The Weakness of Buck's House-Tree-Person (H-T-P) Assessment Test

The House-Tree-Person (H-T-P) was designed in 1947 by psychologist John N. Buck. The projective assessment was designed to provide information on personality characteristics and interpersonal relationships.

The H-T-P is an assessment that utilizes drawing a House a Tree and a Person. First the objects are drawn with pencil (achromatic) and then the same objects are drawn using color (chromatic). The drawings are free-hand without a use of examples such as magazines or models. The H-T-P was designed as a two-phased approach to assess personality. In phase one the subject is non-verbal, creative and unstructured, the second phase is verbal, structured and the client can define, describe and interpret the objects in the drawings.

According to Buck (Buck, 1948, p.151), “The H-T-P… 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 within the environment.”

Buck envisioned this instrument being used by qualified clinical psychologists, psychiatrists or other qualified examiners in their work with individual subjects with diagnostically and prognistically significant data concerning subjects which otherwise might take more time to acquire.

Buck also proposed that the H-T-P might be utilized as a screening device to measure maladjustment, assess personality integration, and identify common personality characteristics of a specific population. But thus far there has not been evidence to support this proposition. He also thought that the H-T-P could serve as a pretest tool for entrance into schools,specialized training programs or employment positions. Validity and reliability evidence wo...

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...tion and the inter-rater reliability is high. As an art therapist, I see that the drawings themselves provide an entry into the opportunity for dialogue about what is going on in the world of the client.

Works Cited

Brooke, S.L. (2004). Tools of the trade: A therapist's guide to art therapy assessments (2nd ed., Rev.). Springfield, Illinois: Charles C. Thomas.

Buck, J. N. (2002). House-tree-person projective drawing technique H-T-P Manual and interpretive guide (Rev. ed.). Los Angeles, CA: WPS.

Wenck, L. S. (2001). House-tree-person drawings: An illustrated diagnostic handbook. Los Angeles, CA: WPS.

Lim, H., & Slaughter, V.. (2008). Brief Report: Human Figure Drawings by Children with Asperger's Syndrom. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 38(5), 98894. Retrieved December 2, 2009, from ProQuest Psychology Journals. (Document ID: 1472555871).