Conscious and unconscious perceptions of self in children of alcoholics

The conscious and unconscious self-concept was examined in three groups of children: 23 children of alcoholics (COA), 19 children from nonalcoholic but dysfunctional families, and 23 children from normal families without alcoholism or family dysfunction. Self-concept was assessed both objectively, using the Piers-Harris Children's Self Concept Scale, and subjectively, using the Draw-A-Person Test and the Thematic Apperception Test from rating systems designed to tap unconscious dimensions of self. The COAs and normal controls were also compared for behavioral problems with the Achenbach Child Behavior Checklist. We found that COAs made more positive self-statements on objective measures of self-concept than children from families without alcoholism, whether or not the families were dysfunctional. Subjective analyses of projective test responses revealed unconscious differences in self-concept among the COAs, though this was not corroborated with objective scores, probably due to the crudeness of the rating instrument in failing to tap these dimensions. Also COAs had significantly more behavior problems, based on parental reports, which contrasts with their objective reports of self. Implications of these findings were discussed.