Projective techniques were developed to assess unconscious motives and feelings. Direct methods of personality assessment cannot uncover the unconscious part of our behaviour, so projective techniques serve as indirect methods of assessment.

These techniques are based on the assumption that a less structured or unstructured stimulus or situation will allow the individual to project her/his feelings, desires, and needs onto that situation. These projections are then interpreted by experts.

All projective techniques share certain common features. The stimuli are relatively or fully unstructured and poorly defined. The person being assessed is usually not told about the purpose of assessment and the method of scoring and interpretation. The person is informed that there are no correct or incorrect responses, and each response is considered to reveal a significant aspect of personality. Scoring and interpretation are lengthy and sometimes subjective, requiring rigorous training.

Among the various projective techniques developed, the Rorschach Inkblot Test and the Thematic Apperception Test are widely used projective tests of personality by psychologists.