the singing of the birds.

The subject identified himself as an old man who is living alone and wants to avoid
people. I can mean that he is an avoidant personality who is also content with himself. The
subject seems to hide his many things about himself from others. The size of the person in the
drawing is proportionately drawn. This can indicate that the subject feels self sufficient and his
self concept is normal. The subject drew the flat top head first and then the body. This can
indicate that his concept of self is focused in the head or face. It can also suggest that the
subject has feelings of castration especially in the intellectual and learning area. The subject
drew standing hairs or gives great deal of attention and care to the hair. This could indicate that
he has narcissistic or homosexual tendencies. The eyes in the picture are drawn as a dot, which
can indicate that the subject wants to see as little as possible. The ears are omitted entirely in
the drawing; which can indicate possibility or auditory hallucinations to be explored. The
subject drew a well balanced trunk of the tree, which means that the seat of basic need and
desire are balanced. The neck was draw slightly longer than normal drawing. I can indicate that
coordinating element in the subject is not balanced. The hands in the drawing are heavily
shaded and are at the back; which can suggest the presence of guilt and no desire to meet
people, and masturbation.

2.4.6. SUMMARY:

To summarize everything, the subject has come from a healthy family background. He
grew up well with his parents and siblings. His family is a happy and cheerful family where he
also experienced love and care. Since the subject is a young person of 18 years old and staying
in the seminary which is far from home, he might have felt lonely and isolated from family
members. He was unable to cope well with the discipline and punctuality of the seminary. He is
slow in understanding and average in his studies.
 The subject was keenly listening to the instruction. At the beginning of the test, the
subject was restless and anxious, but as I told him to relax and calm down, he was able to
proceed with the drawing. His Mental Status Examination is normal. His drawing also is well
proportionate and neat and clean.

From the picture we can see that the subject is a welcoming and a caring person with
strong ego strength. Sometimes he tries to avoid people especially when he is hurt and at the
same time he desires for love and care by being a welcoming person. He also hides his guilt
feelings and hurt feelings. In doing so, sometimes he also becomes anxious and cut off from the
environment and others. He is enjoying his leisure time being alone and spent time reflecting
about many things. This shows that he is also a self content and self sufficient person. He also
has strong security and self-confidence in himself. His personal relationship is strong and he is
also open to others. He has sexual identification in which he drew a person of the same sex.

2.4.7. IMPRESSION:

The overall background, Mental State Examination, the observation, and the result finding
indicate that the subject seems to have some difficulties in his relationship with others. He is at
the same time avoiding others and wants the love and care of others. He has an average
intellectuality and has strong ego strength. Overall, the subject is able to function normally like
others. He has no major maladaptive behaviours and his self concept is also normal.

2.5. REFERENCES:

1. Exploring your mind. 2022. The House-Tree-Person Personality Test. [online] Available at:
<https://exploringyourmind.com/house-tree-person-personality-test/> [Accessed 15 May,
2022].

2. Thudium, T. (2022, May 17). The House-Person-Tree Personality Test. Practical Psychology.
Accessed May 18, 2022, from https://practicalpie.com/house-person-tree-test/

1. Buck N John, “House-Tree-Person Technique”

https://youtu.be/42N6wNuaJaw

https://www.slideshare.net/MuhammadMusawarAli/house-tree-person-test-149124029

1.1. Basic Concept about the House-Tree-Person Test:

The House-Tree-Person test (HTP) is a projective test developed by John Buck in 1948. The
primary purpose of the House-Tree-Person test is to measure aspects of a person’s personality
through interpretation of drawings and responses to questions. Originally it was originally
designed to assess children’s intelligence, but later, John Buck updated the HTP test together
with psychologist Emanuel Hammer in 1969 to measure different aspect of a person’s
personality.

House-Tree-Person is one of the robust tests to assess psychopathology. It is also sometimes

used as part of an assessment of brain damage or overall neurological functioning about the
cognitive function of the subject such as agnosia and apraxia because they require skills and
visual spatial, spatial orientation, attention, concentration and accurate perception of the visual
stimulus lenders motor function.

The House-Tree-Person test is one of the most widely used projective tests for children and
adults and is suitable for any individuals aged 3 years and older. The test is used by clinical
psychologists, occupational therapists, and educators. It is also employed as part of a series of
personality and intelligence tests, including the Rorschach, TAT, and WAIS, as a means of
personality assessment. The House-Tree-Person test is an effective tool in evaluating brain
damage in patients with schizophrenia.

Freehand drawing of House, Tree, and Person is a technique designed to aid the clinician in
obtaining information concerning the sensitivity, maturity, and integration of a subject's
personality, and the interaction of that personality with its environment (both specific and
general).
TWO-PHASED APPROACH  The first phase is non-verbal, creative, almost completely
unstructured; the medium of expression is a relatively primitive one, drawing.  The second
phase is verbal, appreciative, and more formally structured; in it the subject is provided with an
opportunity to define, describe, and interpret the objects drawn and their respective
environments and to associate concerning them. Buck included both qualitative and
quantitative measurements.  Projective Test Ambiguous  Abstract Or Unstructured Stimuli.

PURPOSE  Measure aspects of a person's personality through interpretation of drawings and

responses to questions.  Also sometimes used as part of an assessment of brain damage overall
neurological functioning. RANGE & TIME Anyone over the age of three Often used with
children and adolescents. Takes an average of 150 minutes to complete interpretation.