Murrays Needs & Presses for the TAT

NEEDS THAT ARISE FROM THE HERO/HEROINE

NEEDS Motivated by Desire for Power, Property, Prestige, Knowledge, Creativity

ACHIEVEMENT To work toward a goal with energy, persistence, and singleness of purpose. To set
high standards for oneself and work independently toward realizing these
standards. To overcome obstacles or master and manipulate objects, situations, or
people. To accomplish or work persistently at a difficult task. To be ambitious,
competitive, aspiring.
ACQUISITION (SOCIAL): To work for money, material possessions, or valuable objects. A
desire for economic mobility. To bargain or gamble. Greed or acquisitiveness.

(ASOCIAL): To steal, cheat, rob, forage, or swindle. Greed, which in order to

accomplish this goal, causes harm to others or involves breaking some ethical
principle or law. The desired goal may be money, an object, or even a person
(e.g., during a kidnapping).
AGGRESSION (EMOTIONAL/VERBAL): To have a verbal fight or argument with another
person. To become angry at, ridicule, blame criticize, or curse. This may be
expressed publicly by a speech or in writing.

(PHYSICAL/SOCIAL): To kill or defend oneself in self-defense. To avenge an

attack that was unwarranted and unprovoked. To defend ones country, for
example, during war or to become physically aggressive while upholding the law.
Activity that is revolutionary may be on the threshold between social and asocial.

(PHYSICAL/ASOCIAL): Aggression against some legal or moral standard or

expressed without being provoked, such as in criminal activity. To fight legal
authorities or authority figures. To initiate a brawl, turn traitor, or express sadistic
behavior.

(DESTRUCTION): To attack or maim. To destroy, smash, vandalize, or burn.

CONSTRUCTION To organize, build, create, or place something in new order.
COUNTERACTION To make up for a previous failure or disappointment. To overcompensate for a
weakness or to have a determination to overcome. It depends on a response to a
previous failure or humiliation. To repress fear or keep ones self-respect. To be
resolute, determined, indomitable, dauntless, dogged, or adventurous as a reaction
to an earlier difficult situation.
DOMINANCE To control, influence, or direct ones human environment. This may involve
being forceful, persuasive, assertive, masterful, decisive, or authoritative. To
prevail upon, sway, lead, judge, set standards, induce, restrain, prohibit, manage,
or govern.
EXPOSITION To relate information in an instructive or informative manner. To explain, lecture,
interpret, instruct, teach. Merely telling something to another person in a casual or
routine manner is not sufficient. It is commonly fused with nDominance
nRecognition, or nAchievement.
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RECOGNITION To seek praise, prestige, appreciation, or attention. Making oneself conspicuous;

dramatizing or performing. To boast or brag. The examiner should ask
him/herself whether the hero/heroines main motive is getting something done, in
which case it would be scored as nAchievement or actually being noticed.
UNDERSTANDING Striving for knowledge or wisdom. To attempt to understand the relationship
between one object or event and another. Discussion and argumentation with the
goal directed toward increasing knowledge. Attempting to make thought
correspond with fact. To analyze events and generalize.

NEEDS Motivated by Affection, Admiration, Sympathy, Love, Dependence

AFFILIATION (ASSOCIATIVE): To establish friendly relations. This may be focal, in which

case the need is directed toward affectionate feelings for specific people. It may
also be diffuse, in which case the feeling is directed toward all sorts of people,
such as groups or organizations.

(EMOTIONAL): Feelings of strong attachment, closeness, affection, or respect

toward another person. This may include getting married, remaining faithful, or
falling in love.
DEFERENCE (COMPLIANCE): Quick to agree or cooperate. To obey the wishes or
suggestions of another person. A willingness to please or follow anothers
leadership. It may be necessary at times to distinguish nDeference from
nAbasement, in which there is compliance, but it is unwilling.

