The realm of psychological testing is broad and complicated. The range of emotions and behaviors humans experience is just as vast and complicated, so it’s only fitting that the field of psychological testing mirrors that. You may have taken some kind of psychological testing without even realizing it. The quizzes found in newsstand magazines are examples of this kind of assessment as are college exams, in a way.
Any one or more of the psychological tests available are hugely beneficial to psychologists and counselors, and to you. For example, if you’re considering treatment for a mental illness or a substance abuse problem, psychological evaluations can help to better develop a treatment plan and assist clinicians in understanding your vantage point.
Successful psychological evaluations must be able to observe and measure a behavior of someone. These behaviors must in turn be used to measure some attribute of one’s personality, like paranoia, intelligence, or hostility. These test assess the strengths and weaknesses of those traits and how they relate to someone’s personality, behavior, and intelligence. While they cannot determine the future or potential of a person, they do gauge the person’s “present functioning,” according to PsychCentral.
Like those quizzes in magazines and “pencil-and-paper” tests, there are other methods used in psychological evaluations. They come in computerized versions, picture formats, verbal interviews, and in observing someone in a natural environment. There are four primary types of tests that cover main components of a person’s psyche:
Perhaps the most well-known intelligence test is the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Fourth Edition (WAIS-IV). Comprising of a variety of questions that measure verbal, performance, and full-scale intelligence, WAIS-IV is helpful from both an educational and scientific perspective.
The infamous Rorschach Inkblot test evaluates personality characteristics in children and adults. Finding images out of inkblots may seem silly, but it does serve a purpose. By describing what you see and how you feel about the images, psychologists can determine thought disturbances and get a more detailed view of your personality.
Psychological tests are invaluable to addiction and mental health treatment. By administering assessments like those mentioned above, clinicians and psychologists can learn more about you. Especially if you’re enrolled in or are considering treatment for a mental illness or substance abuse problem, these tests can only be advantageous to your recovery. Call FRN today to learn more about how psychological testing can benefit you.
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