Hand Test indices of violent and destructive behavior for institutionalized mental retardates

Forest Manners Exchange: Forest as a Place to Remedy Risky Behaviour of Adolescents: Mixed Methods Approach

This paper evaluates the impact of the forest environment on aggressive manifestations in adolescents. A remedial educative programme was performed with 68 teenagers from institutions with substitute social care with diagnoses F 30.0 (affective disorders) and F 91.0 (family-related behavioural disorders), aged 12–16 years. Adolescents observed patterns of prosocial behaviour in forest animals (wolves, wild boars, deer, bees, ants, squirrels and birds), based on the fact that processes and interactions in nature are analogous to proceedings and bonds in human society. The methodology is based on qualitative and quantitative research. Projective tests (Rorschach Test, Hand Test, Thematic Apperception Test) were used as a diagnostic tool for aggressive manifestations before and after forest therapies based on Shinrin-yoku, wilderness therapy, observational learning and forest pedagogy. Probands underwent 16 therapies lasting for two hours each. The experimental intervention has a statistically significant effect on the decreased final values relating to psychopathology, irritability, restlessness, emotional instability, egocentrism, relativity, and negativism. Forest animals demonstrated to these adolescents ways of communication, cooperation, adaptability, and care for others, i.e., characteristics without which no community can work.

Personality stability of institutionalized mentally retarded adults as measured by the Hand Test

Eighty-two institutionalized mentally retarded individuals were administered the Hand Test and a measure of intellectual/cognitive functioning (Stanford-Binet or WAIS-R) in a 3-year test-retest paradigm (longitudinal research design) to investigate the stability of personality during adulthood. Stability of both personality and intellectual functioning during adulthood was observed. Implications are discussed.

Validation of two Hand Test indices of aggressive behavior in 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.

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.

Test-retest reliability of the Hand Test with acting-out adolescent subjects

The Hand Test was administered to 40 students (30 male, 10 female) in Grades 8, 9, and 10 transferred to an alternative school for acting-out behavior. 21 days later the students were again administered the test. Responses were significantly consistent over a 3-wk. interval. Results support the reliability of the Hand Test variables related to acting-out behavioral tendencies and adjustment problems.