(RESPECT): To give praise to or to express admiration toward. Hero worship or

the acknowledgement of merit or talent. Dedication to a cause.
NURTURANCE To give sympathy to or to gratify the needs of another. To help, feed, support,
console, protect, or comfort those who are in need. Kindness, consideration,
protection. To encourage and further the welfare of those who are helpless. This
may include being liberal with time, energy, or money as a means of helping
others. Giving freedom, condoning, or being lenient.
SEX To have or attempt to have a sexual relationship. To make sexual advances toward
or seduce. Enjoying the company of members of the opposite sex (or to whom the
person is physically attracted), being fond of mixed parties and dancing. To fall in
love. This may commonly be fused with nAffliation (emotional) or, if not fused,
should be distinguished from nAffiliation (emotional).
SUCCORANCE A tendency to cry, plead, ask for help, protection, or love. Being dependent,
helpless, and perhaps capitalizing on ones mishaps. To crave affection or
tenderness and accept favors without hesitation. To have a close and devoted
protector or supported. Seeking to be nursed, sustained, supported, advised,
guided, indulged, forgiven, or consoled. Someone with an nNurturance satisfies
the hero/heroines succorance, although intra-nurturance may also be evident in an
individual who derives some enjoyment as a result of his or her grief or seeks
consolation through drugs, alcohol, food, etc.
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NEEDS Motivated by Desire for Freedom, Change, Excitement, Play

AUTONOMY (FREEDOM): To escape, shake off restraint, or become independent. To be

unattached or unrestrained. To avoid all encumbering alliances or terminate a
confining relationship. To wander, drop out, leave school, break off a
relationship. To fight or argue for liberty in a positive way. Determination to
remain independent.

(RESISTANCE): To refuse to comply with the demands of another. Negativism

and defiance. Resistance toward coercion. To be stubborn as a mule. To be
obstinate, to disobey ones parents, or to present revolutionary ideas.

(ASOCIAL): To express behavior that is not allowed and is punishable. Behavior

that is disorderly, unruly, and counter to moral or social standards. Lying,
cheating, whoring, stealing, drinking. Crimes other than stealing, since stealing
would be classified as nAcquisition.
CHANGE/TRAVEL To feel a sense of restlessness and a need to experience new lands or novel
ADVENTURE situations. To dream of exploring and having novel adventures. This need is
commonly fused with nAutonomy.
EXCITANCE / To act in a way that creates emotional excitement. This may involve travel
DISSIPATION (nChange), gambling (nAcquisition), involvement with drugs or alcohol
(nNurturance), or recklessly meeting danger. What distinguishes
nExcitance/Dissipation from such needs as nChange or nAcquisition is its
emphasis on emotional excitement, although these needs are frequently fused.
PLAY To act for fun and without a purpose other than amusement. To laugh, make
jokes, play games, be jolly, merry, and easygoing. This may include sports,
dancing, drinking, clowning, or make-believe activity. Meeting situations in a
lighthearted and jovial manner. However, in those cases in which the game is
taken seriously, such as in athletic competition, a score is given for nAchievement
rather than nPlay

MISCELLANEOUS NEEDS

ABASEMENT To submit passively to an external force. To accept injury, blame, criticism,

