Key to a good story in the TAT
The psychologist reads a TAT story for one thing above all — the hero's actions. Goal-seeking behaviour is the OLQ that pulls the rest of the story together.
The most important element the psychologist sees in a TAT story is the candidate's imagination and goal-seeking behaviour. This is seen through the actions of the hero.
Identify the hero, then the goal
When observing the picture, the candidate should not only assess the setting and the situation but also identify the hero — the one who needs to solve the problem presented. If the problem is not obvious, the candidate must set a goal for the hero consistent with what the picture shows.
Tell the story through the hero's actions
The candidate should then narrate the actions performed by the hero to solve the problem or achieve a goal. The quality of the story depends entirely on the type of actions performed.