PSYCHOPATHOLOGY ASSIGNMENT

Rorschach Inkblot Test and Thematic Apperception Test

By
SANYA KALRA
9425

Introduction:
Rorschach Inkblot Test

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is a projective psychological assessment created by Hermann

Rorschach in 1921. It consists of 10 inkblots, some black and white and others in colour,
presented to individuals, who are then asked to describe what they see. The test is based on the
premise that people project their unconscious thoughts and feelings onto ambiguous stimuli.
Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)
The Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), developed by Henry Murray in the 1930s, is another
projective psychological test where individuals are shown a series of ambiguous images of
people in various situations. They are asked to create stories based on the images, which reveal
underlying thoughts, emotions, and conflicts that the person may not consciously express.
Rorschach Inkblot Test: Scoring and Procedure
Procedure:

There are 10 official inkblots in the Rorschach test, each printed on separate white cards. Five
inkblots are black and Gray; two are black, Gray, and red; and three are multi-coloured without
any black.

During the administration of the Rorschach Inkblot Test, the examiner typically sits next to the
examinee to observe their perspective on the inkblots. The test follows a structured procedure:

1. Present: The examiner presents one card at a time, asking the examinee, "What might
this be?"
2. Respond: The examinee is free to interpret the ambiguous images in any way. There is
no time limit, and they can give as many responses as they wish. The cards can also be
held in any orientation, such as upside down or sideways.
3. Record: The examiner records every detail of the examinee's responses, noting not only
what is said but also the time taken for each response, how the card is held, emotional
expressions, and other relevant metrics.
 4. Confirm: After the initial responses, the examiner takes the examinee through the
inkblots a second time. This step is designed not to gather new information, but to help
the examiner understand exactly what the examinee sees. The examinee is asked to
identify where they see the images they described and explain which features of the
inkblot led to their interpretation.
Scoring:
The most widely used scoring system for the Rorschach is the Exner Comprehensive System.
This system evaluates responses based on several key criteria:
1. Location: Refers to which part of the inkblot the participant focused on. Did they see
the whole inkblot (W), a common area (D), or an unusual part (Dd)? This can give
insight into the individual's perception style.
2. Determinants: This refers to what aspect of the inkblot influenced the participant's
response. Factors include:
o Form (the shape or outline of the blot),
o Colour (did the colour of the inkblot affect the interpretation?),
o Movement (did the participant see something moving?),
o Shading (did they focus on light and dark areas?).

3. Content: This evaluates the type of images the participant sees. Common categories
include humans, animals, and objects. Unusual content or recurring themes can suggest
particular personality traits or conflicts.
4. Form Quality: This refers to how well the participant's response matches the actual
shape of the inkblot. Responses that align well with the form are considered more
"normal," while poor form quality might indicate distorted thinking.
5. Popular Responses: The test compares the participant’s answers to common, widely
given responses. A lack of popular responses might indicate an individual's tendency
to think or perceive the world in an unusual or unique way.
6. Special Scores: Unusual or bizarre responses are given special scores, often indicating
potential psychological concerns, such as disorganized thinking or paranoia.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT): Scoring and Procedure

Procedure:
The TAT is popularly known as the picture interpretation technique because it uses a series of
provocative yet ambiguous pictures about which the subject is asked to tell a story. The TAT
manual provides the administration instructions used by Murray, although these procedures are
commonly altered. The subject is asked to tell as dramatic a story as they can for each picture
presented, including the following:
 • what has led up to the event shown
• what is happening at the moment
• what the characters are feeling and thinking
• what the outcome of the story was
If these elements are omitted, particularly for children or individuals of low cognitive abilities,
the evaluator may ask the subject about them directly. Otherwise, the examiner is to avoid
interjecting and should not answer questions about the content of the pictures. The examiner
records stories verbatim for later interpretation.

