A study on moral masochism of perfectionist adolescents with high intellectual potential using projective tests

This study aims to investigate the masochistic investments of six adolescents with high intellectual potential and perfectionist attitude. The aim of the study is to examine the high intellectual potential, which has been discussed under various names in the literature, through the perfectionist attitude variant, therewith to contibute to the psychic studies conducted with these adolescents. For this purpose, a semi-structured interview was conducted with 6 adolescents aged 16, who showed a perfectionist attitude with high intellectual potential, and the Rorschach and Thematic Perception Test was administered. Rorschach findings were compared and evaluated according to "Rorschach Turkish Adolescent Norms". Overall findings of Rorschach and TAT were assessed by the content analysis of the French Psychoanalysis School. Data collected from interviews and projective test show the relationship between the problematics in early object relations and high intellectual potential. It was also observed that masochistic investment in the appearance of a perfectionist attitude was a defensive organization formed as a result of the intellectual hypermaturation against the psychic conflicts of adolescence.