Further Research on Personality Dimensions and Physical Symptoms Using the Differential Diagnostic Technique

The personality dynamics using the Differential Diagnostic Technique are delineated as part of an effort to understand their key role underlying the expression of physical symptoms. An urban sample of 40 boys and 71 girls, aged 14 and 15 years old, from regular classrooms completed the Health Survey which taps into five scales of physical symptoms of stress and the Differential Diagnostic Technique. The personality dimensions produced were very similar to those of earlier studies involving a young criminogenic sample. Expected trends for physical symptoms with ego control, rigid defensiveness, and personality organization are reported. This study provided further validity and reliability data for the Differential Diagnostic Technique as a useful instrument for assessing and interpreting the dynamics of human behaviour.

Further Research on Personality Organization Using the Differential Diagnostic Technique

Two recent studies utilizing the Differential Diagnostic Technique as a primary means of assessment delineated several personality dimensions that reflect the over-all functioning of children in various placement settings. Amnions' 1991 study involved a young offender population of 110 males aged 12 to 17 years. Erdman (1992) looked at 691 children in residential care, both male and female, who ranged in age from 7 to 16 years. Despite different populations and statistical analyses, the personality dimensions produced in the different studies reflected a similar type of personality organization. In assessing personality, the Differential Diagnostic Technique is shown to be consonant with more traditional, empirically based modes of symptom and behavioral classification.

The Differential Diagnostic Technique: A Visual-Motor Projective Test: Further Research

Within a wide variety of research settings and problems investigation the Differential Diagnostic Technique continues to indicate its usefulness as an objective measure of certain personality characteristics.

The Differential Diagnostic Technique, a Visual Motor Projective Test

The Differential Diagnostic Technique is a projective drawing test in which the individual is asked to copy 14 figures, presented one at a time. Research indicates the usefulness of the test as an objective measure of personality and points to its diagnostic use for certain neuropsychological problems and in research.