Acting Out Score Research Articles

Hand Test AGG and AOS Variables: Relation With Teacher Rating of Aggressiveness

The purpose of this study was to determine the extent to which the Hand Test (Wagner, 1983) variables Aggression (AGG) and the Acting Out Score (AOS) were able to differentiate a group of children who were identified as aggressive and referred for psychological assessment by their teachers from a nonreferred, control group. Hand Test scores of 37 children who had consecutive referrals for psychological assessment because of aggressiveness were compared to the Hand Test scores of 37 children, matched on age and sex, from a nonreferred group. Through the use of an analysis of variance, AOS and AGG were found to significantly differentiate between the two groups. Spearman (r) correlations between AGG and AOS scores with aggressive-referred status were r = .45, p =.0001, and r = .32, p = .006, respectively. Also, diagnostic efficiency statistics demonstrated moderate to high overall correct classification rates for AOS ≥0 and AGG ≥ 2 in identifying children in the aggressive-referred group. The results of this study provide support for the validity of the AGG and AOS scores in the assessment of aggressive behavior in children and demonstrate the utility of the Hand Test to identify aggressive tendencies in children.

Use of the Hand Test in the Classification of Psychiatric Inpatient Adolescents

This study investigates the extent to which 2 Hand Test variables, the Pathology summary score (PATH) and the Acting Out Score (AOS), were able to differentiate among 3 groups of adolescents. Thirty psychiatric inpatient adolescents diagnosed with various Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (4th ed.; American Psychiattic Association, 1994) behavioral and emotional disorders were compared to 30 outpatient and 30 nonclinical adolescents matched on age, grade, and sex. An analysis of variance demonstrated the ability of both PATH and AOS to significantly differentiate among the 3 groups. Multiple regression equations utilized PATH and AOS as significant predictors of inpatient status (p < .0001) and general patient (inpatient and outpatient) status (p < .0001). Utilizing diagnostic efficiency statistics, overall correct classi- fication was found to be highest for PATH — 3 and AOS — 2. These findings support the application of the Hand Test as a useful assessment tool for adolescents suspected of having psychiatric disorders and present evidence for the use of PATH and AOS for classification purposes in ways that are clinically meaningful.

Validation of Two Hand Test Indices of Aggressive Behavior an Institutional Setting

The purpose of this investigation was to determine the effectiveness of the Hand Test (Wagner, 1962/1983) in differentiating among mentally retarded adults placed in community housing versus those discharged from an institution due to violent and destructive behavior. Hand Test protocols of 24 mentally retarded adults who were discharged from an institution for violent and destructive behavior were compared with those of 12 mentally retarded adults who were placed in community housing, with regard to the presence of two indices of aggressive behavior (the acting-out score, AOS, and the movement response, ACT-MOV). Results indicated that 20 of the 24 residents discharged for aggressive behavior manifested one or more of the signs, whereas only 3 of the 12 residents discharged to a less restrictive environment exhibited one or more of the signs. The findings further demonstrate the usefulness of the Hand Test in predicting violent and destructive behavior in an institutional setting.

An exploratory study of the validity of administering the hand test in a group format.

Wagner (1983) devised a projective test in which the subject is presented pictures of hands in various positions and asked to guess what rhey might be doing. Taylor ( 1969) changed the format by presenting this Hand Test in a group format. Wagner had standardized the test in individual presentation to measure psychopathology and devised a PATHOLOGY score from the test protocols, an acting-out score and many other scores. The present study was designed to explore whether these two scores obtained from a group administration would correlate with measures of Extraversion and Neuroticism from the Eysenck Personality Inventory (Eysenck & Eysenck, 1963). The Hand Test was administered in a group format following Taylor (1969) to 30 male and 39 female students aged 18 to 22 yr. (M = 19.3 yr., SD = 1.4). Each card was displayed on a screen for 90 sec., and subjects wrote down their responses. Subjects were then administered the Eysenck Personality Inventory. Neuroticism scores were not correlated with the PATHOLOGY score (I = 0.01) but were with two of the 20 possible measures from the Hand Test (Affiliation: 0.36, and the Acting-out-ratio: 0.26). This may suggest that Neuroticism could be related to aggression versus nonaggression. Lie scores were related to three of the measures, -0.21 for Sum Maladjusted, -0.30 for Pathology, and -0.31 for Crippled. Incidentally, Extraversion scores were not related to any of the measures from the Hand Test. These relationships are interesting but difficult to explain and do not support the construct validity of either test. It is possible that the group-adrninisterd version of the Hand Tesc is not as clinically valid as the individuallyadministered form.

