House-Tree-Person z Perspective provide a detailed 350-page which then comprise the items for the view (for example,

iled 350-page which then comprise the items for the view (for example, head in profile, body
Projective Drawing Technique z Detailing administration and scoring manual. profile configuration. in front view), it appears to reflect an
z Author: John N Buck z Nonessential Reliability and Validity: The manual evasive attitude in social relations.
z Developed in 1947 with Details Description for the HTPT contains no information on Lack of many details, incomplete
revisions in 1948, 1949, and z Irrelevant Details The HTP can be given to anyone over validity and reliability. wholes, and use of very faint lines are a
(Buck and Warren) 1992 z Line Quality the age of three. Because it requires Norms: The standardization sample combination found in subjects who are
z Originally developed as an
z Use of Color test takers to draw pictures, it is often
used with children and adolescents. It is
included 140 adults. No attempt was
made to randomly select a stratified
deeply depressed. A ground line sloping
downward and away from the drawn
outgrowth of the Drawing Analysis also often used with individuals sample of subjects from the general whole on either side may reflect a
Goodenough Scale* utilized z Drawings are interpreted suspected of having brain damage or population. Twenty adults were feeling of isolation, exposure, and
to access intellectual using two paths; intra- other neurological impairment. The test selected for each of seven intellectual helplessness in the face of
functioning subjective and inter- takes an average of 150 minutes to levels: environmental pressures.
z Publisher: subjective complete; it may take less time with House interpretations are loosely
z Western y First path, intra- normally functioning adults and much House Tree Person Drawings based on research and on the symbolic
Psychological subjective, more time with neurologically impaired The House-Tree-Person (H-T-P) meaning of the aspects of the house.
Services considers the individuals. projective technique developed by John They should hopefully be nurturing
z 12031 Wilshire content and quality Buck was originally an outgrowth of the places with normal levels of detail and
Blvd of the three During the first phase of the test, test Goodenough scale utilized to assess normal size. Too little and the client
z Los Angeles, CA drawings; also takers are asked to use a crayon to intellectual functioning. Buck felt may reject family life; too big and they
90025 explores the depth draw pictures, respectively, of a house, artistic creativity represented a stream may be overwhelmed by it.
z 1-800-648-8857 of material behind a tree, and a person. Each drawing is of personality characteristics that Lines and walls represent boundaries
Purpose the drawings done on a separate piece of paper and flowed onto graphic art. He believed and strengths of the ego, thus weak
z *Designed to aid clinician in y Second path, inter- the test taker is asked to draw as that through drawings, subjects lines in the structure of the house are
obtaining information subjective, accurately as possible. Upon objectified unconscious difficulties by weaknesses in the ego, while strong
concerning an individuals considers features completion of the drawings, test takers sketching the inner image of primary lines are problems with anxiety and a
sensitivity, maturity, indicative of a are asked questions about the process. need to reinforce boundaries.
flexibility, efficiency, degree certain emotional drawings. There are a total of 60 Since it was assumed that the content The roof symbolizes the fantasy life,
of personality integration, tendency questions that examiners can ask. and quality of the H-T-P was not and extra attention to it can indicate
and interaction with the Examiners can also create their own attributable to the stimulus itself, he extra attention to fantasy and ideation,
environment. Time Factors and Considerations questions or ask unscripted follow-up believed it had to be rooted in the while incomplete, tiny, or burning roofs
z *Provides a structured z No time limit (is based on questions. For example, with reference individuals basic personality. Since the can indicate avoidance of overpowering
context for the projection of average time) to the house, the test creator wrote H-T-P was an outcropping of an and frightening fantasies (think about
unconscious material. z Paper given to client to draw questions such as, "Is it a happy intelligence test, Buck developed a fears of ghosts in the attic - these are
z *Buck felt that artistic on should be blank house?" and "What is the house made quantitative scoring system to appraise based on the association for us).
