Differences between the children of foster families and children of original families in the response to the Children’s Apperception Test (C. A. T)‎

Abstract EN

The study aimed to compare the differences in the response on the (C.A.T) of children in foster families and peers in normal families.

This can help to improve the understanding of these children، develop preventive strategies, and take corrective action.

The study used a descriptive-clinical approach.

For comparison, two samples were used (ten children from foster families and ten children from normal families).

It was found that most of the images lacked the diagnostic value to discriminate between the two samples, with just four of the fourteen points in the two samples showing differences.

The differences were centered on the image’s perception of the environment, which was engulfed by aggressive, unstable, and contradictory environments.

In addition, the mother’s image was perceived as angry and worried.

The conflict with the family was repeated several times in the sample of foster families and their non-adaptation was linked to the occurrence of statistically significant differences between the two samples in the conclusion of the stories.

These conclusions were unhappy, unrealistic, and abnormal perceived in the samples of foster male children.

The differences in the girl’s sample were more significant than in boys.

The differences in the girls’ sample focused on the environment.

The image of the mother in this group was perceived as angry, timid, contradictory.

Moreover, she was completely ignored in some answers.

The father’s cruel and dominant image also appeared in a series of responses.