We offer two projective drawing measures: the house-tree-person test (HTP) and the draw-a-person test (DAP). These assessments can augment many other psychological measures we give, especially when we are assessing personality, relationship issues or planning, or certain mental health issues.
Please note that this post does not cover much about how your sketches might be interpreted. If we did so, we might not be able to give you these projective drawing tests because you might be influenced by how they might be interpreted. If you want to discuss how psychological assessment might benefit you or a loved one, specifically how projective drawing might be used, or projective testing in general, don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime.
House-Tree-Person Test
The House-Tree-Person Test (HTP) is a projective psychological test assessing personality, emotional functioning, and cognitive abilities. It was developed by John Buck in 1948 and is based on the idea that when people are asked to draw particular objects, their perceptions and subconscious thoughts will influence how they produce them, revealing aspects of their personality.
How the House-Tree-Person Test Works
The HTP is designed to provide a wide range of information about how you feel about major areas of your life and sometimes where those feelings may have originated. It is helpful as an adjunct to other testing because it can add depth and clarity to those findings. Each aspect of the house-tree-person helps us understand a different aspect:
- House: The house usually represents your home life and relationships with family members. The details of the house can provide insights into your feelings about your family and home environment.
- Tree: The tree symbolizes your deeper, unconscious self. How you draw the tree can reveal how you view your inner self, growth, and stability.
- Person: This represents your self-concept and how you view yourself. The details can provide insights into your self-esteem, confidence, and interpersonal relationships.
HTP Administration
The house-tree-person is easy to administer and can be done virtually. The process is as follows:
- At the start of the house-tree-person test, you are given three blank sheets of paper and are asked to create each item on separate sheets.
- We may also ask you to create another picture related to one of the originals on a fourth sheet.
- After you complete them, we often ask follow-up questions to gain further insights (e.g., “Tell me something about that picture”).
House-Tree-Person Uses
The HTP test is commonly used in various settings, including clinical psychology, educational psychology, and forensic assessments. It is a projective drawing task, often part of a broader battery of tests to understand your psychological functioning comprehensively. We often give the DAP or the HTP after other measures have been done to add detail and insight to any conclusions.
HTP Considerations
It is important to note that the house-tree-person and the draw-a-person test have certain limitations, or at least issues that must be considered:
- Subjectivity: The interpretation of the house-tree person is highly subjective and can vary more than the results of an empirically based measure.
- Cultural Factors: Cultural background can influence how people perceive objects, which should be considered during interpretation.
- Problems with Drawing: We are not grading the output on its quality as part of testing. However, if you have significant difficulties sketching the items, this may affect the amount of data we can pull out of them
- Supplementary Use: The HTP is typically used with other assessment tools rather than as a standalone measure due to its subjectivity and the difficulty of pulling out powerful conclusions alone.
Draw-a-Person Test
The Draw-A-Person (DAP) test is another projective psychological assessment used to evaluate an individual’s cognitive, emotional, and personality functioning. The measure is based on how you sketch a human figure, reflecting your self-perception, psychological state, and sometimes underlying concerns or conflicts.
How the Draw-a-Person Test Works
The DAP is also easy to administer and can be administered virtually. The process is as follows:
- Instructions: You are given a blank sheet of paper and a pencil and asked to “draw a person.” Sometimes, the instructions may be slightly more specific, such as “draw someone as best as you can.” After completing the first one, we may ask you to sketch another figure of the opposite sex.
- Process:
- The draw-a-person test has no time limit, but you are encouraged to complete the drawing within a reasonable time.
- After the drawings are finished, we will ask questions about the figures, such as their age, occupation, or what the person thinks or feels. We ask that you do not overthink these questions and instead report what first comes to mind or what you were thinking about the figure while creating it.
Draw-a-person Uses
The DAP is used in many ways, such as:
- Clinical Settings: The DAP is often used as part of a broader assessment to gain insights into your emotional and psychological state. This is the most common use for the Draw-a-Person test, adding it to larger batteries of evaluations.