creativity represents a z This is a projective, not a of?" Regarding the tree, questions gross classification levels of intelligence Windows, doors, and sidewalks are all
stream of flow onto graphic diagnostic, test include, "About how old is that tree?" along with at qualitative interpretive ways that others enter or see into the
art. He believed that through z Not standardized and "Is the tree alive?" Concerning the analysis to appraise global personality house, so they relate to openness,
drawings, subjects objectified z Can purchase a supplemental person, questions include, "Is that characteristics. willingness to interact with others, and
unconscious differences by interrogation form which person happy?" and "How does that Ask questions after each picture is ideas about the environment. Thus,
sketching the inner image of derives an IQ score person feel?" drawn: shades, shutters, bars, curtains, and
the primary process. z *Reliability and validity Person long and winding sidewalks indicate
Recommended Use studies have been most During the second phase of the test, Who is this person, how old are they, some unwillingness to reveal much
z Use in combination with supportive of the cognitive test takers are asked to draw the same what's their favorite thing to do, what's about yourself (think about expression
other projective uses of the test in 3 to 10 pictures with a pencil. The questions something they do not like, has anyone like windows to the soul or the door to
measurement instruments, year old children. that follow this phase are similar to the tried to hurt them, who looks out for the mind). Cars could be signs of
usually given first as an ice- z Not used/appropriate for this ones in the first phase. Some them? visitors coming or people in the home
breaker type of test as every drawing examiners give only one of the two leaving. Lights could be signs to
z Anyone over 3 years of age is different for every person phases, choosing either a crayon, a House welcome visitors or reveal prowlers.
z Especially appropriate for (individualized) pencil, or some other writing Who lives here, are they happy, what Open doors or many windows could
individuals who are non- z No norms/no standardization instrument. goes on inside, what's it like at night, mean strong needs to engage others.
English-speaking, culturally data available do people visit here, what else do the Big windows, especially in the
different, educationally z Some aspects of drawings One variation of test administration people in the house want to add to the bathroom, could be exhibitionistic
deprived, or developmentally may be indicative of involves asking the individual to draw drawing? desires.
disabled. psychological trends two separate persons, one of each sex. Psychotics tends to show groundlines
Administration Personal Evaluation Another variation is to have test takers Tree (their need for grounding), clear visions
z Client draws three objects: a z Limitations: put all the drawings on one page. What kind of tree is this, how old is it, of the insides of the house (they
house, a tree, a person on y original test written what season is it, has anyone tried to believe their thoughts and mind are
plain paper in 1970s; Scoring: The Post-Drawing cut it down, what else grows nearby, open to view by others), strange angles
z Administrator then uses a Family/cultural Interrogation form consists of 60 who waters the tree, trees need (like their strange thought processes),
Post-Drawing Inquiry values, trends, questions varying from direct and sunshine to live so does it get enough or a house on the verge of a collapse
checklist (specific questions) ideas have concrete to indirect and abstract. Once sunshine? (like their ego).
to enable client to describe, changed the Post-Drawing Interrogation form Tree interpretations: The trunk is
define, and interpret his/her y Interpretation may has been administered and the For instance, the branches of the Tree seen to represent the ego. sense of
drawings be influenced by interview has been completed, the overextended upward or outward self, and the intactness of the
z Client responses are clinician examiner records items of detail, frequently mirror the subject's personality. Thus heavy lines or
organized under 8 categories bias/prejudice proportion, and perspective in the overstriving for achievement. Plancing shadings to represent bark indicate
z 8 categories for client Precautions Scoring Folder. After completing the of the windows against the wall of the anxiety about one's self, small trunks
responses: Because it is mostly subjective, scoring scoring tables, the examiner derives an House so that the side of the House are limited ego strength, large trunks
z General and interpreting the HTP is difficult. IQ figure for the percentage of raw G, a serves also as one side of the windows are more strength... (think about the
Observations Anyone administering the HTP must be net weighted score, a weighted "good" implies feelings of insecurity. If only a saying that a tree that bends lasts
z Proportion properly trained. The test publishers score, and a weighted "flaw" sore, part of the Person is drawn in a profile through the wind, but one that doesn't
snaps, like the ego that is flexible and symmetrical, pleasing to look at, and Karen Horney was born September 16, argumentative. Also in 1923, Karen's neurotic has made the need too central
healthy lasts through the world, but the sufficiently detailed. They tend to be 1885, to Clotilde and Berndt Wackels brother died at the age of 40 of a to their existence.
