Which of the following best distinguishes self-report inventories from projective tests in personality assessment according to the psychodynamic perspective?

• A. Projective tests measure only conscious thoughts, while self-report inventories assess unconscious motives.
• B. Self-report inventories are always administered by clinicians, whereas projective tests are completed independently by the individual.
• C. Self-report inventories use structured questionnaires with fixed responses, while projective tests involve interpreting ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious processes.
• D. Both self-report inventories and projective tests rely solely on behavioral observation rather than participant responses.

Answer: (C)

Verified step by step guidance

1. Step 1: Understand the key concepts involved—self-report inventories and projective tests—as used in personality assessment, especially from a psychodynamic perspective.
2. Step 2: Recognize that self-report inventories typically involve structured questionnaires where individuals respond to fixed items, allowing for direct measurement of conscious thoughts and feelings.
3. Step 3: Note that projective tests present ambiguous stimuli (such as inkblots or vague pictures) to individuals, which are then interpreted by clinicians to uncover unconscious motives and conflicts, aligning with psychodynamic theory.
4. Step 4: Compare the nature of responses: self-report inventories rely on explicit, conscious answers, while projective tests aim to bypass conscious awareness to access deeper, unconscious material.
5. Step 5: Conclude that the main distinction is that self-report inventories use structured, fixed-response formats, whereas projective tests involve interpreting ambiguous stimuli to reveal unconscious processes.