psychological testing from Patrick de Gramont
Ph.D., at Presbyterian Hospital's Division of
Psychology, on March 15, 1976. Presumably, Dr. Gramont
was unaware as to why Tommy was being tested, as well
as unaware of his true identity. Unlike Dr. Lesse,
then, Dr. Gramont was operating, we believe, without
any preconceived notions or objectives. His report,
both as it stands alone and as it compares with the
ultimate conclusions of Dr. Lesse, is extremely
telling.
Personally, Dr. Gramont reports finding Tommy to be a
well-behaved and congenial young man. "Thomas related
in a pleasant cooperative manner, and appeared to be
at ease during the evaluation. He worked hard at
tasks, and appeared to enjoy his success." From
analyzing his test results, however, Dr. Gramont
arrived at some grave conclusions with regards to
Tommy's state of mind, emotional development, and
capacity for impulsive and dangerous behavior. He
also found some modest evidence to support the
"organic neurological problem" theory put forth by
Dr. Hale:
On the graphomotor tasks, none of the usual
signs of organic impairment were evident. However,
highly equivocal organic signs were found in his
Rorschach responses, associated with visual
organization. Later on, Dr, Lesse would opt
to mention the first sentence but ignore the latter
in his final report.
Dr. Gramont further reports: The
Bender-Gestalt designs were accurately reproduced and
recalled. The relatively small scale of his designs
suggested constriction, depression, and low
self-esteem, with possible impulse control problems
associated with a need for structure. The figure
drawings were well articulated and detailed. There is
a striking contrast between the male figure who looks
like a relatively content middle-aged man, and the
female figure, which is poorly executed and looks ill
at ease and somewhat menacing.
Dr. Gramont documents a pervasive degree of
immaturity and impulsiveness evident in Tommy's test
findings: The projective material indicates
that Thomas has had a good deal of difficulty
adjusting to the demands and responsibilities of
adolescence, and that his judgement and
reality-testing are highly erratic at this time. His
outward adultlike manner is, in his words, a "mask,"
and inwardly, he feels, at times, very much like a
passive, helpless child. As such, he experiences a
profound sense of inadequacy, and an inability to
assert himself sufficiently to survive in a
competitive society. While suspicious of the motives
or others, he is easily lead, and unable to establish
his own needs and goals. The material also suggests
that this passive orientation is a defense against
the expression of a great deal of underlying
resentment and hostility. And that grandiose
fantasies and antisocial acting out appear to be the
only release available to him, at a time when he
feels so very unsuccessful and unaccomplished in his
life.
Dr. Gramont goes on to elaborate about how the test
results indicate a general feeling of helplessness in
Tommy: His low esteem and repressed drive are
particularly evident in sexual confusion, as
illustrated on the SCT:
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