Types of Projective Techniques and other methods
4.1 Association Techniques
Various projective techniques have been devised to detect less obvious motives, conflicts, problems and other covert intrapersonal characteristics. Of these, the word association and inkblot techniques use stimuli like words and inkblots for the purpose of tapping the unconscious: motives, feelings, emotions.
4.1.1 Word Associations
Francis Galton (1879) introduced the method of word association which was first applied clinically by Carl Jung (1910) to detect neurotic conflicts. In this method, a series of words is read aloud to a person who is required to give response to each word with the word that is a prompt response, and not a result of prolonged thought process (as if on a cue). Clinical applications of this method involve mixing selected emotionally loaded word or words of special significance to the person within a set of neutral words. In addition to significant associations and delays in responding, the degree to which certain words are emotionally arousing, maybe determined by measuring skin conductance, muscle tension, respiration rate, blood pressure, pulse rate, voice tremor, or other physiological reactions to the stimulus