Rorschach Inkblot Test Report : Klopfer Format

Ria Mishra

2137551

4MPCL-B

Christ, (Deemed to be University), Bengaluru, Karnataka

Department of Psychology

Psychodiagnostic Lab II

Dr. Anuradha Sathiyaseelan

10th March 2023

The Rorschach Inkblot test (RIBT) has been the most popular projective psychological test for

the general public. Its famed story began with Hermann Rorschach who developed the test to

diagnose schizophrenia (Gurley, 2016). But, later with many revisions and adaptations, RIBT

became a personality test largely used to detect underlying symptoms that may be in a prodromal

state. The test was developed from a Swiss game called Klecksographie , where players would

react to ambiguous inkblots on paper. Being inspired (Rall, 2018), Rorschach came up with

numerous such inkblots which were tested on psychiatric patients, and finally came up with the

10 cards used to this day.

Klopfer’s System

Klopfer was one of the early proponents of the test along with Samuel Beck, Marguerite Herts

and David Levy (Gurley, 2016). He started the Rorschach research exchange which later became

the Journal of Personality Assessment, where Klopfer and students worked on revising the test

mostly through intuitive methods to come up with the Klopfer system. David Exner later came

up with the comprehensive system (Exner, 2003) through exhaustive analyses of the five most

popular systems of interpretations (including Klopfer’s) which is more widely used today.

Test Details

The cards with the inkblots that are used in RIBT are called plates. There are 10 plates, each

24x17 cm² in dimensions. Five of them are achromatic (black and white) and five are chromatic

(with colors). The last three cards are polychromatic as they have many colors, while the second

and the third (chromatic) cards have black, white and red. Different cards denote different areas

of functioning or perception.
 Types of Cards and Related properties:

Card Responses Color Name of Plate/Card

No.

Bat, Angel, Bird BW General Plate

1

2 Two Human figures, Black, red, white Female sex plate (Any rejection

Two elephants, Two or IDK response indicates

bears shock and problem with female

authority)

3 Two Women, Two Black, red, white Reality Orientation Plate (shock

fishes, Butterfly, Two indicates sexual impotency)

human beings

4 Large furry animal, Black Male Authority Plate (shock

huge human being indicates problem with male

authority)

5 Bat, angel, bird Black Reality Orientation Plate,

(usually shown first to see if we

should even continue)

6 Rug, skin of animal, Light BW Male Sex Plate (shock indicates

 musical instrument problem with male figures)

7 Two women, two dolls, Light BW shaded Mother Plate (shock indicates

necklaces problem with female authority)

8 Animals climbing on light gray, dark green, (last) Reality Orientation PLate

trees, emblem red, yellow (1st (shock indicates psychosis)

polychromatic)

9 Two human beings Multicolor/ Emotional tolerance plate

playing flute, two polychromatic (shock indicates poor emotional

animals, two children adjustment)

10 Crab, Elephant, Tiger, Polychromatic Organizational Capacity,

Multiple animals or Executive function (shock

insects indicates poor org. capacity,

poor problem solving)

Cards are handed to the client in a top card position but the client is free to rotate however they

want. Each rotation (orientation) must be observed and noted down with respect to angle and

direction. Orientation can be :

Top (↑), Bottom (↓), Left (←), Right (→), and rotated (๑) or confabulation.

The examiner must pay attention to the first responses a client gives for each card, their reaction

time (time between introduction of card and beginning of response), response time, and any other

additional responses.
Domains and Dimension Scores

The location of each response should be depicted by tracing the related area on a response sheet.

Location scores are given through W, W cut off, D, d, S corresponding to the area of inkblot they

used to give their response.

Pathognomic signs are observations that indicate pathological conditions such as lack of any

response, mutilated response, haphazard response etc. The ten pathognomic signs are Perplexity

Perseveration, Response Impotency, Contamination , Automatic Phrases, Confabulation, Position

Responses, Self Reference, Mutilation and Inversion of Response Tempo.