punishment, or to feel guilt and inferiority. To adopt an attitude that is passive,
humble, meek, servile. Resignation or shame. To endure ordeals without
attempts to counteract. Common fusions are with nSuccorance, nDeference, or
nSex, as in the case of masochism.
BLAME To act in such a way as to avoid blame or rejection. To fear reproach; to inhibit
AVOIDANCE ones asocial impulses. To avoid blame or punishment by refraining from
misbehavior. To confess, apologize, atone, or repent in order to avoid more
blame. This may involve being conventional, remorseful, apologetic, dutiful, or
conscientious.
COGNIZANCE To express curiosity, search, investigate, explore, or act as a detective. To watch
or gaze intently. Voyeurism. To ask questions, satisfy ones curiosity, look,
listen, inspect. To read and seek knowledge. Common fusions occur with
nUnderstanding, nChange, and nAchievement.
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HARM To avoid physical pain, withdraw, flee, or conceal oneself from persons or objects
AVOIDANCE who are attempting to inflict injury. This includes startle and fear reactions to
such things as loud noises, loss of support, or the sudden appearance of strangers.
To escape from a dangerous situation. To take precautionary measures. To be
fearful, anxious, timid, cautious, wary, prudent, vigilant. To run away when
chased by a dangerous animal or enemy. However, if the hero/heroine
purposefully places him/herself in a situation of danger, even is s/he takes
precautionary measures to avoid being killed or injured, this should not be scored
as nHarm Avoidance, but rather as nExcitance/Dissipation.
PASSIVITY To seek or enjoy quiet, rest, tranquility, peacefulness. To feel tired, apathetic,
lazy. To need quiet contemplation, meditation, or reflection.
REJECTION To snub, ignore, or exclude others. To remain aloof and indifferent, or be
discriminating in accepting others. To exclude, abandon, expel, or criticize. To
demand a high standard of ability, intelligence, wit, or imagination. To reject a
suitor, break with a friend, or withhold love. This is commonly fused with
nPassivity or nAggression. nRejection may also become directed inward, thus
becoming fused with nAbasement, perhaps resulting in feelings of depression or
suicidal ideation.
RETENTION To hold onto something, refuse to lend, to be possessive, miserly, and unwilling to
give time, energy, and affection to other. To hoard or collect objects or another
person, with possessive love.
SENTIENCE To seek and enjoy sensuous impressions. To have delicate, sensitive perceptions.
To perceive and comment upon the sensuous quality of objects. To remark upon
the atmosphere, temperature, colors in the room, pictures, various sounds, tastes,
or odors. A genuine delight in one or more of the arts. May be fused with nSex
(erotic sentience), nConstruction (enjoying composition or creativity) or
nRecognition (performing in public).

OTHER FREQUENTLY ENCOUNTERED INNER STATES:

CONFLICT A state in which two inner forces are pulling against another; uncertainty,
indecision. This may also include the conflict created by two opposing needs.
EMOTIONAL To show an alteration in mood or attitude toward something or someone. To be
CHANGE labile, inconsistent, moody, or unstable.
ELATION Happiness, joyful enthusiasm, optimism, excitement, a positive outlook.
DEJECTION Disappointment, discouragement, sadness, depression, melancholy, despair
DISTRUST To have no confidence in, to be suspicious of, to be skeptical of. Refusing to
accept other peoples ideas, suggestions, or advice due to distrust. This may often
be associated with nRejection or nAutonomy
JEALOUSY To be afraid that a lover person will prefer or love another person. Envy.
IRREALITY Visions or hallucinations. Reveries about the future or daydreams about the past.
Entering into a hypnotic state.
EGO IDEAL, Having a high opinion of ones own self worth. To keep ones self-respect or to
PRIDE dream of a great future
SUPEREGO To be controlled by a conscience that demands a high moral standard.
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FORCES OF THE HERO/HEROINES ENVIRONMENT (PRESSES)

PRESS of Deprivation

ACQUISITION A person wants to dispossess the hero/heroine of money or property or rob or swindle
him or her. For example, a competitor in business threatens the hero or heroines
financial security.
RETENTION A person retains something the hero/heroine wants, refuses to let it go or to give
something to the hero/heroine; is stingy, miserly, or possessive

PRESS Descriptive of an Empty, Alien, or Rejecting Environment

LACK (THINGS/OPPORTUNITIES/FRIENDS): Few desirable objects are in the

environment, few opportunities for enjoyment or advancement, or no jobs. The
hero/heroine is poor, and the family destitute, or the hero/heroine lacks status,
influence, and/or friends.