inflexible and neurotic ego ends up clothed, although pregnant women or Danielson. Her father was a ship's pulmonary infection. Karen became The neurotic needs are as follows:
broken). A tree split down the middle, women who have recently given birth captain, a religious man, and an very depressed, to the point of 1. The neurotic need for affection and
as if hit by lightening, can indicate a may draw naked women, and women authoritarian. His children called him swimming out to a sea piling during a approval, the indiscriminate need to
fragmented personality and serious having recently seen the gynecologist "the Bible thrower," because, according vacation with thoughts of committing please others and be liked by them.
mental illness, or a sign of organicity. may draw naked women. Erasures led to Horney, he did! Her mother, who was suicide. 2. The neurotic need for a partner, for
Limbs are the efforts our ego makes to to improvements, and the person known as Sonni, was a very different Karen and her daughters moved out of someone who will take over one's life.
"reach out" to the world and support seems contented with the drawing, person -- Berndt's second wife, 19 Oskar's house in 1926 and, four years This includes the idea that love will
"things that feed us" what we need. perhaps laughing at it a bit. Usually the years his junior, and considerably more later, moved to the U.S., eventually solve all of one's problems. Again, we
Thus, limbs detached are difficulties same-sex person is drawn first, and the urbane. Karen also had an older settling in Brooklyn. In the 1930's, all would like a partner to share life
reaching out, or efforts to reach out opposite-sexed person second. Some brother, also named Berndt, for whom Brooklyn was the intellectual capital of with, but the neurotic goes a step or
that we can't control. Small branches interpret drawing the opposite-sex first she cared deeply, as well as four older the world, due in part to the influx of two too far.
are limited skills to reach out, while big as a sign of gender confusion, which siblings from her father's previous Jewish refugees from Germany. it was 3. The neurotic need to restrict one's
branches may be too much reaching has not been well-supported. marriage. here that she became friends with such life to narrow borders, to be
out to meet needs. Club shaped Arms are the way we reach out to the Karen Horney's childhood seems to intellectuals as Erich Fromm and Harry undemanding, satisfied with little, to be
branches or very pointy ones represent environment, and hands the way we have been one of misperceptions: For Stack Sullivan, even pausing to have an inconspicuous. Even this has its normal
aggressiveness. Gnarled branches are effect it. Open arms indicate willingness example, while she paints a picture of affair with the former. And it was here counterpart. Who hasn't felt the need
"twisted" and represent being "twisted" to engage, closed arms are her father as a harsh disciplinarian who that she developed her theories on to simplify life when it gets too
in some efforts to reach out. Dead defensiveness, disconnected arms are preferred her brother Berndt over her, neurosis, based on her experiences as stressful, to join a monastic order,
branches mean emptiness and powerlessness... pointed fingers or he apparently brought her gifts from all a psychotherapist. disappear into routine, or to return to
hopelessness. balled fists can be aggression, hidden over the world and even took her on She practiced, taught, and wrote until the womb?
Leaves are signs that efforts to reach or gloved hands can be anxiety or three long sea voyages with him -- a her death in 1952. 4. The neurotic need for power, for
out are successful, since leaves antisocial tendencies... It could also be very unusual thing for sea captains to Theory control over others, for a facade of
growing mean the tree is reaching out difficulty drawing good hands. do in those days! Nevertheless, she felt Horney's theory is perhaps the best omnipotence. We all seek strength, but
to the sun and getting food and water. Legs and feet are also like the roots of deprived of her father's affections, and theory of neurosis we have. First, she the neurotic may be desperate for it.
Thus, no leaves could mean feeling trees, and represent grounding and so became especially attached to her offered a different way of viewing This is dominance for its own sake,
barren, while leaves detached from the power too. If cut off at the bottom of mother, becoming, as she put it, "her neurosis. She saw it as much more often accompanied by a contempt for
branches mean the nurturing we get is the paper (think of cutting someone off little lamb." continuous with normal life than the weak and a strong belief in one's
not very predictable. Pointy leaves at the knees) it can mean loss of At the age of nine, she changed her previous theorists. Specifically, she saw own rational powers.
