THE RORSCHACH

Inkblot Psychological Test

Troy Cabrillas Christdy Sheine Apor Honey Grace Luspe

 IN PRECIS

The Rorschach Inkblot Test, created by Hermann Rorschach, uses

ambiguous images to assess personality. Individuals' interpretations
of ten inkblot cards reveal unconscious thoughts and feelings,
providing unique insights for clinical diagnosis and therapy.
Personal needs and Interpersonal
motivations relationships

Basic personality
Defense mechanisms
structure

Childhood psychosexual
development

Perceived differently by different individuals

 A HOLISTIC APPROACH TO ASSESSMENT

Laws of perception: How does the individual organize and interpret visual information?

Cognitive processes: What thought patterns emerge in their responses?

Motivational factors: What drives their interpretations?

Emotional components: How do emotions color their perceptions?

Coping mechanisms: How do they handle the ambiguity of the task?

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is less resistant to manipulation, making it
harder for individuals to control their responses compared to
questionnaires. Despite debates about its reliability and validity, the
test is valued for uncovering unique personality aspects.

Often used alongside other assessments, it provides insights into

human personality and aids in diagnosis and therapy by revealing how
individuals interpret ambiguity.
 HISTORICAL OF INKBLOT

1 2 3 4 5 6

15 CENTURY 1895 1896 20TH CENTURY 1911 1932

Ettore Sottsass Binet and Henary Freud first used the Gehring used inkblots Rorschach began Beck received a Ph.D.
organizes a meeting used inkblots to term "projection." on children to study using inkblots to study on the Rorschach test.
with designers assess children's imagination. hallucinations in Klopfer later
intelligence in children. developed his own
Rorschach system.
France.
 HERMANN RORSCHACH
Hermann Rorschach (1884-1922) was a Swiss psychiatrist who developed the
famous inkblot test.

Nicknamed "Klecks" (inkblot) in school due to his interest in sketching.

Studied medicine, graduating from Zurich University in 1909.

Began experimenting with inkblots in 1911 to study imagination.

Published "Psychodiagnostik" in 1921, introducing his inkblot test.

The test uses ambiguous inkblot images to assess personality and

emotional functioning.

Rorschach died in 1922, shortly after publishing his groundbreaking work.

 Several other projective tests were developed to address
RORSCHACH TEST perceived limitations and explore new approaches
DEVELOPMENT
Holtzman Inkblot Test (1961): 90 cards
from handmade inkblots to total, 22 scoring variables, improved
published cards, faced psychometrics.
publishing challenges, gained
Harrower Psychodiagnostic Inkblot Test
international recognition, and
(1966): Similar to Rorschach, minor design
became a significant differences.
psychological assessment tool.
Somatic Inkblot Series (1965-1984):
Focuses on somatization, images resemble
body parts.
 VERSIONS OF THE TEST
SIS-I SIS-II SIS-II-Video Version

Developed in Developed in 1980, it Developed in 1984, it

1977, it has 20 has 62 images in a presents 62 SIS-II
cards similar to booklet with 5 x 6 cm images on a screen
Rorschach, printed rectangles and space with music and visual
in black, red, and for responses. It's effects, maintaining
gray on white suitable for supervised interest and reducing
cards, measuring self-administration in rejection rates. It is
16.5 x 20.5 cm. clinics. easy to administer and
score, and useful for
group assessments.
 THEORITICAL FOUNDATIONS

Psychoanalytic foundation: Projection:

Based on Freud's theory that unconscious Uses ambiguous inkblots to elicit projection of
factors influence behavior and personality. one's thoughts and feelings onto external
stimuli.

Free association: Unconscious revelation:

Subjects describe inkblots freely, similar to Assumes responses reveal hidden aspects of
Freud's free association technique. personality and psychological state.

Symbolism: Defense mechanisms:

Interprets responses as symbolic Responses thought to reflect psychoanalytic
representations of the subject's inner world. defense mechanisms like repression or denial.
 Freudian Theory has dualism
in most of the concepts.

Characteristics In Rorschach system, cards II

and VI are female and male
of the libidinal cards respectively.
INKBLOTS
The then cards are differently
colored and differently
shaded to trigger inner
unconscious.
CARD NUMBER 1

Usually it looks like a

flying creature.

Known as motivation
or general card.

It is the easiest card,

therefore, rarely rejected.
 CARD NUMBER 2

Figure ground reversal

is possible on this card.