Determinant scores indicate how the client perceives the inkblots with respect to form, shading,

depth and texture. It indicates the emotional aspects of personality. Their analyses are showcased

in a graph form of psychogram. This graph helps establish whether the client is more or less

affected by environmental stimuli or if the client is more oriented towards their inner experience

of reality.

Content scores indicate how many responses are related to humans, animals, arts, nature or

anatomical objects. Variety of content indicates variety of interest and client’s concept formation.

Popular and original responses are indicators of how well the client can follow social norms and

how creative they are. High numbers of popular responses indicate rigidity in following norms

while a high number of original responses indicate creativity and erratic behavior. If there are no

popular responses,it may be indicative of psychosis. These scores are analyzed in depth and

interpreted to test the client’s intellectual capacity, emotionality, self-concept, creativity, and

underlying anxieties.
Advantages and Disadvantages

RIBT is mainly advantageous in clients with psychosis and thought disorders who may have

deficits that interfere with objective tests. They can be administered on clients who cannot read

or write well. RIBT is also used to understand the overall personality of a person and may, thus,

be helpful in recruitment for intense occupational roles. But there are many criticisms as well.

The test is long and may be not feasible in emergent cases. There are chances that the tester may

project their own perceptions while interpreting the responses. Norms and validity for such a

projective test cannot be as well established as more popular self report measures. There may be

chances of over-interpretation. For instance, the client may not have the right words to describe

what they are seeing perhaps due to not being very verbally expressive. Here a tester might

attribute this lack to avoidance or emotional disturbance.

Profile
Name - SP

Age - 23

Gender - Female

Education - MBA

Occupation - Student

Marital Status - Unmarried

Languages Known - English, Hindi (low proficiency), Kannada (Low proficiency)

Referred for - NA

Referred by - NA

Informants - Self (reliable)

Reliability of

Information - Good

Presenting Complaints

Client reported problems with low mood and anxiety. She finds it stressful to talk to her peers but

wants to be more outgoing and make more friends. There is also a report of academic uncertainty

and self-doubt. She also feels lonely. These complaints have persisted for 4 to 5 months.
Observations

Client was appropriately dressed and well-oriented. She provided her information in a

systematic manner. Affect presented was sad and distressed. She spoke in response to questions,

and her speech was relevant and coherent. She could maintain proper eye-contact and rapport

was established easily.

While conducting the test, it was observed that the client had a propensity to give responses

related to pop-culture and her preferred t.v shows, movies and other interests. In card 2 (female

sex plate), the client described the image with many details and for a good amount of time

according to a Korean dynasty of the past. But, she could not generate any more responses for

the plate, i.e., she could not look beyond that one response.

The client was expressive and could make a coherent image with most cards. She was very detail

oriented and often gave responses that were original. Her responses ranged from 1 to 5. She

needed more probing to generate responses from the emotional tolerance plate (card no. 9). This

could have been due to fatigue.

Test Administered

Rorschach Inkblot Test (Kloepfer format)

Test Result

Protocol
 P. RE
C. R.T
O. S. F.A/P.P. IQ A.R. L D C P/O OBS PS
No. .
C T

F M S C

Limited
It is shaped
answer,
like that, the
1 ⌃ 1 50 scary bat W F Aobj P did not
wings are
wish to
visible.
elaborate

maybe

These look someone

like eyes, was

Described
jack- o- there is a painting
with detail,
1 ⌃ 1 50 lantern with a beginning of a D F Hobj O
response
half grin a smile, the pumpkin
was fast
shape is like but they

a pumpkin forgot to

fill it in

The bat
alternate Pop
shape
1 ⌃ 1 50 batman D F Aobj P culture
reminded me
insignia reference
of batman
 Imitated

the hand

They look movement,

creepy little mangled and maintained

inhuman are too small eye

1 ⌃ 1 50 d F M Aobj O
hands to be contact,

reaching out completely attached a

human theme of

horror to

all answers

Two Joseon Since Uses terms

(Korean they are like "what

I watch a lot
Dynasty) servants, I am
of korean
servants who they may seeing
historical
are clasping have is...".
drama, and
their hands. been Got
the pictures mutilatio
2 ⌃ 3 51 It's their hats, punished W F C Hobj P preoccupie
look very n
their hands for being d with the
much like
and their lovers image
their attire,
bodies. They since related to a
especially
have been they are Korean
the caps
kneeling too holding drama

long so their hands. show she

knees are Maybe enjoys and

bleeding they could not

were provide

caught in any other

a responses

compro other than

mising that.

position

and the

king

caught

them.