could be aggression, obsessive autonomy, small feet (inadequate base) approach to life, and became ambitious neurosis as an attempt to make life 5. The neurotic need to exploit others
attention to detail on the leaves could can indicate a need for security, while and even rebellious. She said "If I bearable, as a way of "interpersonal and get the better of them. In the
be Obsessive Compulsive tendencies. big feet can indicate the same. couldn't be pretty, I decided I would be control and coping." This is, of course, ordinary person, this might be the need
Roots are what "ground" the tree and The neck separates the head smart," which is only unusual in that what we all strive to do on a day-to-day to have an effect, to have impact, to be
people, and typically relate to reality (cognition) from the body (drives and she actually was pretty! Also during basis, only most of us seem to be doing heard. In the neurotic, it can become
testing and orientation. No roots can needs), so no neck is no separation, this time, she developed something of alright, while the neurotic seems to be manipulation and the belief that people
mean insecurity and no feeling of being long neck is desire for more separation a crush on her own brother. sinking fast. are there to be used. It may also
grounded, overemphasized roots can of the two, etc... Embarrassed by her attentions, as you In her clinical experience, she involve a fear of being used, of looking
be excessive concern with reality Mouth is how we get needs met (think might expect of a young teenage boy, discerned ten particular patterns of stupid. You may have noticed that the
testing, while dead roots can mean Freud and oral stuff), so big or open he pushed her away. This led to her neurotic needs. They are based on people who love practical jokes more
feelings of disconnection from reality, mouth is neediness, cupid bow or first bout with depression -- a problem things that we all need, but they have often than not cannot take being the
emptiness, and despair. luscious lips is sexualized needs, closed that would plague her the rest of her become distorted in several ways by butt of such a joke themselves!
Other details: Christmas trees after the tight mouth is denial of needs or some life. the difficulties of some people's lives: 6. The neurotic need for social
season is over can mean regressive passive-aggression, and frowns, sneers, In early adulthood came several years Let's take the first need, for affection recognition or prestige. We are social
fantasies (thinking about holidays and and smiles mean with they do in real of stress. In 1904, her mother divorced and approval, as an example. We all creatures, and sexual ones, and like to
family and good times to make yourself life. There is limited support for oral- her father and left him with Karen and need affection, so what makes such a be appreciated. But these people are
feel better). Knots or twists in the dependency themes, and more for young Berndt. In 1906, she entered need neurotic? First, the need is overwhelmingly concerned with
wood, like gnarled limbs, indicate some slash mouths and teeth to be medical school, against her parents' unrealistic, unreasonable, appearances and popularity. They fear
part of the ego is twisted around some consistent with verbal aggression. wishes and, in fact, against the opinions indiscriminate. For example, we all being ignored, be thought plain,
issue. Knotholes are an absence of Genitalia, breasts, etc... are seldom of polite society of the time. While need affection, but we don't expect it "uncool," or "out of it."
trunk, and thus an absence of ego drawn, and indicate sexual concerns there, she met a law student named from everyone we meet. We don't 7. The neurotic need for personal
control. Sometimes they are seen as and discomfort. Emphasis on breasts Oscar Horney, whom she married in expect great outpourings of affection admiration. We need to be admired for
indicating a trauma, and the height up though are not uncommon in 1909. In 1910, Karen gave birth to from even our close friends and inner qualities as well as outer ones.
the tree represents the age of the prepubescent girls, and both disturbed Brigitte, the first of her three relations. We don't expect our loved We need to feel important and valued.
trauma (so, halfway up for a 10 year and non-disturbed boys emphasize daughters. In 1911, her mother Sonni ones to show affection at all times, in But some people are more desperate,
old is at age 5). Squirrels and small pectorals. died. The strain of these events were all circumstances. We don't expect and need to remind everyone of their
animals are an Id intrusion into an area Drawing clowns (hiding face and hard on Karen, and she entered great shows of love while our partners importance -- "Nobody recognizes
free from ego control. Research does person), robots (loss of emotions in a psychoanalysis. are filing out tax forms, for example. genius," "I'm the real power behind the
show that weeping willow trees are psychotic way), cowboys (masculinized As Freud might have predicted, she had And, we realize that there may be scenes, you know," and so on. Their
more common in depressed people. needs), snowmen (rounded bodies, married a man not unlike her father: times in our lives where we have to be fear is of being thought nobodies,
People with high needs for nurturance regressive themes), stick man (childish Oscar was an authoritarian as harsh self-sufficient. unimportant and meaningless.
