Psychological Testing Categories
Aptitude Tests
Differential Aptitude Test (DAT), General Aptitude Test Battery (GATB), Raven’s Progressive Matrices.
Rationale: Measure an individual’s potential to learn, reason, and solve problems — useful for career and academic guidance.
Intelligence (IQ) Tests
Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS-IV), Stanford-Binet Intelligence Scales, Cattell’s Culture Fair Intelligence Test.
Rationale: Assess overall intellectual ability, reasoning, memory, and problem-solving skills for educational or clinical evaluation.
Personality Tests
Big Five Inventory (BFI), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2), Myers-Briggs Type Indicator (MBTI).
Rationale: Evaluate personality traits, behavioral tendencies, and emotional stability for counseling and self-understanding.
Projective Tests
Rorschach Inkblot Test, Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), Draw-A-Person Test.
Rationale: Explore hidden emotions, motives, and internal conflicts through responses to ambiguous stimuli.
Neuropsychological Tests
Trail Making Test, Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Stroop Color-Word Test.
Rationale: Assess brain-based cognitive functions like memory, attention, and executive control in neurological evaluations.
Clinical / Psychopathology Screening Tests
Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II), Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7), Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21).
Rationale: Identify symptoms and severity of psychological distress for clinical screening and mental-health monitoring.
Emotional Intelligence Tests
Emotional Quotient Inventory (EQ-i 2.0), Mayer-Salovey-Caruso Emotional Intelligence Test (MSCEIT), Schutte Self-Report EI Test.
Rationale: Assess the ability to perceive, understand, and regulate emotions effectively in oneself and others.
Achievement / Educational Tests
Wide Range Achievement Test (WRAT), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Achievement.
Rationale: Evaluate learned academic abilities such as reading, mathematics, and language proficiency.
Vocational / Career Assessment Tests
Strong Interest Inventory, Holland’s Self-Directed Search (SDS), Career Assessment Inventory.
Rationale: Match personal interests and skills with suitable professional and career paths.
Psychomotor & Performance Tests
Purdue Pegboard Test, Finger Dexterity Test, Vienna Test System.
Rationale: Measure coordination, speed, and accuracy between cognitive processing and physical movement.
Social & Interpersonal Tests
Interpersonal Competence Questionnaire (ICQ), Social Skills Inventory (SSI), Relationship Assessment Scale (RAS).
Rationale: Evaluate interpersonal skills, empathy, and relationship patterns.
Cognitive Function Tests
Digit Span Test, Rey–Osterrieth Complex Figure Test, Benton Visual Retention Test.
Rationale: Assess working memory, attention, and perceptual-processing efficiency.
Attitude & Interest Tests
Thurstone Attitude Scale, Likert Attitude Scale, Strong Vocational Interest Blank.
Rationale: Measure opinions, beliefs, and professional interests to guide decision-making.
Stress & Coping Assessments
Perceived Stress Scale (PSS), Coping Inventory for Stressful Situations (CISS), Holmes & Rahe Stress Scale.
Rationale: Identify stress levels and coping mechanisms for mental-health awareness and prevention.
Well-Being & Quality of Life Tests
WHO Quality of Life Scale (WHOQOL-BREF), Ryff’s Psychological Well-Being Scale, Satisfaction with Life Scale (SWLS).
Rationale: Evaluate overall psychological health, life satisfaction, and sense of purpose.
Psychological Therapies
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Focuses on identifying and changing negative thought patterns and behaviors. Helps manage depression, anxiety, and stress by restructuring cognition.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
Emphasizes emotional regulation, mindfulness, and distress tolerance; effective for borderline personality disorder and self-harming behaviors.
Rational Emotive Behavior Therapy (REBT)
Helps individuals challenge irrational beliefs and replace them with rational, adaptive thoughts.
Psychoanalytic Therapy
Explores unconscious conflicts and past experiences influencing present behavior.
Psychodynamic Therapy
Focuses on self-awareness and understanding how the past affects current emotions and behaviors.
Humanistic Therapy
Emphasizes personal growth, self-actualization, and free will, focusing on the individual's potential for self-improvement.
Client-Centered Therapy
Provides a supportive environment through unconditional positive regard and empathy to foster self-growth.
Gestalt Therapy
Encourages awareness of the present moment and personal responsibility; helps clients integrate thoughts, feelings, and actions.
Behavioral Therapy
Focuses on modifying maladaptive behaviors through reinforcement, conditioning, and exposure techniques.
Exposure Therapy
Used to reduce fear or anxiety responses by gradually exposing individuals to the feared object or context.
Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT)
Combines mindfulness and behavioral strategies to promote psychological flexibility and value-driven living.
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy (MBCT)
Integrates mindfulness practices with cognitive therapy techniques to prevent relapse in depression and stress management.
Interpersonal Therapy (IPT)
Improves interpersonal relationships and communication to reduce symptoms of depression and anxiety.
Family Therapy
Involves family members to address communication issues, conflicts, and relational dynamics affecting mental health.
Couples Therapy / Marriage Counseling
Helps partners improve communication, resolve conflicts, and strengthen emotional connection.
Group Therapy
Involves multiple participants to share experiences and gain mutual support under professional guidance.
Art Therapy
Uses creative expression to explore emotions, relieve stress, and enhance self-awareness.
Music Therapy
Applies musical activities to improve emotional well-being, reduce anxiety, and promote relaxation.
Play Therapy
Used primarily with children to help them express emotions and resolve psychological challenges through play.
Trauma-Focused Therapy
Processes traumatic experiences and reduces symptoms of PTSD and emotional distress.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR)
Designed for trauma treatment by using guided eye movements to reprocess distressing memories.
Existential Therapy
Focuses on meaning, purpose, and freedom of choice; helps clients confront existential anxiety and responsibility.
Integrative Therapy
Combines techniques from different therapeutic models to suit individual client needs.
Solution-Focused Brief Therapy (SFBT)
Goal-oriented therapy emphasizing solutions and strengths rather than problems.
Narrative Therapy
Encourages clients to re-author their life stories, separating themselves from their problems.