Maybe

the king

supports

them in

his heart

because

he grew

up with

them,

but he

has to
 punish

them

because

he is the

king, so

he made

them

kneel. I

saw this

in a

drama

actually

where

the

character

was

made to

kneel till

they

started

bleeding.
 Two waiters

sticking their

butts out.

The red thing

in the middle
Formal
looks like a
shoes, so
bow tie.
waiters.
They have
Fetuses Emphasis
pointy shoes.
The bowtie look like on
If Quentin
is the little genitalia.
Blake drew
clearest in prawns Humorous
3 ⌃ 7 72 waiters for D F C Hobj P
the picture. like here, demeanor.
Roald Dahl.
Human-like and the Pop
They have
figures. connecti cultural
their penises
on looks references.
out. They
like an
have beaky
umbilica
faces, and
l cord
their mouths

look like

beaks.
 Only

mentioned
Fetuses
the
look like
umbilical
little
The red cord first
prawns
things look and then as
like here,
like an after
3 ⌃ 7 72 and the d F C At O
umbilical -thought
connecti
cord attached added
on looks
to fetuses. description
like an
about
umbilica
fetuses
l cord
attached to

them.

weird Big eyes,

scorpion-crab insects tend

monster. to have

Pincers are them. The Very detail

3 @ 7 72 D F Aobj O
there, he has monster had oriented

jaws. He is a good sense

quite fancy of style but it

because he looks
 has a bow on intimidating

the back and scary

maybe

someone

killed it

that way When

asked why

- also she gave

looks responses,

like she came

big imposing arctic up with

Big foot
figure, tapers monkeys some new
impaled on a
4 ⌃ 2 55 like a that live W F Aobj P responses.
big log or
christmas at hot Could
tree
tree spring show

- also different

like that parts in the

future-pr picture to

edicting justify her

sheep responses

from

kung fu

panda 2
 it just looks Did not

4 @ 2 55 Vertebrate like a W F At O wish to

vertebrate elaborate

It just looks

5 ⌃ 3 45 bat like that, the W F Aobj P

shape of it.

wanted to

recant

previous
it just looks
answer,
like that. It
not bat, it refused
has those
5 ⌃ 3 45 looks like a W F c Aobj O that it
furry
moth could not
antennas
look like a
there.
bat due to

the

antennas

it's white and

elephant's
5 ⌃ 3 45 shaped like a S F Aobj O
trunk
trunk

Hunted tiger It just looks

6 ⌃ 5 54 D F Aobj P
rug, they like that. The
 skinned it, it shape is like

was a trophy that of an

rug. animal skin

The top part The

reminds me association Tends to

of native of wild be more

6 ⌃ 5 54 american animal may d F c Hobj O expressive

feathers that be why i am about the

they wear on seeing details

their head. feathers

This little bit

here looks It just looks

6 ⌃ 5 10 d F Aobj O
like insect like that.

pincers

These long
weird
shapes look popular
humans with
like bunny culture
bunny ears
ears, and reference
7 ⌃ 7 84 like playboy W F Hobj P
there is a made
bunnies.
vague (playboy
Women
humanoid bunny)
dressing up
shape, so I
 as bunnies in put both

halloween together and

it reminded

me of the

playboy

bunnies. A

lot of

halloween

costumes are

like that.

This little

gap seems

gateway or like a

doorway to passage and

some it is gated by

forbidden these big

7 ⌃ 7 84 castle, shapes d F K Hobj O

doorway which can be

between hills seen as hills

like a secret or big

tunnel castles. It's

very narrow

and sort of
 hidden so

that's why I

called it a

secret.

