DE LA SALLE UNIVERSITY - DASMARIÑAS

COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND COMMUNICATION

Interpretation of Learning Partner’s

Test Results (HFDT)

CONFIDENTIAL

In partial fulfillment
for the requirements
in PSYM510

Fernandez, Hannah Mia Marie P.

2018
 Mary Ellen Joyce “Mej” C. Camagong is a 20-year old female who, based on the
overall scores of her illustration of a human girl, could be considered as having an
unimpaired overall cognitive functioning, or only a mild impairment due to some stressful
factors in her life, in which she could handle without medical intervention. In her
illustrations, initially, Mej drew the figure of a male first before she actually drew the figure
that is the same sex with her, which is a female. Drawing an opposite sex first, as
indicated by the interpretations provided by the HFDT itself, suggests that she has a
strong attachment to opposite sex parent or significant other. However, this interpretation
may not be accurately in line with her feelings toward her father or even with a significant
other. Based on her interview, although she shows positive feelings toward her father,
she admits that she is not that close with him anymore, hence her attachment with him
gradually faded. In addition, Mej drew a large-sized figure of a human female which
indicates her spontaneity and grandiosity. It reflects her tendencies to look at herself as
another person at times, which is not really a negative thing, for it could also be her views
about herself for what she wants to be in the near future. This thought could even give
her the drive to pursue more for her goals and dreams. It is also comparable for her adding
an object to the figure aside from the human itself. Mej drew a nameplate with her name
in the human figure, which may be a representation of her viewing herself in the future as
a successful psychologist. This can be perceived as Mej’s tendency to fantasize and look
up to the future, since she is able to give credit to what will and may be in the days that
will go by, which then allows her to be more motivated as a student. Having this
mentioned, as an undergraduate, for her drawing of the legs being pressed together as
well as a clear line emphasizing the waist and distinguishing the upper part of the figure’s
body from its lower part, it makes sense of her rigidity and sexual inhibition. For Mej, she
is not much open of talking about the taboo topic of sex, since it is not her main priority
yet. Still studying, she is more focused on her studies and on achieving her goals in life,
much more now that it would only take a few more months for her to finish her studies.
Also, she has the strong belief of remaining pure before marriage, as instilled by the
conservative tradition she grew up to, and by Christ’s words.

Moreover, Mej’s drawing of the human figure has its hands behind the back, which
reveals about her being secretive and her likelihood to avoid sharing. It is also apparent
with the way she drew using lines that are worked over. In this sense, Mej being
considered as an ambivert (a balance between extrovert and introvert), is showing more
of the latter side, which is the introvert type. Although Mej has a lot of friends inside and
outside the school, sometimes she likes being with herself more, and chooses to enjoy
her own company more than being surrounded by lots of people. At times when she has
problems and struggles, her resort is to keep quiet and try to resolve it on her own, instead
of sharing it to others. This behavior has both its positive and negative side. As I interpret
and perceive this, it is good that Mej knows the value of having a quiet time with herself,
as it allows her to reflect and think of possible solutions to problems, without being
clouded by opinions from outside of herself. Nevertheless, it is also good for her to receive
support from other people, especially when she faces some issues, and not just keep
everything a secret, or bottle up everything inside her. Consequently, the figure Mej drew
occupies a space larger from the left side of the paper than from the right side, which
signifies her self-orientation and emotional focus. Being interpreted in this way does not
necessarily mean that she is selfish and thinks only of her own gains and benefits without
considering those who are around her. But, this could convey the fact that Mej values
herself as a person, exhibits self-love, and reflects and recognizes the things that she is
yet to develop and improve in herself in various aspects, such as with how she drew the
human figure in bare feet, which shows her tendencies for aggression. Mej acknowledges
that she has some unpleasant traits whenever she is mad, which is the reason why she
always tries to control herself at a situation when she has a bad temper. Even if her getting
mad is not about physically harming the other person, her words when she speaks could
hurt other person’s feelings. This is evident with her sharing her regrets of having hurt her
parents whenever they tended to argue with each other. With this, Mej may have some
emotional concerns about herself, which is perceptible as well in her illustration of being
stereotyped. It shows that she is a type of person who is able to recognize her flaws and
drawbacks. At times, these things are somehow an issue for her, because seeing and
discerning too much of these become the reasons behind her self-doubt and lower self-
esteem. Aside from tendencies of aggression, as she showed a school girl on her uniform,
it may be represented as her fears of lacking as a student, as she also shares the issues
within herself wherein she thinks that her knowledge is not enough to be able to pass in
her course, and sometimes she views herself as inferior over other students. Regardless
of these things, she knows how to own up to her mistakes and shortcomings as a person,
and decides to try harder and improve in these certain areas of her life.

Therefore, Mej’s illustration of the female human figure is basically herself in this
present time. She describes it as a girl who looks at her reflection in the mirror. Her
reflection, for her, sees all the pains and emotional conflicts inside her own self, which
makes her question if she is genuinely happy. She sees the struggles, the hardships, and
every little pain that is caused both by her own self and by other people around her. These
factors may be due to other’s expectations toward her, especially her mother, and even
her expectation toward herself that she fears she would not be able to really achieve.
Thus, she shows the terror feeling of failing both in interpersonal and intrapersonal
aspects. However, more than these fears and hardships, she also shows her sense of
strength as a person by repeatedly stating how she tells the figure in the paper to remain
strong and that she can do everything despite of everything as well. Mej, in this sense,
has the willpower to continue even in the darkest days of life. She has a firm hold of
herself, and doesn’t close her door for betterment and development. She is not easily
defeated by problems, instead becomes more eager to push and appreciate herself. She
is very reflective, tough, and always drives toward positivity as a person.