The Rorschach test consists of showing the test subject a series of inkblots, which do not really represent anything but inkblots, while the psychologist asks: "What could this represent?"
The author of the famous Rorschach interpretation manual "Comprehensive System", John Exner, has himself pointed out that the only logical answer to this question is: "It is an inkblot", but in general only mentally ill people will give this answer.
The rest of us will see butterflies, bats, goblins, orchids, seahorses, faces, dragons, female genitalia, explosions and the like, which illustrates humans' desire for there to be structure and meaning of the world and our existence.
The great advantage of the test is that the psychologist can trigger what the patient, the test taker, is basically feeling, what is bothering him or is on his mind - without asking leading questions and thereby spoiling the test.
1. Test for mental disorders
It is important to be clear that an inkblot test is not a creativity test, nor is it an IQ test. It is a test designed to reveal the test subjects' deepest secrets, which they themselves hardly know they have.
Test subjects who take it from the humorous side and give funny but less relevant responses will run a great risk of being characterized as mental deviants.
This ink blot may resemble a map of Norway. Photo unknown origin.
The test was developed by Herman Rorschach in 1921 for use in psychiatric hospitals, and it is basically designed to find out what mental disorders the patients suffer from, so that the doctors can make a diagnosis and prescribe an effective treatment for the unfortunate people who are admitted there. Rorschach himself placed great importance on identifying schizophrenia.
We must bow to the genius of Herman Rorschach. We must acknowledge that his test was created for the good of mankind.
However, when you take the test out of the hospitals and use it on normal people, it will also find depressions, neurotic and psychotic abnormalities there, which is what it is designed for.
An inkblot of unknown origin - it looks like a Rorschach card. The inkblots that you see in encyclopedias and journals are most often not the real Rorschach inkblots. The real blots are expected to be kept secret, and they have been protected by copyright. Only psychologists were supposed to have prior knowledge.
As Annie Murphy Paul writes: No matter how cleverly you try to avoid the test's traps, it will find something or other in the test subjects' answers and interpret it as an indication of potential mental illness. A test subject may think, "Well, I have something to offer, too." But this test is not designed to find qualities, it is only intended to find mental abnormalities.
2. Hermann Rorschach
Experiments with inkblots have a long history, even the fairy tale writer H.C. Andersen experimented with inkblots. As early as 1857, the German poet Justinus Kerner published a collection of inkblots accompanied by the poems that each blot had inspired him to write. Kerner was convinced that the inkblots were messages from "another world".
In 1917, a Polish medical student named Szymon Hens published his own collection of inkblots, which he had presented to patients in a psychiatric hospital, normal people and children.
Collection of cards for Rorschach's book, Psychodiagnostics, for sale on eBay for around $1,250 It looks old, but it is not Rorschach's original version from 1921. This one is from 1948, when the Rorschach test had already gained a foothold in the United States.
But it was the Swiss Herman Rorschach, who, in 1921, gave his name to an epoch-making inkblot test. It was based on 10 cards, supposedly random inkblots, but really paintings, that he had painted himself.
He originally had 15 cards, but his publisher did not dare to invest in printing so many colored plates. Despite this, his book, "Psychodiagnostics", was ignored by the Swiss medical profession and only sold a very few copies. Rorschach's widow estimated that he earned about five swiss francs from the publication.
In April 1922, Herman Rorschach suddenly fell ill and was taken to the hospital, where he died the next day from inflammation in the connective tissue of the abdominal cavity. He became 37 years old.
His publisher went bankrupt, and the rather large remaining print run of "Psychodiagnostics" was sold at auction.
It was in America that Rorschach had his breakthrough.
A copy of Rorschach's book had found its way to a fairly successful Jewish psychologist in Berlin named Klopfer. He already saw the writing on the wall in 1934 and traveled to Switzerland, where he learned to administer Rorschach's system, and then emigrated to the United States with his entire family, bringing Rorschach's book with him in his suitcase. He got a research position at Columbia University, where it was soon rumored among the students that he was an expert in the Rorschach test, and knowledge of the test then spread throughout the United States.
Later, the American John E. Exner systematized the interpretation of patients' responses with his "Comprehensive system".
Hermann Rorschach 1884 - 1923. Photo Youtube.
Herman Rorschach died in 1923. Since it has been more than 70 years since the artist died, the images are "public domain" in the EU. They can be found in many places on the Internet. Books and manuals that describe standardized interpretations of test subjects' responses are freely available for purchase by anyone who wants to buy them. The Rorschach inkblot test is no longer the exclusive domain of psychologists, and it will undoubtedly soon have played its role as one of their favorite personality tests.
However, it has got a successor, the Holtzman Inkblot Test, which consists of 45 alternative pairs of inkblots, selected from a collection of many thousands of inkblots. The Holtzman test is intended as a further development of the Rorschach Test, as many of its weaknesses have allegedly been taken into account. Until now, psychologists have kept their cards close to their chest regarding this test.