The bunny

ears and sort

of gothic
pop
look
culture
Donnie reminded me
7 ⌃ 7 84 Dd F Hobj O response
Darko masks of the
about a
Donnie
movie
Darko mask

from the

movie

there is the

eyes, snouts, a theme of

ears, one of ghostly

Demonic
7 ⌃ 7 84 the ears is d F Aobj O nature
pigs,
connected to attached to

the rabbit responses

women
 The helmet

part just

looks a lot Helmet

torso and the like the brought

head of a anime figure together

cyborg from that brought other parts

anime. the whole which

described armor were a bit

8 ⌃ 3 42 W F At O
each shape as together for confabulat

an me. I can see ory.

anatomical the breast Repeated

part of the plate, then references

armor. the arm pads to movies

and and shows.

everything

else

But, this part

Made it a
two really looks
It is a point to
predatory like a cat
8 ⌃ 3 42 carnivor d F M Aobj P say the cat
felines, walking on
ous cat. was
maybe a tiger something, it
predatory.
is a
 dangerous

cat

Indicates

its hard to Respons

i tried but
Ambiguous find e
9 ⌃ 3 52 hard to find W F- Art O
splotches, images but impotenc
any image
goes on to y

find them

had

trouble

Here, it just finding a

9 ⌃ 3 52 stag antlers, looks like d F Aobj P whole

that picture but

had part

images

The nose is

sort of not
pop
voldemort's there, as if it
9 ⌃ 3 52 S F At O culture
nose has
reference
collapsed

thus, it looks
 like

Voldemort's.

It's very

colorful,

happenin

g and

lively.

Weird
Did not
There are a smudges
elaborate
lot of circus are
much.
Blue things animals. The animal-li
When
look like green things ke. The
10 ⌃ 7 70 d F C Aobj P probed
weird look like trapeze
described
scorpions. leaves. It just rats I
more
looks like saw in a
about the
that. movie
colors.
called

Coraline.

There

are also

two

sinister
 rats in

this

tendency

to bring

the picture

together.

She only

saw

trapeze rat
The shape is
artists but
like a rat's,
then
trapeze rat round and
described
10 ⌃ 70 artists, the small and d F M Aobj P
the whole
gray things they are in a
picture as
jumping
a circus
movement.
and

pointed at

other parts

of the blot

that

seemed

circus-like
 such as the

colors

The shape is

10 ⌃ 70 blue bras like that of a d F C Hobj O

bra

The shape is

vaguely like
10 ⌃ 70 lymph nodes d F At O
lymph

nodes.

Really weird It just really

face. There looks like a

Pop
are eyes, face. And it
cultural
green reminds of
references.
eyebrows, the Mike
Was
weird nose, Myers cat in
humorous
10 @ 7 70 orange smirk. the hat D F Aobj O
when she
Grey beard movies. If it
made the
Looks like was under
connection
cat in the hat the influence
with the
on LSD but of the drug
cat
without the LSD that's

hat what it
 would look

like

Location Scoring Table:

LOCATION

NO. OF CARDS I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X TOTAL

SCORING

SYMBOLS

W 1 1 2 2 1 1 1 9

W'

D 2 2 1 1 6

Dd 1 1

d 1 1 2 2 1 1 4 12

S 1 1 2

TOTAL 4 1 3 2 3 3 4 2 3 5 30

Determinants Scoring:
DETERMINANTS

NO. OF CARDS I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X TOTAL

SCORING

SYMBOLS

FM 1 1 1 3

K (K, KF) 1 1

FK

F 3 1 2 2 2 3 1 3 2 19

Fc 1 1 2

c (cF, C)

C'