Because of its oval

shape, it is considered
to be a female libidinal
organ card.
CARD NUMBER 3

Each spot may be

responded differently.

Looks like a human

being in action.

Known as reality
orientation card.
 CARD NUMBER 4

Male authority may be

husband, employer,
father, and father-in-
law.

Rejection or delayed
response usually
considered as a
reflection of conflict
with male authority.
CARD NUMBER 5

Usually perceived as
flying creature.

May be rejected as a
carryover effect of
earlier card number

Known as reality
orientation card.
 CARD NUMBER 6

It triggers off the feelings

that are associated with
male reproductive organs
(penis).

Rejection or delayed
response usually
considered as a
reflection of conflict with
male libidinal organ.
CARD NUMBER 7

Rejection or delayed
response on this card
may suggest conflict
with female authority
figure
 CARD NUMBER 8

It consists of connected
designs with different
looks.

Looks like animals

climbing

Known as reality
orientation card.
CARD NUMBER 9

Color evokes emotions.

Will suggest emotional

adaptability of the
respondent

Known as the emotional

arousal & tolerance card.
 CARD NUMBER 10

Can be interpreted
separately or as a
whole.

Connecting each spot

with other will suggest
organizational capacity
of the individual.

Known as organization
and emotional
tolerance card.
 ADMINISTRATION

In all psychological experiments, a standard format, as given below, is rigidly

followed. Each experiment must have the following headings:

Name of the Experiment Procedure of data collection

Identification information of the Observations
subject Summarization/presentation of
Purpose of the experiment observations
Arrangement Results
Materials/ Instrument/ Tools Conclusions
Instructions
 Adequate
Lighting

Less Stimulants

Arrangement
To not restrict
during testing
the movement of
the subject
 MATERIALS
Must be arranged serially
Cards should not be laminated.
Photocopied cards or locally 1st color - for writing the responses of
fabricated because color and the subject.
shading may change the stimulus 2nd color - used for writing material
value. generated during the inquiry phase

To note the following: There are several main systems

time interval between presentation of Rorscahch:
of the card to the subject by Beck (First Rorschach System)
the response uttered by the subject. by Klopfer (Psychoanalytic Orientation)
Mobile phone as a stopwatch may by Exner
destruct your attention and the attention Performance Assessment
of the subject. System by the Rorschach
Research Council
RORSCHACH'S
SYSTEM
MATERIALS

This is required during inquiry phase to

encircle the area where percept of the
subject is located on the card.

Photo of all the 10 cards are

printed together in two columns in
black and white.
It is required to transfer the
location of the percept encircled
by the subject during inquiry
phase.
 RAPPORT FORMATION
Look/persona of the
Psychologist
Speak with prolongation
technique
Introduce yourself to the
subject and his attendants
Explain explicitly that Psych
Assessments are different from lab test

Conduct Brief Interview

Demographic variables Short mental status exam
Problems Brief Psychological Test
Seek patient Colored Raven’s Progressive Matrices
(Measures clarity in thinking and accuracy in perception)
permission to inquire PGI Health Questionnaire-N1
from his attendanct (To assess physical and emotional distress)
BASIC FEATURES OF INSTRUCTIONS

I have a pack of ten cards. (show it by putting your hand on the pile of cards)
These cards are just series of inkblots.
I will be showing your these cards one by one.
You are suppose to tell me what they look like to you.
Different people see many things in each card.
Tell me what these inkblots resemble with.
You can take as long as you like but try to be fast as possible.
Have you understood what you are supposed to do?
Handle inquiry of the subject by repeating the appropriate part of the
instructions.
 Inkblots as Projective Stimuli
Stage 1
1. The cards are presented in
numbered order from 1–10
2. Testtaker initially asked "What
might this be?"
3. Examiner records testtaker’s
verbatim responses, nonverbal
gestures, first response time,
position of card etc.

