TAT ASSESSMENT OF OBJECT RELATIONS - IMPLICATIONS FOR CHILD-ABUSE

Several recent empirical studies have documented impaired object relat ions in victims of childhood maltreatment. The consistency of these fi ndings, despite sampling and other methodological differences, highlig hts the applicability of object relations theory to the study of abuse sequelae. This article illustrates the use of the Social Cognition an d Object Relations Scales (SCORS) in the clinical assessment of maltre ated children by applying it to selected Thematic Apperception Test (T AT) stories of a sexually abused girl, a physically abused girl, and a distressed but nonabused peer. Diagnostic and treatment implications are discussed.