FC 1 2 2 5

CF

TOTAL 4 1 3 2 3 3 4 2 3 5 30

Content Scoring Table

CONTENT

NO. OF CARDS I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X TOTAL

SCORING

SYMBOLS

Hobj 1 1 1 1 3 1 8

At 1 1 1 1 1 5

Aobj 3 1 1 3 2 1 1 1 3 16

Art 1 1

TOTAL 4 1 3 2 3 3 4 2 3 5 30

Quantitative Relationships:

Total responses or R = 30

Total time or T = 585 seconds

Average time per response or T/R = 585/30 = 19.5 seconds

Average reaction time for achromatic cards per response = (50 + 55 + 45 + 54 +

84)/(4+2+3+3+4) = 18 seconds

Average reaction time for chromatic cards per response = (51+72+42+52+70)/(1+3+2+3+5) =

20.5 seconds

Percentage of reaction time for achromatic cards = (50 + 55 + 45 + 54 + 84)/585*100 = 49.2%

Percentage of reaction time for chromatic cards = (51+72+42+52+70)/585*100 = 49.05%

 Location percentage scores:

Location Number Percentage Scores (in %)

W% 9 30

D% 6 20

d% 12 40

Dd + S% 3 10

Determinants percentage scores:

Determinants Number Percentage Scores (in

%)

F 19 63.3

FM 3 10

Fc 2 6.6

FK 1 3.3
FC 5 16.6

Content percentage scores:

Content Number Percentage Scores (in %)

Aobj% 16 53.3

Hobj% 8 26.6

At% 5 16.6

Art% 1 3.3

Popular/Original Percentage Scores:

Responses Number Percentage Scores (in

%)

Popular, P 12 40

Original 18 60
Interpretation

Psychogram

(P.T.O)
 30
29
28
27
26
25
24
23
22
21
20
19
18
17
16
15
14
13
12
11
10
9
8
7
6
5
4
3
2
1
m FM M K KF k FK F Fc c FC' C' FC CF C
For Textures and achromatic Bright color
Movement Diffusion/ vista m color response

The psychogram indicates that the client is largely rationally oriented. She has a slight tendency
to be influenced by external stimuli as well.
Manner of Approach

Location Score Table:

Location Percentage Scores (in %) Expected Range

W% 30 20 - 30

D% 20 45 - 55

d% 40 5 - 15

Dd+S% 10 10

Above mentioned location scores indicate, the client has an expected range in W, d and Dd+S

scores which indicate a balanced intellectual approach to everyday life activities. An expected

score of W indicates that the client has a superior intellectual ability to experience the world as a

whole.

There is a lower than expected D score but it is coupled with a good form level as is indicated by

the determinants table. Thus, the client can differentiate between the different facets of her

experience of the world but may have trouble recognising everyday problems and facts.

A high d score indicates that the client has a highly differentiated interest in factual things but

may have some insecurity. They may be clinging to what they know to defend against this

insecurity which may stem from a fear of uncertainty.

Dd+S score lies in the normal range but when coupled with the apparent low D score, it can be

interpreted that the client has an overly intellectual approach with a certain degree of disregard

for obvious and practical facts of experience.

Succession

Response Successions Table:

Card No. Succession Remarks

I Systematic (W-D-d)

II Systematic (W-D-d) Described first the whole

image and then enumerated

the smaller parts that brought

it all together

III Systematic (d-D)

IV Systematic (W - )

V Unsystematic (W - S) Responses were disjointed

VI Systematic (D-d-d)

VII Unsystematic (W-d-Dd-d)

VIII Systematic (W-d)

 IX Systematic (W-d-S)

X Systematic (d-d-D-S)

The table above indicates that 8 cards had a systematic succession while two did not. Thus, there

is orderly succession which is optimal. The client systematically approaches an issue but retains

some flexibility.

Intellectual Capacity

W, M, O Score Table:

Response Number Percentage Expected Range

Type

W 9 30 20 - 30%

FM or M 3 10 2 or 3 in number

O 18 60 25 - 50%

An expected range of W responses indicates a good holistic sense of experiencing the world thus

denoting good intellectual capacity. M responses are also in an acceptable range indicating a

good attitude towards inner reality and a good self concept. W:M is 2:1 which may indicate good

ability to combine organizational capacity with creative potential.