But since the Holtzman test is a child of the Rorschach test, one must logically assume that if a person has a good knowledge of scoring practices for the Rorschach test, then he must also have a good chance of escaping relatively unscathed through a Holtzman test.
3. Test Behaviour
Rorschach's 1921 test consists of 10 images, supposedly random inkblots, depicted on cards made of stiff cardboard, measuring about 16 by 22 cm.
A model photo of an inkblot test. The psychologist and the test subject are positioned incorrectly in relation to each other. The psychologist should sit diagonally behind the test subject. Photo unknown origin.
During the test, the psychologist will usually sit at an angle behind the test subject, so that the test subject cannot see the psychologist's possible reactions and the cards at the same time.
Basically, everything the test subject says and does will be noted and interpreted.
The test subject will be handed the cards one by one in a predetermined order with the "correct" edge facing up.
It will be perceived positively to answer in terms such as: "This could be - " or "This looks like -". The test subject is expected to be able to realize that these are just some inkblots on a piece of cardboard. If he answers: "This is -" it will not be to his advantage.
On the other hand, it will not be good to answer "This is an inkblot on a piece of cardboard". This will be interpreted as meaning that the test taker is not taking the test seriously.
Some responses may be unconscious, in the sense that the test taker cannot say exactly why he thinks the image looks like what he says it does. However, the result of the test depends very much on the test taker's ability to formulate his perceptions. Therefore, he should argue for his views and point out the details that, in his opinion, make a picture look like this and that.
If the test taker is unable to see anything on a map, the psychologist may think that this suggests a possible neurosis.
An inkblotted picture. It is not a Rorschach picture, because he only published ten pictures, all of which are well-known. But it looks very much like a Rorschach picture with symmetry, color nuances in the watercolor-painted surfaces, the smaller red areas, etc. Photo rambler.ru.
If the test subject holds the card in front of him at an odd angle or covers part of the image with his hand, sighs, groans or makes other unstructured outbursts, it is not to his advantage. All of this can be interpreted as signs of brain damage, according to some interpretation schemes.
It is of great importance how the test subject expresses himself; it is not good to use strange, unusual words and expressions.
The test subject is expected to figure out by himself how to turn the card and try to find interpretations from different sides, that is, to turn it 90 or 180 degrees. He can probably see figures formed by the black and colored areas, and also in the white areas that they enclose.
When browsing through the extensive literature on the Rorschach test, it is striking that female test subjects seem to be treated more understandingly than male ones. Perhaps because most psychologists are men, many of the women's somewhat unfortunate responses are attributed to the traumatic situation in which the oppressed women find themselves. The men, on the other hand, are largely given their diagnosis without mercy.
Another Rorschach-like inkblot with a small face in the center. It is important not to focus on the face as it can score on anxiety. Photo unknown origin..
From this one can conclude that the test is somewhat subjective. Despite all the Exner system's precise calculations, indexes and key figures, it still depends on a large amount of psychologist's judgment.
Much like the situation in modern football. The rules of the game are very clear and precise, but many matches are still decided by the referee's judgment, which can be discussed afterwards. He sends off a key player early, fails to give a possible penalty kick and so on.
Therefore, one must face the fact that it can be crucial, so to speak, to do a good sales job. One must try to create a positive atmosphere in relation to the psychologist and his possible assistants, in a way that does not seem conspicuous. One can ask about his business and experience and give him time to talk about it. One can talk about the traffic or the weather. It is important to signal a positive attitude towards the test.
4. Response time
The psychologist will note how quickly the test subject responds. Probably from a tape recording. If he responds too slowly, it is not good for him. A long response time will indicate depression. Especially if after a long period of reflection he gives less relevant answers, he will be judged down.
A response time of something like 20 seconds is very common.
5. Number of responses
The average number of responses is 23, that is, 2-3 each card. If a test subject gives less than 14 responses, the test is invalid and should be discarded. Few responses can be attributed to low IQ, paranoia or depression.
It is said that psychotic patients often see violence, death and accidents in the inkblots, which they very naturally do not want to say precisely because they do not want to be labeled psychotic; therefore they may have few responses.
Few responses can also be caused by the test subject having an oppositional attitude towards the test, he may feel that he is unique and cannot be pigeonholed with a test.
Many responses can indicate creativity, but also mania.
6. Real responses
It will be to the test subject's advantage to interpret the inkblots as "realistically" and obviously as possible, thereby convincing the psychologist that he is completely normal.
The ability to see what most others also see will be considered practical, realistic thinking, the ability to see the obvious and conventional will be considered "sticking to the facts." It is a sign of a healthy perception of reality, as the test subject recognizes the normal and conventional.
On the other hand, if the test subject sees something in a particular card that test subjects do not normally see, it can be a positive sign, indicating alertness, creativity and individualism. However, if he persistently sees in all subsequent cards things that others do not normally see, it can indicate eccentricity, stubbornness, rebelliousness, poor perception of reality and even psychosis - the latter because he sees something that does not exist.