The complete version of the test contains 32 picture cards. Some of the cards show male figures,
some female, some both male and female figures, some of ambiguous gender, some adults,
some children, and some show no human figures at all. One card is completely blank and is
used to elicit both a scene and a story about the given scene from the storyteller. Although the
cards were originally designed to be matched to the subject in terms of age and gender, any
card may be used with any subject. Murray hypothesized that stories would yield better
information about a client if the majority of cards administered featured a character similar in
age and gender to the client. Although Murray recommended using 20 cards, most practitioners
choose a set of between 8 and 12 selected cards, either using cards that they feel are generally
useful, or that they believe will encourage the subject's expression of emotional conflicts
relevant to their specific history and situation. However, the examiner should aim to select a
variety of cards in order to get a more global perspective of the storyteller and to avoid
confirmation bias (i.e., finding only what you are looking for). Many of the TAT drawings
consist of sets of themes such as: success and failure, competition and jealousy, feeling about
relationships, aggression, and sexuality. These are usually depicted through picture cards.

Scoring:

When Henry Murray created the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT), he also developed a
scoring system based on his Need-Press Theory of Personality. In this system, every sentence
of a participant's response was coded for the presence of 28 different needs and 20
environmental pressures (presses). These were scored on a scale of 1 to 5 based on factors such
as intensity, frequency, duration, and significance to the story. However, this method proved
to be time-consuming and was not widely adopted. Instead, many examiners have relied on
their clinical intuition to interpret the stories provided by test-takers.
Although Murray's system is not commonly used in clinical practice, several formal scoring
systems have been developed to analyze TAT stories in a systematic way. Three widely used
methods in research include:
1. Defense mechanisms Manual (DMM):
This system assesses the presence of three defense mechanisms in the stories: denial
(the least mature defense), projection (an intermediate defense), and identification (the
most mature defense). The focus is on how the participant projects their thoughts and
feelings into the narrative.
 2. Social Cognition and Object Relations (SCOR) Scale:
The SCOR scale evaluates four dimensions of object relations, including:
• The complexity of representations of people,
• The emotional tone of relationships,
• The capacity for emotional investment in relationships and moral standards,
• Understanding of social causality (how people perceive the causes and effects
of social interactions).
3. Personal Problem-Solving System – Revised (PPSS-R):
The PPSS-R system assesses how individuals identify, think about, and resolve
problems. It scores 13 criteria to evaluate problem-solving skills, which are thought to
be an indicator of mental health. The scoring system uses only six of the 31 TAT
cards (1, 2, 4, 7BM, 10, and 13MF) and assesses four key areas related to problem-
solving ability:
• Story Design: Evaluates the participant's ability to identify and formulate a
problem.
• Story Orientation: Assesses the participant’s sense of personal control,
emotional distress, motivation, and confidence.
• Story Solutions: Measures impulsivity and the quality of the problem solutions
offered. It also sums the number of solutions provided.
• Story Resolution: Examines the ability to formulate problem solutions that
address both short- and long-term goals.
Each criterion is scored on a five-point scale ranging from -1 to 3. The PPSS-R is particularly
useful because it allows clinicians and researchers to assess problem-solving abilities and social
functioning across diverse populations, including college students, community residents, jail
inmates, and mental health clients, without being influenced by social desirability biases.
Overall, while the TAT's projective nature is rooted in psychoanalytic theory, these scoring
systems—especially PPSS-R—allow for its application in cognitive-behavioural frameworks
as well. Examiners are encouraged to view the information gathered from TAT stories as
hypotheses for further exploration, rather than concrete facts.

Applications:
Rorschach Inkblot Test
Personality Assessment: The Rorschach Inkblot Test is a projective measure of personality
that offers insights into an individual’s thought processes, emotional functioning, and coping
mechanisms. The test helps clinicians understand how a person perceives their environment
and themselves. Through the ambiguous inkblots, individuals reveal unconscious aspects of
their personality, including cognitive distortions or emotional defenses. This test is useful in
providing a comprehensive picture of someone's psychological makeup, including how they
respond to stress, ambiguity, and conflict.
Diagnosis: The Rorschach is frequently used as a diagnostic tool in clinical settings to identify
mental health disorders. It is particularly effective in diagnosing complex conditions such as:
 • Schizophrenia: Responses that reflect disorganized thinking, unusual perceptions, or
disturbances in reality may indicate schizophrenia.
• Personality Disorders: For example, individuals with borderline personality disorder
may give responses that indicate emotional instability or difficulties with identity.
• Depression: A patient with depression may give responses that reflect a negative self-
image, feelings of worthlessness, or emotional blunting.
• Anxiety Disorders: Responses might reflect hypervigilance or preoccupation with
danger. The test can help to differentiate between similar disorders, providing
additional data to complement other clinical assessments.
Research: Researchers have used the Rorschach Inkblot Test to explore cognitive functioning,
particularly how individuals perceive and organize visual information. It is also employed in
cross-cultural studies to assess the universality of certain psychological processes. For
example, some studies explore how people from different cultures interpret the same inkblot
stimuli, providing insight into cultural influences on perception and personality. Moreover, it
has been used to investigate specific populations, such as individuals with brain injuries, to
assess changes in cognitive functioning or personality as a result of trauma. Researchers can
also use the test to measure changes in mental state over time, especially in treatment or
rehabilitation programs.