Hand Test personality variables related to automotive moving violations in female drivers.

The Hand Test was administered to 170 females ranging in age from 17 to 72 years to determine if specific personality traits would be significantly related to automotive moving violations. Although personality traits derived from the Hand Test were found to be associated with aggressive and directive behavior (direction, acting-out score), the relationships differed as a function of age.

Presence of Hand Test indices of aggressive behavior for mentally retarded adults on behavior management programs for aggressive behavior.

Hand Test protocols of 24 institutionalized (18 men, 6 women) mentally retarded adults who were currently on structured behavior management programs for the control of violent and destructive behavior were inspected to determine the presence of two purported indicants of violent and destructive acting-out behavior, i.e., Acting-Out-Score (AOS) and Movement-Content response (ACT-MOV). Of the 24 cases, 19 contained 1 or more of the Hand Test signs of violent and destructive behavior. Implications of results were discussed.

The Relationship of Scores on Elizur's Hostility System on the Rorschach to the Acting-Out Score on the Hand Test

The purpose of the present study was to determine the degree of relationship between Elizur's (1949) Hostility Scoring on the Rorschach to the Acting-Out Score on the Hand Test (Wagner, 1961). The subjects were 29 volunteers with a mean age of 34 years from the general population. The Rorschach and the Hand Test were administered individually to each subject in a single sitting. The Pearson product-moment correlation technique was used to compare the acting-out score with the hostility level. The correlational coefficients obtained in the study ranged from .40 to .64 and attained significance beyond the .01 level. The results of the study indicate that there is a significantly positive relationship between the two measures of aggressiveness. The Hand Test might better be utilized in predicting the direction to the aggressiveness as it also takes into consideration the positive or socially acceptable feelings manifested by the subject.

The Hand Test Acting Out Score as a Predictor of Acting Out in Correctional Settings

Abstract The Hand Test was administered to 107 maximum-security prison inmates. The Acting Out Score (AOS) was computed, and 1 year later, the actual acting out (rule in fraction behavior) for the same inmates was recorded. A Pearson raf.51 was significant beyond the .001 level, and the conclusion was that the Hand Test AUS could be useful in helping to identify inmates who have the potential for acting out.

Sex Differences in Responses of Children to the Hand Test

The Hand Test was administered to 69 boys and 65 girls enrolled in the second grade. Significant differences were found on 11 of the 24 variables. Girls gave significantly more Exhibition and Failure responses, took longer to organize and verbalize a perception (AIRT) and longer to respond to the cards (H - L). Boys gave significantly more Active, Environmental, Description. Withdrawal and Pathology responses; had a higher Acting Out Score (AOS); and gave a greater number of responses (R).

The Hand Test and Other Aggression Indicators in Emotionally Disturbed Children

Summary The Hand Test is a projective technique yielding an Acting Out Score (AOS) which the test authors feel is useful as a predictor of aggressive, acting-out behavior. This study produced data regarding the stability of AOS, the relation of AOS to another projective device used to assess aggressive potential and the ability of AOS to predict teacher ratings of acting-out behavior among emotionally disturbed pre-adolescents. Results indicate that for this sample of Ss the AOS lacks stability as a measurement construct, does not correlate with another projective measure of aggressive potential and is not a useful predictor of acting-out behavior as rated by teachers of emotionally disturbed pre-adolescents.

Hand test indicators of antisocial behavior.

Abstract The Hand Test Acting Out Score (AOS) and to a limited degree other scores were studied in relationship to offense type of 614 military prisoners, their subsequent disciplinary problems in adjusting to confinement, and an Army measure of mental ability. Significant differences were observed between the mean AOSs of Ss who had committed offenses against people and against property and between Ss who subsequently were model prisoners and disciplinary offenders. The mental ability measure was minimally related to Hand Test response categories. Considerable overlap was observed in AOS distributions of the varying antisocial groups and the AOS was felt to be of questionable value in predicting individual antisocial behavior in confinement.