- Educational Settings: It may be used with children to assess developmental progress and emotional adjustment or to screen for potential issues like trauma or learning difficulties.
- Forensic Assessments: The draw-a-person test can be used in forensic settings to explore an individual’s psychological functioning in legal cases, such as custody evaluations or competency hearings.
DAP Considerations
As with any projective drawing measure, there are important caveats with the Draw-a-Person test.
- Subjectivity: Like other projectives, the DAP is subjective, and its interpretation can vary more than empirically-based measures.
- Cultural Influences: Cultural background and norms can significantly influence how you draw a figure, and these factors should be considered in the interpretation.
- Drawing ability: While the quality does not factor into the interpretation of the DAP, people with limited skills may not produce pictures that provide much data.
Given the above factors, the DAP is usually used alongside other assessments to better understand an individual’s psychological profile.
House-Tree-Person Test vs. Draw-a-Person Test 
The DAP and HTP are quite similar in some ways, but there are some key differences that we consider if we are choosing only to give one or the other:
- Focus: The house-tree-person test is more comprehensive in examining different aspects of life (home, nature, self), whereas the draw-a-person test focuses more narrowly on self-perception and social roles.
- Complexity: The HTP typically provides a broader view of an individual’s personality and emotional state by incorporating more elements, while the DAP is simpler and more focused on a single dimension.
- Application: Both are often used in conjunction with other assessments in clinical settings, but the HTP may be more commonly used in situations where a broad understanding of your inner world is needed.
Both projective drawing tests can be used on some batteries.
House-Tree-Person Example
Bill took the House-Tree-Person test to get an idea of what was causing his depressive mood that he could not seem to lessen. We also gave him the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI), which suggested some aspects of loneliness and fear of rejection in his social relationships. He also took the Beck Depression Inventory, which confirmed a mild depressive state. His interview suggested that the condition may be transient, so we wanted to understand what was causing it.
Bill drew the HTP carefully and answered our questions with clarity and openness. Again, we will not explain how we reached these conclusions, so they do not affect your testing if you choose it. Bill’s house-tree-person drawing suggested feelings of isolation and a lack of escape routes when stressed. He has a grounded personality in general, but there is some mild emotional trauma and unresolved conflicts. He sometimes feels powerless and unable to communicate effectively.
Bill’s psychological report was shared with him and, with his permission, his therapist. They decided that Bill should work on aspects of his past that were causing him social discomfort and powerlessness. These factors no longer exist but still resonate with Bill, and the house-tree-person test provided insights into how.
Draw-a-Person Test Example
Sara took the Draw-a-Person Test because she can’t shake a feeling of inadequacy at work, including a sense of being an imposter who is not as good at her job as she should be. The evidence suggests this is not true; her work evaluations have been solid, and she’s received promotions for her vital work. We also gave her the Working Styles Inventory (WSA), which suggested that she is a thoughtful, dedicated, and hard worker. It showed she can shine as a team member and is likely looked up to for her knowledge and work ethic.
Sara did the DAP with excellent detail and clarity. She answered many questions about her drawing. Her projective drawing suggested feelings of inadequacy based on heightened sensitivity about being watched or judged. When Sara received these results, she realized these feelings were irrational and exaggerated, even though they felt real. She decided to pursue a course in cognitive-behavioral therapy to help her calm these thoughts and replace them with more realistic, positive ones.
Our Work with the HTP and DAP
We often include the house-tree-person and draw-a-person test in our psychological testing batteries. The HTP and DAP can provide valuable information about your mental wellness, social functioning, mood, emotional IQ, and personality style. Given that they are more subjective than many empirically based assessments, we usually use them with other measures, such as the TAT test, to help add detail or further a conclusion. These projective drawing tasks can be given virtually, though we will ask that you scan the picture to us so we can get a better look at it.
If you want to discuss how projective drawing might be used in a testing battery for you or a loved one, don’t hesitate to contact us or schedule a consultation anytime.