60% of O responses indicate high levels of creativity which indicates the client has an artistic

side. Score lies beyond 50% but there are enough popular responses as well to indicate there are

not many erratic tendencies. O responses given by the client were usually related to popular

culture references, especially movies and T.V. shows. This indicates the client tends to be a

regular consumer of creative forms of media and internalizes the stories she experiences through

such media. There is a wide variety of content but there is some tendency to answer in animal

terms. This may indicate a narrow range of interests but with good intellectual capacity.

Orderliness of succession is optimal (orderly) which indicates a good manner of approach.

Hypotheses related to Location Scores

Location Score Table:

Location Percentage Scores (in %) Expected Range

W% 30 20 - 30

D% 20 45 - 55

d% 40 5 - 15

Dd+S% 10 10

Expected w score indicates a good interest in the activity . Lower the expected capital D score

indicates some emotional disturbance. (Intellectual capacity can be considered high as there are

good form responses). Higher than expected d scores indicates express need to be accurate and
exact. Dd+S scores are in the expected range which indicates the client doesn't have any

obsession, oppositional tendencies, poor meticulousness or lack of interest to pay attention. So it

can be interpreted that the client has good intellectual capacity, interest and attention along with a

good tendency for exactness but is suffering from some emotional turbulence that needs to be

addressed.

Hypothesis related to determinants

The client has a good intellectual capacity, interest and attention along with a good tendency for

exactness. Good form responses indicate an even superior intellectual capacity and heightened

ego strength. There is creativity, rich inner reality and a good self concept harbored within the

client. The client is aware of her own affectional needs and is comfortable in expressing them

however there may be rigidity and a constricted way of approaching the world which is

indicative of obsessive- compulsive personality traits. The client may also be having problems in

managing her anxiety related to her own affectional needs.

Determinants Score Table:

Determinants Number Percentage Scores (in Expected Range

%)

F 19 63.3 20-30%

FM 3 10 2 or 3 in number
 Fc 2 6.6 2 or 3 in number

FK 1 3.3 2 or 3 in number

FC 5 16.6 2 or 3 in number

Hypotheses related to form:

Form responses constitute 63.3% of the responses which indicates a superior intellectual capacity

and stronger ego strength. Since this percentage is greater than 50 and lies in the range of 50 to

80% this indicates that the client may have some rigidity or constrictions in their way of

approaching the world which may denote some obsessive-compulsive personality traits.

Hypotheses related to movement

The scores fall within the expected range with the responses only being related to animal

movement. It indicates creativity and a good attitude towards the inner reality of experience.

Thus, the client can be said to be very creative with a good self concept and tendency to

experience her inner reality at an optimum level.

Hypothesis related to shading:

The scores related to shading lie under the expected range which indicates good management of

affectional needs from others. A good Fc score indicates good awareness of one’s own

affectional need as well as a good tendency to seek it out. A low FK score (1) indicates some

issue in managing anxiety related to one’s own affectional needs.

Hypothesis related to content

Content Score Table:

Content Number Percentage Scores (in %) Expected range

Aobj% 16 53.3 20-35

Hobj% 8 26.6 25

At% 5 16.6

Art% 1 3.3

Animal responses fall above 50% and there is a considerable number of anatomy related

responses. This indicates a stereotyped view of the world. The client may have too narrow a

range of interests. A good number of human related responses indicate that the client does not

necessarily have poor interest in her peers and other human beings. Thus, it can be concluded

that the client is well adjusted towards other human beings and is interested in them but she may

suffer from a stereotyped view of the world with a very narrow range of interests.

Hypothesis related to P/O scores

P/O score table:

Responses Number Percentage Scores (in Expected range

%)
 Popular, P 12 40 30 - 50%

Original 18 60 25 - 50%

Popular scores fall within expected range which indicates that the client does not have any

problem following social norms, and the conformity is not too high. High number of original

responses indicates creativity and a rich inner world.

