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What is the Rorschach Inkbot Test?

The Rorschach Test, also known as the inkblot test, is a projective test created in 1921 by the Swiss psychoanalyst Hermann Rorschach. It is used to infer unconscious content of the psyche and personality traits. The test consists of 10 cards with inkblots (5 in black and gray, 2 in red and gray, and 3 in color). These cards are shown to the person being tested, who then describes what they see in them. The responses are analyzed based on:

The reaction time to each card is also measured. Statements are classified according to a key, which is used to create what is known as a psychogram.

Genesis of the Rorschach Test

Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach invented it in the early 20th century. The test is not about guessing the content of the blot, but about our way of thinking. As an amateur artist, Hermann was curious about how people differ in their visual perception of the world. He developed his interest in medical school, where he learned that our senses are deeply interconnected. He studied how perception not only registers sensations but also processes them. After taking a job at a hospital in eastern Switzerland, he began designing a series of puzzling images to better observe the whole process.

Using inkblots, Rorschach asked people the same question: what might this be? For Rorschach, it wasn't important what the patients actually saw, but the way they approached the task. Which elements of the images did they ignore, and which did they focus on? Did they think the images were moving? Did the colors of some blots help them in answering, or did they distract and overwhelm?

Rorschach developed a system for coding responses, narrowing a wide range of answers to a few. He had an empirical tool for studying patients: those who were creative and imaginative, focused on details or on the overall picture, and also those who could adapt their responses. Some were lost and kept giving the same answer. Others gave unusual and wonderful descriptions. The descriptions were as varied as the blots themselves, creating many perceptual challenges, some easier to interpret than others. However, analyzing the general approach of the test-taker provided genuine insight into their psychology. As Rorschach studied more people, patterns could be grouped. Patients with similar personalities usually approached the test similarly, making it a reliable diagnostic tool. It could diagnose ailments difficult to identify by other available methods.

Today, the test still stirs controversy. Many believe it has been debunked. However, when Rorschach's research documentation was reviewed in 2013, it turned out that if used correctly, the results are justified. It can help create a psychological profile of a patient. Although it is not the key to the human mind, no test is. Yet, the visual approach and the absence of right or wrong answers help psychologists paint a picture of human world perception. This brings us a step closer to understanding the patterns behind perception.

Interpretation of inkblots

Card Most common responses
Blot Card I butterfly, bat, moth
Blot Card II two humans, dog, elephant, bear, four-legged animal
Blot Card III two humans, human, human figures
Blot Card IV animal hide, skin, rug
Blot Card V bat, butterfly, moth
Blot Card VI animal hide, skin, rug
Blot Card VII head, faces
Blot Card VIII animal (not cat or dog), four-legged animal
Blot Card IX human
Blot Card X spider, lobster, crab, rabbit head, caterpillars, snakes, worms

Blot Card I

When seeing card I, participants often ask how they should proceed, and questions about what they are allowed to do with the card (e.g., turning it) are not of much significance. It provides clues about how the participant solves new and stressful tasks. However, this card is not difficult, due to the readily available answers.

Blot Card II

The red details of card II are usually perceived as blood and are its most distinctive features. Reactions to them can provide clues about how the participant deals with feelings of anger or physical injury.

Blot Card III

Card III is typically seen as containing two people engaged in some interaction. It provides information on how the participant relates to other people. A delay in response may indicate difficulties in social interactions.

Blot Card IV

Card IV is characterized by its dark color and shading and is usually perceived as a large and sometimes threatening figure that looms over the observer (looking up), aiming to evoke a sense of authority. The human or animal seen on the card is almost always classified as male, not female. Traits expressed by the participant may indicate attitudes towards people and authorities. For this reason, card IV is often called the father card.

Blot Card V

Card V is a low-difficulty card that is usually not perceived as threatening. It allows for a breather after the previous cards, which posed greater challenges. It contains elements that can be challenging, but it is still the simplest blot to develop.

Blot Card VI

The dominant feature of card VI is texture, which often triggers associations related to interpersonal closeness. Responses filled with sexual content appear much more frequently with this card, despite the fact that other cards have a greater variety of content commonly perceived as sexual.

Blot Card VII

Card VII may be associated with femininity (often the human figures seen on it are described as women or children). It functions as the mother card. Difficulties in responding may be related to fears concerning female figures in the participant's life.

Blot Card VIII

People often express relief at card VIII, which allows them to breathe and respond effectively. Similar to card V, it gives a chance to catch one's breath, however, the card introduces new difficulties to develop, as it is complex and is the first multicolored card in the set. Therefore, people for whom processing complex situations or emotional stimuli is unpleasant or difficult may feel uncomfortable with this card.

Blot Card IX

The characteristic of card IX is its vague form and dispersed, muted, chromatic colors, creating an overall ambiguity. Difficulty in processing this card may indicate problems with dealing with unstructured data.

Blot Card X

Card X is structurally similar to card VIII, but the accompanying uncertainty and complexity remind one of card IX. This card may not be liked by people who have difficulty dealing with multiple competing stimuli at the same time. As the last card, it can be an opportunity for the participant to stop thinking about the diagnostic situation and the desire to learn more about themselves, thereby allowing the participant to let their imagination run wild.

Bibliography

  1. Rorschach, H. (2011). Psychodiagnostics - A Diagnostic Test Based on Perception. United Kingdom: Read Books Limited.
  2. Piotrowski, Z. A. (2013). Perceptanalysis: The Rorschach Method Fundamentally Reworked, Expanded and Systematized. United States: Taylor & Francis.
  3. Handbook of Cross-Cultural and Multicultural Personality Assessment. (2000). (n.p.): Taylor & Francis.
  4. Weiner, I. B., Greene, R. L. (2017). Handbook of Personality Assessment. United Kingdom: Wiley.
  5. Weiner, I. B. (2003). Principles of Rorschach Interpretation. United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.