Magazine Photo Collage: A Multicultural Assessment And Treatment Technique

Helen B. Landgarten

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2017
• Print ISBN: 9780876307069
• eBook ISBN: 9781317772125
• Topic: Psychology
• Subtopic: Mental Health in Psychology
• Index: Psychology

In this volume, a noted art therapist describes the Magazine Photo Collage MPC projective test and demonstrates its value for therapists working with adults and children of all ages. A highly effective assessment and treatment technique, the MPC is simple to administer and easy for patients to produce, even if they are uncomfortable creating images through drawing, painting, or sculpture. Moreover, unlike most projective tests, the MPC is not culture-bound: by matching the photos provided with the patient's ethnicity, the therapist can enable the patient to reveal conflicts more easily.; The book includes 26 case studies of patients from various ethnic and age groups and 96 full-page examples of MPC, reproduced and analyzed. The cases cover obsessive-compulsive disorder, anorexia and bulimia nervosa, post-traumatic stress disorder, suicidal ideation, acting-out behaviour, attention deficit disorder, drug abuse, schizophrenia, sexual problems, and other difficulties.

CHAPTER 1

Introduction and Theory

Numerous professional publications have discussed the subject of magazine photo collage. Yet, there is no textbook that is specifically dedicated to the reasons for its use and the applications of this technique.

For over 25 years, I have gathered information on the collage mode. Depending upon each individual case, I have utilized this media to varied degrees: a few times, or intermittently, or on rare occasion as the major form of treatment. It has demonstrated its value in my work both with children and adults of all ages. The MPC (Magazine Photo Collage) is beneficial during the assessment and treatment phases of therapy because clients can identify with the images and voice their projections onto their self-selected pictures.

A major problem that currently exists in the majority of projective tests is that they are culture-bound by their slanted Caucasian-American design. Assessment scores may be invalid for minority persons. Recently, the TEMAS (Tell Me a Story) test was developed by Constantine, Malgady, and Rogler (1988) to promote valid projective testing for Hispanic children. The environment in the TEMAS is urban, with images of children outdoors and in home situations. Boys and girls are shown alone, with peers, and in a family situation. The authors believe their pictures are more valid for the Hispanic subjects since they relate to the child’s own ethnic lifestyle. The TEMAS Test is a step toward rectifying the problem of inappropriate testing procedures for minority school-age children. With the large influx of immigrants, this problem is presently acute.

A vital benefit of the MPC is that it can be administered to persons from any group since is not culturally biased. It can be matched to the clients’ ethnicity providing the therapist makes a point of including pictures that the client can relate to.

Diligent clinicians who take the time to present magazine photos that represent the clients’ culture will find that the therapy is enhanced.

The collage mode is a meaningful tool for the discovery of problem areas. Clients’ conflicts, defense mechanisms, and styles of functioning are revealed in a short time.

The information presented in this book has not been validated by an empirical study. Suggestions or interpretations are based on my many years of clinical practice. This book does not lay claim to exact meanings for particular images. In fact, images can represent different meanings to different clients.

During the assessment phase, in a manner similar to the Thematic Apperception Test, the collage focus is on content. However, a feature that contrasts with many standardized projective tests is that here the collections of pictures is not always the same. The boxes of photographs contain a large number of magazine pictures that have been randomly chosen by the therapist and may differ from one session to another. Thus, probable responses are unavailable. It is essential, therefore, for the therapist to note pictorial elements as well as thematic configurations that are repeated by the client.

It is important for the reader to understand that a picture alone does not tell an entire story. One must gather the client’s free associations to glean some understanding of the symbolism being presented. For instance, the therapist can assume that a photo of a crying person is related to the emotion of sadness. Yet, the underlying meaning of the image is of little worth without additional data. During the treatment phase, questions should be asked of the client. For example: What kind of person is this? Why is he or she feeling sad? What caused this feeling? What might happen to her/him in the future? What can help this person?

Because clients choose their own collage images, they are provided with a rich symbolic vocabulary for self-expression, and one that is individualized to suit their own needs. The opportunity to exercise some control over the selection process can lessen inhibitions and resistant factors for many clients. This facet also encourages the positive transference and hastens the establishment of a therapeutic alliance.

The MPC requires the clinician merely to tear or cut out pictures from magazines. Its casual appearance is an asset, as it is less formal than the usual set of printed images used in standardized projective tests. Clients are less threatened when they take the MPC for assessment or treatment.

Therapists will adjust this modality to fit into their usual approach to therapy. For those practitioners who administer projective tests, this mode can be easily combined with their current style of testing.

The four-task assessment protocol set forth in this book is simple to administer. During the treatment phase, when gliding from one task to another is required, greater skill is necessary. Continual thought must be given to the aims of therapy with instructions fashioned toward that end. Once again, readers are reminded to think in symbolic terms that match their customary form of treatment.

The MPC can be integrated into the treatment process very easily. At any point in therapy, it may be introduced through instructions for tasks that have a thematic orientation or a free choice. After the collage is completed, the clinician has several options: a) confronting the meaning of the pictures, b) making an intervention, c) offering an interpretation, d) noting yet skipping over the subject and going on to another collage. The decisions will depend upon the therapist’s usual method of treatment.

Except for the assessment phase, therapists who normally use interrogations may continue in the same vein. For instance, regarding the “people images,” the following questions may be asked: What kind of environment is that person in? How is that person feeling? What is making him/her that way? What is going to happen to him/her? What kind of person is he/she? Does that person have any alternative? What kind of family does the person have? How does he/she manage to cope with problems? Et cetera.

Regardless of the way in which the clinician proceeds, the client’s collage becomes the document that gains access to conscious as well as unconscious material.