Sequential Analysis

An average of 3 responses per card and an average about 19 seconds reacting to per card

indicates the client has healthy intellectual and attentional capacities. Client has followed a

systematic approach to 8 cards out of 10 which indicates an orderly manner of approaching the

world and while retaining some flexibility as well. Responses have sometimes been richly

described but at times, the description has been minimal which may indicate a lack of interest.

Responses to most cards have been in the desirable range. Card elicited a rejecting response

where she could only see an ambiguous splotch at first which may indicate poor emotional

adjustment.

Pathognomonic signs indicated were response impotency and mutilation. But, later analyses

indicate intellectual capacity is intact and even superior. While there may be some inner anxiety

as described by mutilation.

Location scores indicate that the client experiences the world as a whole with good

differentiation but may have trouble recognising obvious facts and problems. Further, there

might be tendency to be overly intellectual of facts that they know to manage insecurity

surrounding facts that they don’t know. This may indicate a fear of uncertainty.
 Average response number and time score table:

Type of Cards No. of responses Reaction time Average no. of Average reaction

response (in %) time (in %)

Polychromatic 10 164 33.3 28.03

Chromatic 14 287 46.6 49.05

Achromatic 16 288 53.3 49.2

Since average responses for polychromatic cards lie between 30 - 40% with about 16% of

responses for card X (i.e., lower than the limit of 20%), the client has a balance between her

inner reality and external environment. Since this score (33.3%) is very close to the lower limit,

it may be that the client tends to have an inhibited productivity under strong environmental

impact. Average reaction time for chromatic and achromatic cards are comparable which

indicates a healthy reaction to emotional environmental impact.

Summary

The client is a 23-year old MBA student with complaints of low mood, anxious thoughts and

feelings and loneliness. She has a lot of self-doubt regarding her people skills as well as

academic pursuits.

Interpretation of her responses to the Rorschach inkblot test indicates that the client is a highly

intellectual person with creative tendencies. She has good organizational skills and
simultaneously creative potential that could propel her towards success. Scores indicate a rich

inner life which is in balance with her experience of the external world. She experiences the

world as a whole but is also able to differentiate experiences. Client does not have any trouble in

following social norms but is not greatly influenced by them, thus she can maintain her

individuality. She also has a good self concept and great ego strength.

She may have some problems dealing with the insecurity of not knowing certain things about the

world, which propels her to be overly-intellectual and hide behind what she already knows. She

may also be rigid and constricted in her manner of approach and may have obsessive-compulsive

traits. She may also be limited in her interests and stereotyped in her world-view. She harbors

some emotional turbulence and inner anxiety related to her needs of affection from others. She

may have some related emotional adjustment issues and a slight tendency to disturb her

productivity in response to strong environmental stimuli.

Recommendations

The client may be in a prodromal state of social anxiety disorder or obsessive-compulsive

personality disorder. She is advised to seek professional help as soon as possible from a clinical

or counseling psychologist for aid in understanding her inner anxiety and its source.

A CBT formulation is recommended to explore her rigidity and constricted world view. An

exploration of automatic thoughts, negative assumptions and core-beliefs may further

understanding of her manner of interacting with the world and the related anxiety.
An IPT formulation is recommended to aid in her interpersonal functioning with people she

considers close in her life. This may help her understand the anxiety stemming from her needs of

affection. If symptoms persist with therapy or are exacerbated, psychiatric help should also be

sought.
 References

Exner, J. E. (2003). The Rorschach: A Comprehensive System: Vol. 1. Basic foundations and

principles of interpretation (4th ed.). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley

Rall, V. (2018). Searls, Damion: The Inkblots. Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the

Power of Seeing. New York, Crown Publishing, 2017. 416 p. Ill. $28.–. ISBN

978-0-8041-3654-9 (e-book: 978-0-8041-3655-6). Gesnerus, 75(1), 149-151.

Gurley, J. R. (2016). Essentials of Rorschach assessment: Comprehensive system and R-PAS.

John Wiley & Sons.