TAT assessment of object relations: implications for child abuse

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