draw apples. or regressive themes) etc... can mean with his children as the captain had Second, the neurotic's need is much 8. The neurotic need for personal
Person intrepretations: Here, the what is noted in parenthesis above. been with his. Horney notes that she more intense, and he or she will achievement. Again, there is nothing
idea is that the person of the same sex Excessive details are consistent with did not intervene, but rather considered experience great anxiety if the need is intrinsically wrong with achievement --
is like you, and the person of the some obsessiveness when dealing with the atmosphere good for her children not met, or if it even appears that it far from it! But some people are
opposite sex is what you may not admit anxiety, while marked lack of detail can and encouraging their independence. may not be met in the future. It is this, obsessed with it. They have to be
is like you. Very Jungian when you think indicate withdrawal, low energy, or Only many years later did hindsight of course, that leads to the unrealistic number one at everything they do.
of it, in that the opposite sex is the boredom. change her perspective on childrearing. nature of the need. Affection, to Since this is, of course, quite a difficult
anima or animus. In 1923, Oskar's business collapsed and continue the example, has to be shown task, you will find these people
Typically, the person is centered or just Biography he developed meningitis. He became a clearly at all times, in all circumstances, devaluing anything they cannot be
below vertical center on the page, is broken man, morose and by all people, or the panic sets in. The number one in! If they are good
runners, then the discus and the Horney's answer, which she called the would then be free to realize that differences between healthy and
hammer are "side shows." If academic "basic evil," is parental indifference, potential (self-realization). neurotic striving for perfection, and (to
abilities are their strength, physical a lack of warmth and affection in The neurotic has a different view of get ahead of ourselves a bit) how
abilities are of no importance, and so childhood. Even occasional beatings or things. The neurotics self is "split" into similar this conception is to Carl
on. an early sexual experience can be a despised self and an ideal self. Rogers'. I usually feel that, when
9. The neurotic need for self-sufficiency overcome, if the child feels wanted and Other theorists postulate a "looking- different people come up with similar
and independence. We should all loved. glass" self, the you you think others ideas relatively independently, this is a
cultivate some autonomy, but some The key to understanding parental see. If you look around and see good sign we're getting at something
people feel that they shouldn't ever indifference is that it is a matter of the (accurately or not) others despising valuable!
need anybody. They tend to refuse help child's perception, and not the parents' you, then you take that inside you as Karen Horney had a couple more
and are often reluctant to commit to a intentions. "The road to hell," it might what you assume is the real you. On interesting ideas that should be
relationship. pay to remember, "is paved with good the other hand, if you are lacking in mentioned. First, she criticized Freud's
10. The neurotic need for perfection intentions." A well-intentioned parent some way, that implies there are idea of penis envy. Although she
and unassailability. To become better may easily communicate indifference to certain ideals you should be living up conceded that it did occasionally occur
and better at life and our special children with such things as showing a to. You create an ideal self out of these in neurotic women, she felt strongly
interests is hardly neurotic, but some preference for one child over another, "shoulds." Understand that the ideal that it was not anywhere near to a
people are driven to be perfect and blaming a child for what they may not self is not a positive goal; it is universal. She suggested that what
scared of being flawed. They can't be have done, overindulging one moment unrealistic and ultimately impossible. may appear to be signs of penis envy is
caught making a mistake and need to and rejecting another, neglecting to So the neurotic swings back and forth really justified envy of men's power in
be in control at all times. fulfill promises, disturbing a child's between hating themselves and this world.