It cannot be emphasized too strongly that it is imperative for the clinician to understand her/his reason for turning to the MPC. Without such awareness, this modality is of little therapeutic value and, if incorrectly approached, may prove to be harmful. The reader should remember that it is requisite to steer instructions toward the objectives of each session.

It is critical for the practitioner to be aware that clients will expose unconscious material through the MPC. It may surface quickly, and without warning. The therapist must be alert to such an occurrence and, if it takes place, proceed with caution. One must avoid the urge to bring attention to the photo or to make an interpretation unless a therapeutic maneuver is clearly indicated.

In contrast to the verbal form of communication, the MPC is a metaphoric language of its own, one that clients can more easily tolerate and may use to gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

CHAPTER 2

Stimuli and Materials

The stimuli are magazine pictures. Therapists intentionally select photographs that are culturally homogeneous with their client population. The client’s image familiarity makes the MPC a less intimidating assessment and treatment tool. Stimuli are presented in a somewhat casual way to diminish the client’s self-conscious efforts and fear of being tested, and to allow greater freedom of expression for the individual.

STIMULI PREPARATION

The most effective stimuli preparation requires a collection of magazine photographs that are divided into two categories: one of PEOPLE, and the other of MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS. It is important to remove the printed words that may surround the images in order to evoke the client’s own free associations, rather than letting them be influenced by the words connected to the pictures. In cutting or tearing out the images from the magazines, one must be careful to avoid neatness. The photos are far more effective when their appearance is not one of preciousness. In contrast to the standardized projective tests the casual pictorial presentation helps to alleviate some clients’ self-exerted performance pressure.

Magazine pictures are placed into two different boxes, one that is labeled PEOPLE and the other MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS or THINGS. This type of photo separation is a significant time-saver, as several collages may be created and discussed in a single session.

PEOPLE PHOTOS

The PEOPLE photo collection should include the following:

1. A variety of persons from different cultures. The largest number should pertain to the therapist’s client population.
2. The vast majority should be reality oriented, with only a few stereotyped glamorous pictures.
3. Male and female figures.
4. Persons of all ages.
5. A variety of facial expressions.
6. Movement and static body positions.
7. Varied economic conditions that display different walks of life.
8. Individuals placed in different types of environment.
9. Individuals who stand alone, are in dyads, are part of a group, or are in family settings.

Some therapists may wish to include portraits with eyes or ears that have been cut away. Such imagery may be shocking to some clients, yet will serve to elicit impressions that are symbolically indicative of themselves or of people they know.

If the client population contains several different minority groups, then be certain to also include photographs of those cultures. These images are a critical factor for effective evaluations and treatment. It is a disservice to deny clients pictures with which they can identify.

There are many magazines available in the ethnic communities that can be used for collage purposes. If the geographical location prevents the reader from gaining access to such magazines, refer to the reference list for names and addresses of some culturally aimed publications.

Magazines such as Life, Time, Newsweek, Sports Illustrated, National Geographic, Money, and Business Week, have pictures of minority group people under various conditions. Many advertisements now make a point of showing individuals from different countries. However, Hispanics are least available in most English-language magazines.

Pictures of men and women in pain or depressed present an affect that should be included in the collection. These images can often be found in drug company advertisements in medical and psychiatric journals.

Be certain that the MPC collection includes both black and white and color photographs. Unfortunately, color cannot be reproduced in this text. When black and white pictures are significantly used in the case histories described, this fact is noted.

MISCELLANEOUS PICTURES

The MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS collection should contain a large variety of photographs. If the therapist has a special agenda in mind, than images related to that goal may be planted in the box. For example, pictures that hint at: chemical or alcohol dependency; physical or sexual abuse; fire setting; eating disorders; suicidal ideation; guilt around parental divorce; repressed mourning; conflicting value systems; a delusional system, and so on.

Although the therapist may purposely select specific pictures for the MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS, it is extremely important that many images be randomly chosen. If this step is omitted, then the therapist’s own projections may be exhibited and clients denied a chance to express themselves more fully.

The box of MISCELLANEOUS ITEMS is mostly filled with pictures from ads. Be certain to collect photographs from all types of magazines since ads are focused on the publication’s reading population. For instance, a highly sophisticated magazine that features very expensive Vogue-like ads would be inappropriate for clients who are struggling to make a living.

Collect magazines and professional journals from other persons to add a different slant to the imagery. Additional publication purchases may be necessary to complete the photographic choices.

Most miscellaneous boxes tend to contain images of: clocks, trucks, cars, clothes, computers, dishes, furniture, tools, medicines, machinery, houses, animals, bottles of liquor, fires, plumbing, food, jewelry, scenes from nature. It is important to include pictures of trash, demolished homes, broken glass, guns, pills and other destroyed or broken fragile items. Since the items listed here are not an exhaustive list, therapists will use their own imagination to complete the pictorial collection.

It is advisable to have another person check over the image collection since the therapist’s bias may be spotted. The reviewer may also make additional suggestions.

ADDITIONAL MATERIALS

1. Newsprint or any other type of white paper, size 16 x 20 is most useful.
   This size is especially desirable because it allows sufficient space for a number of pictures and can hold large images. It also provides greater space for the client’s written statements.
   Newsprint paper is inexpensive and can be purchased in art supply stores or larger drugstores.
2. Colored construction paper may be used after the assessment phase. Color can be visually more inviting and may act as a task stimulus.
3. Two ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Table of Contents
• Illustrations
• Foreword
• Preface
• Acknowledgments
• 1. Introduction and Theory
• 2. Stimuli and Materials
• 3. Assessment Administration
• 4. Assessment Procedure Process, Pictorial Content, Free Associations
• 5. Treatment Process
• References
• Culturally Slanted Magazine Publications
• Index