(HUMAN SUPPORT): The hero/heroine is miserable, solitary, helpless, and in need

of assistance and support, encouragement, protection, food, medical care, or parental
love and guidance. The hero/heroine has no father or mother. The situation is
insecure and perilous, or the hero/heroine is homesick. There are few nurturing
people in the hero/heroines environment.
LOSS This is the same as for pLack, except in this case, the hero/heroine actually loses
something or someone, such as money, job, friend, or opportunity. This could
include the loss of a loved one by departure, misfortune, or death. Another example
is the loss of property through bankruptcy, misfortune, swindling, or robbery. If the
hero/heroine loses something and also experiences a sense of loss over an extended
period of time, then a score on pLack should also be given.
REJECTION A person rejects, scorns, loses respect for, repudiates, turns away, or otherwise leaves
the hero/heroine.
UNCONGENIAL (ALIEN OBJECTS): The people in the hero/heroines environment are not to his or
ENVIRONMENT her liking; there is no mutual sympathy or understanding. He or she finds no one in
accord with his or her interests. There are people around him or her, but they dislike,
reject, distrust, accuse, or disapprove of him or her. This refers to the hero/heroines
general human environment and not to one or two specific people within his or her
environment. For example, this may be used to describe an overall feeling within an
organization or community that rejects or is out of sympathy with the hero/heroine.

(PHYSICAL SURROUNDINGS): The hero/heroine is dissatisfied with his or her

physical environment and hates the farm, city, the sea, or the islands on which he or
she is marooned. The environment is distrustful, ugly, sordid, dreary, barren (pLack),
noisy, or dangerous.

(MONOTONY): The hero/heroine must submit to a dull routine; work is drudgery.

There is great sameness in his/her life, causing boredom.
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PRESS of Coercion and Restraint

DOMINANCE (COERCION): Someone tries to force the hero/heroine to do something. He or she

is exposed to commands, orders, or strong arguments from a parent or authority.

(RESTRAINT): Someone tries to prevent the hero/heroine from doing something.

He or she is exposed to checks, prohibitions, or restraints.

(INDUCEMENT): Someone tries to get the hero/heroine to do something, or to not

do something, by pleading, or gentle persuasion, encouragement, clever strategy
IMPOSED TASK The hero/heroine is given something to do: he or she must practice the violin, study
DUTY OR for an examination, accomplish something to keep his or her job, or win a reward. If
TRAINING the agent who imposes the task is named, then a score is also given to
pDominance(coercion).

PRESS Descriptive of a Hostile Aggressive Environment

AGGRESSION (EMOTIONAL/VERBAL): Someone gets angry at the hero/heroine or hates him or

her. He or she is cursed, criticized, belittled, reproved, reprimanded, or ridiculed.
Someone slanders the hero/heroine behind his or her back.

(PHYSICAL, SOCIAL): The hero/heroine is in the wrong and is an aggressor or

criminal. Another person defends him or herself, retaliates, pursues, imprisons, or
perhaps kills the hero/heroine. The state, the police, a parent, or some other
legitimate authority punishes the hero/heroine for misconduct.

(PHYSICAL, ASOCIAL): A criminal or gang assaults, injures, or kills the hero/

heroine. Another person starts a fight and the hero/heroine defends him or herself.

(DESTRUCTION): Something belonging to the hero/heroine is damaged or

destroyed.

PRESS of Danger, Injury, Death

AFFLICTION (PHYSICAL): The hero/heroine has a physical handicap such as a hunchback, or

chronic ailment. He or she is taken ill during the course of the story.

(MENTAL): The hero/heroine suffers from neurotic or psychotic symptoms. He or

she is subject to hallucinations or obsessions, experiences premonitions of insanity, or
is justifiably considered very strange.
DEATH OF This is weighted according to the stress paced on the event. The hero/heroine may
HERO/ die from physical or mental illness (pAffliction) from physical injury, from
HEROINE pAggression or may commit suicide (pAbasement)
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PHYSICAL (ACTIVE): The hero/heroine is exposed to physical danger from nonhuman

DANGER forms. He or she is attacked by animals, caught in a storm at sea, hit by a train, or
struck by lightning. He or she is exposed to tremendous bombardment. The
danger may be small as a threat, or it may actually injure or kill the hero/heroine.

