Score each clause of the verbal sample with one of the code symbols preceding the following thematic categories whenever the content of the clause denotes similar or equivalent content to any of these thematic categories. Many clauses may not contain themes that are siilar to these categories and hence can be left unscored.
Scoring weights are given in the left-hand column beside each category. Where it is possible to score a clause under two different categories, choose scoring which is weighted minus rather than plus and give the lowest rating toward the negative pole, i.e., give priority to pathology.
| Weight | Tag | Description |
| A1 | References to giving to, supporting, helping or protecting others. | |
| +2 | a. Self to others - specific. | |
| +1 | a'. Self to others - references in which the giving etc. is inferential or the object is unspecified. | |
| +1 | b. Others giving to others or others receiving from and being taken care of by others. | |
| A2 | References to warm, loving, congenial human relations or human relations in which a desire to be closer is expressed. The reference should be specific rather than inferred. Do not score such key words as marriage or friends in this category unless there is additional evidence of congeniality. Rather, score in B2 below. | |
| +2 | a. Involving self or self and others. | |
| +1 | b. Involving others. | |
| A3 | Concern for other people; references to missing others when they are away. References should be to specific others only. | |
| +1 | a. Self about others. | |
| +1 | b. Others about self. | |
| +1/2 | c. Others about others. | |
| A4 | Praise or approval of others, indicating more than neutral relations (see B2, below) but not conveying as much positive feeling or warmth as A2, above. | |
| +1 | a. Self to others. | |
| +1 | b. Others to self. | |
| +1/2 | c. Others to others. | |
| B1 | References to manipulative relationships with other human beings. The reference shoulc involve demanding someone do something largely in the service of one's own needs (exploitive) or deliberately making someone feel shame or guilt, e.g., by putting emphasis on how one is made to suffer. | |
| -1/2 | a. Self manipulating others. | |
| -1 | b. Others manipulating self. | |
| -1/2 | c. Others manipulating others. | |
| B2 | Neutral: nonevaluative references to any kinds of human relations which specify the person(s) interacted with, but which do not specify the nature of the deeper involvement and which are not classified elsewhere. All references to self and others (e.g., we drove, we reached, we thought, etc.) not scorable elsewhere are coded B2a. | |
| +1/4 | a. Self or self and others. | |
| +1/4 | b. Others. | |
| -1/2 | B3 | Neutral: nonevaluative references to any kinds of human relations, which are generalized, ambiguous as to person(s) interacted with and impersonal. |
| C1 | Explusive: references to competitive, hostile, depreciating, and smearing attitudes, impulses, actions. | |
| -1/2 | a. Self to others. | |
| -1 | b. Others to self. | |
| -1/2 | c. Others to others. | |
| C2 | Retentive: references to withholding affection, interest, approval or attention from people; references to disapproval. | |
| -1 | a. Self from others. | |
| -1 | b. Others from self. | |
| -1/2 | c. Others from others. | |
| C3 | Distancing: references in which people are alienated, drawn apart, kept at a distance from one another. | |
| -1 | a. Focus on self. | |
| -1/2 | b. Focus on others. | |
| D1 | Optimism: references to self receiving from, getting from, being taken care of by other people in gratifying and positive ways; interest in other people based on what they can do for oneself; asking others for help; emphasis on the self as the recipient of nurturance and sustenance. | |
| +2 | a. Self receiving from others. | |
| D2 | Pessimism: references to frustration in being taken care of or to poor or inadequate protection, support or care. | |
| -1/2 | a. Self. | |
| -1/2 | b. Others. | |
| D3 | Separation: any reference to separation, loss, death, not scored elsewhere. | |
| -1 | a. Self. | |
| -1/2 | b. Others. | |
| D4 | References to eating or to food in connection with others. | |
| +1/2 | (1)a. Positive valence, self. | |
| +1/2 | (1)b. Positive valence, others. | |
| +1/2 | (2)a. Neutral valence, self. | |
| +1/2 | (2)b. Neutral valence, others. | |
| -1 | (3)a. Negative valence, self. | |
| -1/2 | (3)b. Negative valence, others. | |
| 0 | D5 | References to difficulty talking, to not knowing what to say, to being at a loss for words with interviewer or others. |
| D6 | Direct interaction with interviewer. | |
| +1/2 | a. Asking questions of interviewer when standardized verbal sample instructions have been used. | |
| +1/2 | b. Other direct references: "you know," or statements addressing interviewer directly by name or as "you." | |
| -2 | E1 | References to lack of humans or subhumans in the environment. The references must contain evidence of lack of interest in or need for human or subhuman objects. |
| -1 | E2 | References to eating, food, drinking, meals, etc. out of the context of other people. Code both self and others. |
| -1 | E3 | References to bathing alone (no other people in view) or to undifferentiated or amorphous substances or surroundings involving no discernable human beings. |