An inkblot, which by conventional perception might resemble the Sun, a paddle wheel, or a cell under a microscope. It is not wise to say that it is a cancer cell, as that would indicate a dark, pessimistic personality. Photo Kevin Arnowitz - Twitter.
The test subject is expected to be able to make plausible what he believes to be depicted in the blot. For example, if he says that he sees a face in one of the blots, he is expected to be able to identify, for example, the eyes, mouth and outline of the face. If the psychologist does not believe that the test subject's explanation matches the picture, he may believe that it indicates schizophrenia or another psychosis; that is, that the test subject sees something that is not there, or consciously tells something that he does not see.
This is in contrast to, for example, the TAT test, where the test subject is encouraged to tell a story that is nominally fictional, without being labeled as mentally deviant for that reason.
Serious and relatable responses will be in the test subject's best interest.
For example, an ink blot may resemble the sun, as children often draw the sun that way. Or that it resembles a cell photographed under a microscope. However, if it is stated that it is a cancer cell, it will indicate a dark, pessimistic side of the personality.
Examples from the animal and plant worlds are neutral. The blob could be a jellyfish or a starfish. Or it could be a paddle wheel from a paddle steamer, a rotor for a pump or ventilator.
7. White area responses
A person taking the Rorschach test is asked to look at the inkblots and say what they think they might look like. However, sometimes a test taker will instead focus on the white area between and around the inkblot itself and say what they think it looks like.
Rorshach-like inkblot with a white area in the center, which may resemble a face with two eyes and a smiling mouth. Photo Yandex.
Apart from the fact that the blots themselves do not represent anything, it would be a bit like when some friends show us a picture of their newborn baby, we immediately start talking about why we find the blurred garden bushes in the background interesting.
This is a very subtle and usually unconscious way of defying the test's instructions, which is why a white area response can indicate oppositional, aggressive or rebellious tendencies.
However, if the test subject only mentions the white areas once or twice, it may indicate alertness, an ability to notice the unusual, since, as mentioned, the inkblot itself does not represent anything.
8. Negative and positive responses
An inkblot that may resemble a creature from outer space. Unknown origin.
Negative responses are especially those that contain fighting and strife, weapons, blood, death and destruction, as well as threatening and attacking monsters and dangerous animals.
If a test subject sees vengeful spirits from the past or monsters like from the Aliens movies, this will be noted as negative responses, even if it can be made probable from the shape of the inkblot.
The interpretation of responses of the type "run over cat", "crushed cockroach on a bathroom floor", "a smeared corpse of an insect on the car windshield" and "the corpse of a smudged mosquito on white wallpaper" will certainly also be interpreted as negative responses and therefore indicate suppressed aggressiveness, frustration and anger.
However, the interpretation of such responses may depend on whether the test subject identifies with the cat and the insect or with their killers.
A woman gave the response: "A poor little beetle was running around looking after itself, then a boot came and stepped on it." This response gives an indication of anxiety and the feeling of being a victim of events that she cannot control.
Positive responses are those that describe something that is alive and not dead, something life-affirming, children's faces, flowers, neutral animals, female figures, dancing couples, and so on.
Two fighting animals may be interpreted as unconscious personal conflict. Explosions will be a symbol of hostility. Spiders, octopuses, and witches may be interpreted as dominating mothers. Giants and gorillas as dominant fathers.
A large number of negative responses will be interpreted as the test person being frustrated, angry, aggressive and potentially violent.
A very large number of positive responses can be interpreted as the person being submissive, fearful and suffering from a martyr complex.
The blobs are symmetrical, and this opens up interpretations inspired by the animal world, with which a test-taker cannot really go wrong.
9. Mirror responses
Typical symmetrical inkblot - This is not an original Rorschach card. Unknown origin.
Rorschach folded all the cards around a central axis while wet so that they are all symmetrical, and it is tempting to turn them ninety degrees and interpret them as something reflecting itself in water. However, this is not wise. Exner's Rorschach interpretation perceives such mirror responses as the expression of a self-reflective and thoughtful personality.
Just one mirror response of this kind will lead to the test subject being described as "egocentric" with a "pronounced tendency to overestimate his personal worth". "Drifting clouds", "the bog woman is brewing" and the like will be equated with reflections in water.
Mirror responses are quite obvious, but they are dangerous. For criminal offenders, mirroring responses are used to distinguish psychopaths from non-psychopaths, and "are consistent with pathological narcissism and omnipotence as noted in Antisocial Personality Disorder"(Gacono & Meloy, 1992, p. 401; see also Gacono & Meloy, 1994).
10. Food responses
If the test person interprets just one of the inkblots as food, "this individual can be expected to exhibit more dependent behavior than is usually expected," according to Exner's interpretation manual.
This article is a contribution to the debate about personality tests, and Dalum Hjallese Debate Club takes no responsibility for any use of the content of the article.