(INSUPPORT): The hero/heroine is exposed to the danger of falling or drowning,

his or her car overturns, his or her ship is wrecked, he or she is caught on the
narrow ledge of a steep mountain, the ground is insecure.
PHYSICAL The hero/heroine is hurt by a human aggressor (pAggression), by a cave-in,
INJURY collision, or fall (pPhysical Danger), or by a wild animal. The hero/heroine is
mutilated or disfigured.

PRESS of Friendliness, Sympathy, Respect, Dependent, Love

AFFILIATION (ASSOCIATIVE): The hero/heroine has one or more friends or sociable

companions; he or she is a member of a congenial group.

(EMOTIONAL): A person, such as a parent, sibling, relative, or erotic object is

devoted to the hero/heroine. The hero/heroine has a love affair that is
reciprocated, or the hero/heroine gets married.
DEFERENCE (COMPLIANCE): An individual or a group willingly follows the leadership or
requests of the hero/heroine. A person is anxious to please him or her, to
cooperate, or to obey. The obedience may be passive.

(RESPECT): The hero/heroine is admired by an individual or group. His or her

talents or merits are appreciated; he or she is rewarded or publicly applauded.
NURTURANCE Someone nourishes, encourages, protects, or cares for the hero/heroine. He or she
receives sympathy, consolation, pity.
SEX Another person is in love with the hero/heroine, or his or her affections are
engaged by a seductress/seducer. The hero/heroine gets married.
SUCCORANCE Someone seeks aid, protection, or sympathy from the hero/heroine. There is a
helpless, miserable, pitiful object to whom the hero/heroine reacts. Someone is
rescued by the hero/heroine.

MISCELLANEOUS PRESS

BIRTH OF A child is born to the hero/heroine, or a woman is going to have a baby. The
OFFSPRING amount of weight given to this press depends on the relative importance of the
birth to the overall story.
CLAUSTRUM The hero/heroine finds him or herself in a confining space, such as a solitary
hideout, house, deep valley, or cave. The hero/heroine might be locked in his or
her room, imprisoned, trapped in a cave-in, or confined in a space such as a house,
vault, or tunnel. The hero/heroine seeks to enter, tries to break out of, or is
forcibly expelled from, such a place.
COGNIZANCE Someone is curious about the hero/heroine and his or her doings; the hero/heroine
is watched. Someone peers or proved into his or her affairs, asks questions.
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EXAMPLE (GOOD INFLUENCE): A person, group, or case (social ideal, philosophical)

influences the hero/heroine in a constructive way. A talented person serves as an
example.

(BAD INFLUENCE): The hero/heroine is led into crime by his or her associates;
the level of the hero/heroines conduct or his or her ideals is lowered by following
the suggestions or inducements of an untrustworthy or irresponsible person.
EXPOSITION Someone tells, explains, interprets, or teaches the hero/heroine something.
LUCK (GOOD, GRATUITY): The hero/heroine is unusually privileged; he or she has
everything he or she wants (status, wealth, friends). The hero/heroine is suddenly
benefited by some unusual or unpredicted chance occurrence, or by some extra-
ordinary opportunity that does not result from his or her own efforts. Although the
hero/heroine may be deserving of the good fortune, he or she did not work directly
for it. A benefactor is attracted by the hero/heroines promise, and his or her
ambitions are aided by another person, which would also involve pNurturance.

(BAD): Fortune is against the hero/heroine. He or she is underprivileged from the

start, must endure an extraordinary series of misfortunes, or is suddenly confronted
by a chance occurrence that serves to hinder or frustrate his or her efforts.
However, the coercion from such sources as parents or enemies is not considered
bad luck. In determining whether to score this press, the examiner should question
the extent to which fate, chance, or destiny played a part in the characters life.