Thematic Apperception Test (TAT)

Personality Assessment: The TAT provides valuable insight into a person's underlying
motivations, drives, and emotional conflicts. It helps clinicians explore the narrative themes
that emerge when individuals are asked to interpret social situations in ambiguous images. This
test is particularly effective in revealing:

• Internal Conflicts: The stories generated by participants often reflect personal fears,
desires, or unresolved conflicts.
• Interpersonal Dynamics: The relationships between characters in the stories provide
clues to how the individual views their relationships with others. For instance, a story
of isolation or abandonment may suggest issues with attachment or trust.
• Emotional Functioning: The tone of the stories, whether optimistic, pessimistic, or
ambivalent, can give insight into a person’s emotional state. For example, recurrent
themes of loss or failure may indicate depression or anxiety.
Clinical Psychology: In therapeutic settings, the TAT can be an invaluable tool. It allows
patients to express unconscious material in a non-threatening manner. Through storytelling,
individuals may indirectly reveal issues they are not consciously aware of or are hesitant to
discuss. This makes the TAT particularly useful in:
• Psychotherapy: Therapists use the TAT to uncover deeper psychological issues, such
as unresolved childhood trauma, repressed emotions, or unconscious fears.
 • Exploring Relationships: The stories can help therapists explore how clients perceive
family dynamics, friendships, or romantic relationships. For instance, clients who
repeatedly tell stories of conflict or betrayal may be working through trust issues in
their real-life relationships.
• Conflict Resolution: By examining how conflicts in the stories are resolved, therapists
can assess the patient’s problem-solving strategies and coping mechanisms.
Career Counselling: The TAT can be applied to career counselling by helping to identify
underlying drives, ambitions, and motivations that may be relevant to vocational choices. For
instance:
• Leadership Skills: An individual whose stories consistently feature strong, directive
characters may be well-suited for roles that require leadership.

• Achievement Motivation: The presence of themes related to success, accomplishment,

or overcoming obstacles may indicate a high drive for achievement, making the
individual a good candidate for high-performance environments.
• Interpersonal Skills: The way individuals depict relationships and teamwork in their
stories can provide valuable information about their social dynamics and suitability for
various types of work environments. By revealing unconscious desires and fears, the
TAT can assist career counsellors in aligning clients’ personality traits with suitable
professions or career paths.

Comparison and Contrast

Aspect Rorschach Inkblot Test Thematic Apperception Test

(TAT)

Stimuli Ambiguous inkblots Ambiguous images depicting

people and situations

Administration 10 inkblots shown in a specific Series of images with no set

sequence number, typically 20 cards

Focus Focuses on perception and Focuses on narrative storytelling

cognitive processes and emotional conflicts

Scoring Exner Comprehensive System Scoring is subjective, no

or other structured systems universally accepted system

Projective Aspect Focuses on unconscious Focuses on unconscious drives and

projections via abstract shapes conflicts through stories

Applications Diagnosis of mental illness, Exploration of motives, needs, and

personality analysis relationship dynamics
 Usage Context More commonly used in Applied in both clinical and non-
clinical settings clinical contexts like counselling

Test Time Can be time-consuming due to Typically faster to administer,

complex interpretation depending on the number of cards
used

Reliability & Often debated regarding Criticized for lack of standardized

Validity reliability and interpretation scoring but valued for deep insights

Conclusion

while both tests are projective, the Rorschach focuses more on perceptual and cognitive
aspects, whereas the TAT is more about narrative expression of inner conflicts and desires. The
Rorschach is typically used in clinical settings for diagnosis, whereas the TAT is applied more
broadly, including in counselling and career guidance.