The article describes an experimental study of the structuring function of motivation in the intellectual activity of an individual. On the task of interpreting proverbs it has been proved that a motivational and affective conflict being experienced by a subject brings about specific and selective distortions in intellectual activity. The distortions are not of intellectual, but of personal motivational and affective nature. The main source of the distortions is the emotional motivational conflict characteristic of a given individual and capable of mobilizing the person's defense mechanisms. The technique "Interpretation of proverbs and metaphors" can be used not only in diagnostics of intellect, but also as a projective personality technique.