As Horney investigated these neurotic friendships, making fun of a child's pretending to be perfect. In fact, she suggested, there may also
needs, she began to recognize that thinking, and so on. Please notice that be a male counterpart to penis envy
they can be clustered into three many parents -- even good ones -- find -- womb envy -- in some men who feel
broad coping strategies: themselves doing these things because envious of a woman's ability to bear
I. Compliance, which includes needs of the many pressures they may be children. Perhaps the degree to which
one, two, and three. under. Other parents do these things many men are driven to succeed, and
II. Aggression, including needs four because they themselves are neurotic, to have their names live on after them,
through eight. and place their own needs ahead of is in compensation for their inability to
III. Withdrawal, including needs nine, their children's more directly extend themselves into
ten, and three. She added three here Horney noticed that, in contrast to our the future by means of carrying,
because it is crucial to the illusion of stereotypes of children as weak and bearing, and nurturing their children!
total independence and perfection that passive, their first reaction to parental A second idea, one that still gets little
you limit the breadth of your life! indifference is anger, a response she Horney described this stretching respect in the psychological
In her writings, she used a number of calls basic hostility. To be frustrated between the despised and ideal selves community, is self-analysis. Horney
other phrases to refer to these three first leads to an effort at protesting the as "the tyranny of the shoulds" and wrote one of the earliest "self-help"
strategies. Besides compliance, she injustice! neurotic "striving for glory:" books, and suggested that, with
referred to the first as the moving- Some children find this hostility The compliant person believes "I should relatively minor neurotic problems, we
toward strategy and the self- effective, and over time it becomes a be sweet, self-sacrificing, saintly." could be our own psychiatrists. You can
effacing solution. One should also habitual response to life's difficulties. In The aggressive person says "I should see how this might threaten a few of
note that it is the same as Adler's other words, they develop an be powerful, recognized, a winner." the delicate egos who make their
getting or leaning approach, or the aggressive coping strategy. They say to The withdrawing person believes "I livings as therapists! I am always
phlegmatic personality. themselves, "If I have power, no one should be independent, aloof, perfect." surprised at the negative reaction some
Besides aggression, the second was can hurt me." And while vacillating between these of my colleagues have to people like
referred to as moving-against and Most children, however, find two impossible selves, the neurotic is Joyce Brothers, the famous
the expansive solution. It is the same themselves overwhelmed by basic alienated from their true core and psychologist-columnist. Apparently, if
as Alder's ruling or dominant type, or anxiety, which in children is mostly a prevented from actualizing their you aren't working within the official
the choleric personality. matter of fear of helplessness and potentials. guidelines, your work is dismissed as
And, besides withdrawal, she called the abandonment. For survival's sake, basic Discussion "pop psych."
third moving-away-from and hostility must be suppressed and the At first glance, it may appear that The major negative comment I might
the resigning solution. It is somewhat parents won over. If this seems to work Horney stole some of Adler's best make about Horney is that her theory is
like Adler's avoiding type, the better for the child, it may become the ideas. It is clear, for example, that her limited to the neurotic. Besides leaving
melancholy personality. preferred coping strategy -- three coping strategies are very close out psychotics and other problems, she
Development compliance. They say to themselves, "If to Adler's three types. It is, of course, leaves out the truly healthy person.
It is true that some people who are I can make you love me, you will not quite conceivable that she was Nevertheless, since she does put
abused or neglected as children suffer hurt me." influenced by Adler. But if you look at neurosis and health on a single
from neuroses as adults. What we often Some children find that neither how she derived her three strategies -- continuum, she does speak to the
forget is that most do not. If you have a aggression nor compliance eliminate by collapsing groups of neurotic needs neurotic in all of us.
violent father, or a schizophrenic the perceived parental indifference. -- you see that she simply came to the
mother, or are sexually molested by a They "solve" the problem by same conclusions from a different
strange uncle, you may nevertheless withdrawing from family involvement approach. There is no question, of
have other family members that love into themselves, eventually becoming course, that Adler and Horney (and
you, take care of you, and work to sufficient unto themselves -- the third Fromm and Sullivan) form an unofficial
protect you from further injury, and you coping strategy. They say, "If I school of psychiatry. They are often
will grow up to be a healthy, happy withdraw, nothing can hurt me." called neo-Freudians, although that is
adult. It is even more true that the Self theory rather inaccurate. Unfortunately, the
great majority of adult neurotics did not Horney had one more way of looking at other common term is the Social
in fact suffer from childhood neglect or neurosis -- in terms of self images. For Psychologists which, while accurate, is
abuse! So the question becomes, if it is Horney, the self is the core of your a term already used for an area of
not neglect or abuse that causes being, your potential. If you were study.
neurosis, what does? healthy, you would have an accurate Please notice how Horney's self theory
conception of who you are, and you fleshes out Adler's theory about the