Aspects of personality structure in Ethiopian and Swedish adolescents. A transcultural study with the Holzman inkblot technique.

A number of findings in different studies on mental health and disease in Ethiopia indicate differences in personality structure between traditional Ethiopians and people in Western countries. An attempt was made to study differences in personality structure between Ethiopian and Swedish adolescents. The projective Holtzman inkblot test was administered to a class of 12th grade Ethiopian students and a class of 11th grade Swedish students, using the group method. The Ethiopian students scored significantly higher on "anatomy" than the Swedish students and significantly lower on "integration", "abstract", "anxiety", "hostility" and "popular". These findings are discussed against the difference in socio-cultural background between the two groups, and it is concluded that the Holtzman inkblot technique could be a valuable tool in cross-cultural studies of personality variables.