#219: Why and how to use The Athlete Apperception Technique - Dr. Petah M. Gibbs

In this episode, I reunite with Australian psychologist Dr. Petah Gibbs to delve deeper into the Athlete Apperception Technique (AAT) — a powerful projective tool developed to foster meaningful dialogue with athletes beyond performance. Together, we explore the importance of the person-first perspective, the value of context and narrative, and how AAT can help practitioners work more effectively by uncovering the lived experiences athletes project onto storytelling.

We reflect on the origins of the technique, the meaning of apperception, and the influence of past psychological research. Whether you're a sport psychologist, therapist, or simply curious about innovative methods in mental health and sport, this episode invites you to rethink how we understand, connect, and work with those who play sport for a living — as people first.

Importantly, Petah emphasized the flexible nature of the test’s administration. There are no rigid rules: it can be used in one-on-one settings, in written form, over Zoom, or asynchronously by having clients take home the images and respond at their own pace. Some practitioners prefer using only a subset of the 10 standard images, depending on client needs. Observational data such as body language, spontaneous utterances, or emotional reactions during story generation can also add interpretative depth. While some may argue for strict procedural controls, Petah maintains a client-centered stance: “You do you. Use it how you want to use it and get the best information you can possibly get.” This philosophy aligns with his belief that the complexity of working with human beings doesn’t always lend itself to rigid administration protocols.

Ultimately, the AAT is proposed not as a standalone diagnostic instrument, but as a complement to other tools—questionnaires, interviews, and behavioral observations—offering nuanced, context-rich insights into athletes’ emotional worlds. It invites practitioners to listen, to reflect, and to integrate, supporting a more holistic understanding of the person behind the performance.

Also, If you are interested in Dr. Gibbs original research study, you can find it here: Gibbs, P. M., Marchant, D. B., & Andersen, M. B. (2016). Development of a clinical sport projective assessment method: The Athlete Apperception Technique (AAT). Qualitative Research in Sport, Exercise and Health, 9(1), 33–48. https://doi.org/10.1080/2159676x.2016.1180637

Abstract

Within the field of applied sport psychology, there is an increasing appreciation for diversity of training models, research methodologies, and therapeutic approaches. For example, psychodynamic formulations and interpretations have begun to appear more frequently in the sport psychology literature. In keeping with emerging psychodynamic viewpoints, we believe the time is right to introduce a qualitative sport-specific projective instrument: the Athlete Apperception Technique (AAT). The AAT represents a new technique based on psychodynamic theory and established projective test construction principles. It was designed primarily as a clinical tool for practitioners and not as an instrument for quantitative research into personality. It does, however, have potential research applications, especially in clinical sport case study research and narrative analysis investigations. The AAT produces an idiographic understanding of athletes’ characteristics, anxieties, and motivations (both conscious and unconscious). We briefly review the literature on the development of projective techniques, explain the rationale underlying the development of the AAT, and present three sequential studies to explain the AAT image selection procedures that led to the final product.

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Discover all Dr. Petah M. Gibbs research here:

• Gibbs, P. M., Andersen, M. A., & Marchant, D. B. (2023). Projective techniques: In Tod, D., & Eubank, M.

(Eds.) Applied Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology: Current Approaches to Helping

Clients (pp. 101-110). London, England: Routledge.

• Marchant, D. B., & Gibbs, P. M. (2023). Psychological Assessment: In Tod, D., & Eubank, M. (Eds.) Applied

Sport, Exercise, and Performance Psychology: Current Approaches to Helping Clients (pp. 101-

110). London, England: Routledge.

• Gibbs, P. M., Andersen, M. A., & Marchant, D. B., (2017). The Athlete Apperception Technique: Manual and

Materials for Sport and Clinical Psychologists. London, Routledge.

• Gibbs, P. M., Marchant, D. B., & Andersen, M. A. (2016). Development of a clinical sport projective

assessment method: the Athlete Apperception Technique (AAT). Qualitative Research in Sport,

Exercise and