Examiner does not engage in any 4.

discussion at this stage

Focus is on allowing testtaker to 5.

project, free from distraction
 Inkblots as Projective Stimuli
Stage 2
The cards are re-administered in Where, Why?
6. a second stage known as the
inquiry
7. Examiner attempts to determine
what features of the inkblot
played a role in the formulation of 8. Examiner asks questions such
the test taker's percept
as "What made it look like
[whatever]?" to clarify what was
seen

Goal is to identify which aspects of 9.

the inkblot were most influential in
forming the perception
Provides opportunity to detect 10.
whether any new responses are
perceived
 Inkblots as Projective Stimuli
Stage 3
In a final stage, known as testing
11. the limits the examiner asks
specific questions
12.
Testtaker asked to elaborate on
aspects of the inkblot

13. The examiner might say

"sometimes people use a part of
the blot to see something" or
"what does this look like?"
Goal is to obtain additional 14.
information concerning personality
functioning
 Rorschach Scoring Protocols

1. Location part of the inkblot used to form the percept

qualities of the inkblot (form, colour, movement)

2. Planning
important to a testtaker’s percept

3. Content content category (human, animal, anatomical

figures) of responses
4. Popularity frequency with which a response to part of an
inkblot has been observed
5. Form how well the individuals percept matches the
corresponding part of the inkblot
EXAMPLES OF
CODES USED
 LOCATION
W = Whole blot is perceived to generate a response.
D = Common or major details is perceived for a response.
Dd = Uncommon or minor detail is perceived for a response

In addition,
NOTE:
INTERPRETATION
 PSYCHO-DIAGNOSTIC

Describing weak and strong points in the personality of an

individual.
Predicting success and failure of an individual in his life in general.
Labelling an individual fit/unit, suitable/unsuitable for a specific
purpose.
Determining the nature of illness, and
Planning a particular mode of treatment/training for rehabilitation
for correcting/maximizing psychological functioning of an
individual
 PSYCHOMETRIC FOUNDATIONS
RELIABILITY VALIDITY

the problem of “R” lack of incremental validity

intercoder agreement normative reference data
subjectivity
unreliable scoring
 APPLICATIONS

CLINICAL PRACTICE FORENSIC PRACTICE

Differential Diagnosis Criminal Law
Treatment Planning Civil Law
Outcome Evaluation Family Law

ORGANIZATIONAL PRACTICE
Personnel Selection
Personnel Evaluation
Workplace Violence
 CRITICISMS
1. QUESTIONABLE VALIDITY AND RELIABILITY
Critics argue that interpretation of the inkblot responses is subjective.

LACK OF STANDARDIZATION
The test's administration and scoring are not standardized between
practitioners, which might result in inconsistent and unreliable results.

CULTURAL BIAS
The Rorschach test was developed in a Western, European cultural
context, its interpretation may not translate well to other cultural
backgrounds. This raises questions about its cross-cultural validity.
 CRITICISMS
LACK OF ADEQUATE NORMS
Normative data for the Rorschach test may be out of date or not
representative of varied populations.

2. LIMITED EMPIRICAL SUPPORT

The Rorschach test has been criticised for lacking substantial empirical
evidence to back up its claims of accurately evaluating personality traits
and mental states.
OVERPATHOLOGIZING
Research has suggested that diagnoses from the Rorschach wrongly
identify more than half of normal individuals as emotionally disturbed.
 CRITICISMS

3. LACK OF PREDICTIVE POWER

Critics contend that the Rorschach test has limited ability to predict
real-world behavior or future psychological states, undermining its
clinical utility.

4. ALTERNATIVE ASSESSMENT TOOLS

Modern psychological evaluation instruments provide more
standardized and reliable methods of assessing personality traits,
cognitive functioning, and emotional states.
 ACCLAIMS

1. CLINICAL INSIGHTS
The test provides unique insights into a person's mental processes,
emotions, and underlying psychological dynamics that other
assessment methods may not capture.

2. SUPPLEMENTARY TOOL
Some psychologists utilize the Rorschach test in conjunction with
other evaluation instruments to gain a more comprehensive picture
of their patient.
 ACCLAIMS

3. HOLISTIC APPROACH
Individuals can react in their own terms, perhaps exposing aspects
of their inner experiences that would not be revealed in organised
tests.

4. RESEARCH AND EXPLORATION

The Rorschach test may be used as a starting point for qualitative
research or exploratory explorations into specific psychological
problems by some psychologists.
 ACCLAIMS
5. HISTORICAL AND CULTURAL SIGNIFICANCE
The Rorschach test has historical and cultural relevance in the field
of psychology, and some practitioners may continue to employ it
out of tradition or curiosity.
 The Rorschach test remains a controversial psychological
assessment tool due to these ongoing debates about its scientific
validity, ethical implications, and practical applications. Many
psychologists continue to use it, while others have moved away
from it in favor of more empirically supported assessment
methods.
 THE RORSCHACH
Inkblot Psychological Test

Troy Cabrillas Christdy Sheine Apor Honey Grace Luspe