ABSTRACT
This chapter describes the conceptual background and development of the Harder Thematic Apperception Test (TAT) Ambitious-Narcissistic Character Style Scale, which was constructed to assess ambitiousnarcissism—an interrelated set of personality dispositions involving highly ambitious, assertive, selfconfident, vigorous, and dominant behavior. Based upon clinical writings and observations, five components of the ambitious-narcissistic style were articulated, including Intrusiveness/Thrusting, Exhibitionistic/Voyeuristic, Urethral Excitation, Mastery/Competence/Power, and Self-Potency. Criteria were written for scoring these components and two allied, but conceptually different, TAT story themes, Oedipal and Autonomy. Only one published study (N = 40, all males) reports use of the scale, which showed promising relationships with analogous scales developed for an early memories test and the Rorschach. In addition, the TAT measure correlated significantly with an interview measure of ambitious-narcissism.
