Hermann Rorschach’s Psychodiagnostics

Completely new translation of Rorschach’s Psychodiagnostics Newly translated and annotated by experts from the field New introductory chapters Illustrated with photos and drawings from the archives More about the book This new English translation and 100th anniversary annotated edition of Psychodiagnostics, the only book published by Hermann Rorschach, showcases Rorschach’s empiricism and the wide-ranging flexibility of his thinking – and thus helps us to understand why his iconic inkblot test has survived for a century and is still being used around the world, with the support of a strong evidence base. The expert translation team have collaborated closely to create an accessible rendition of Hermann Rorschach’s presentation of the inkblot test that resulted from his empirical research experiments. Also included in this edition is the case study lecture on new developments in the test that Rorschach gave to the Swiss Psychoanalytic Society in 1922, just six weeks before his premature death. His book and the lecture are each accompanied by annotations for the first time, looking backward to the sources of Rorschach’s terminology and also forward to how the test is used today. Drawings and photographs from the Rorschach Archive as well as introductory chapters on the history of the translation and the creation of Psychodiagnostics bring the story of this important figure and his work to life. This volume is essential reading for both historians and contemporary users of the inkblot test and anyone interested in exploring personality testing.

White space interpretation in Hermann Rorschach’s inkblot test

Introduction: The interpretation of white space in the Rorschach test has not been clearly defined. The aim of my research was to analyze the psychological meanings that can be associated with using space in Rorschach test responses. I examined a sample of healthy individuals in order to establish the basic meanings that could serve as points of reference when interpreting ill people’s responses. Material and method: I personally examined 158 healthy subjects with the Rorschach test. The examination procedure and the way of coding and interpreting responses were based on John Exner’s Comprehensive System. I divided the sample into three groups: I (no S responses), II (one or two S responses), and III (three or more S responses). Next, I distinguished subgroup V (four or more S responses). I analyzed the differences between the groups in terms of other variables obtained in the examination using the Rorschach test. These variables were associated with using the complexity of the presented stimuli and with organizing the stimulus field; they were also associated with the emotional sphere, social adjustment, and ways of coping with stress. Results: Group III differed from groups II and I in terms of nine variables, and differences regarding further four variables approached significance. Differences between group V and the remaining examinees were more marked and concerned 14 variables. Discussion: Examinees with more S responses were better at using the complexity of stimuli and organizing the stimulus field. A certain characteristic feature of their emotional sphere also manifested itself: these people experienced situational stress more strongly, colored their responses with aggression, and more frequently experienced loneliness and alienation; intellectualization turned out to be their typical defense mechanism. Conclusions: Based on the collected material, it can be concluded that responses are related to examinees’ creative potential. Collected from healthy individuals, the material may facilitate the interpretation of ill people’s responses, especially as such research has not been conducted in a Polish population before.

White space interpretation in Hermann Rorschach’s inkblot test: An analysis of two male examinees’ responses

Introduction: There are numerous points of controversy over the psychological interpretation of the so-called S responses – namely, the interpretation of white space in the Rorschach test. The aim of my paper was to verify the position held by Charles P. Fonda, who claims that the meaning of S responses depends on the results of the test as a whole. Materials and methods: I have presented the responses of two young men and coded them according to the Comprehensive System developed by John E. Exner. I chose this way of processing data as the most precise, relatively well formalized, and detailed one. The two examinees gave an almost identical number of responses in the whole test and a similar number of S responses, similarly distributed across the cards of the test. Results: I assessed and compared the results of the two examinees in terms of the effectiveness of their cognitive processes, self-control ability, mental resources, social adjustment, and self-esteem. Finally, I looked closely at the contents of a few responses, as in my opinion they symbolically expressed the examinees’ basic problems. Discussion: I tried to avoid describing the examinees’ psyche in nosological terms and to focus on presenting the way in which they experienced the world, as well as on how this experience affected their behavior. Conclusions: I found that in Examinee 1 criticism towards other people may stem from an excessively idealistic attitude to the world and from the ensuing disappointments. Good cognitive functioning, resistance to stress, positive self-esteem, and the socialized emotional sphere make this man’s S responses a sign of creative engagement in the problems encountered rather than a sign of maladjustment. In the case of Examinee 2, S responses can be understood as defiance and a generalized attitude of negativism, which play the role of defense against the excessively complicated, not fully comprehensible, and inhospitable world; these responses may, in their turn, contribute to the intensification of problems and to an increase in maladjustment.

The Development of the Rorschach Test in China

This article summarizes the development and research status of the Rorschach Test in China as comprehensively as possible. The development of the Rorschach Test in China can be divided into two stages: the initial stage and the developing stage. At the initial stage the research mainly includes: introduction and localization of the Rorschach Test, studies on schizophrenia, and the measurement of intelligence and personality. In the developing stage the research mainly includes: spreading and localization of the Rorschach Test, the variables, indices, and derivative scales, clinical psychology, talent assessment, combination with eye movement techniques, the Group Rorschach Inkblot Test, and reviews. Based on the domestic development and research status of the Rorschach Test, the article also summarizes the achievements and issues present in existing studies and puts forward the prospect of researching the Rorschach Test in China.

Ψυχολογικά και σωματικά συμπτώματα, συμβολική λειτουργία και ρύθμιση του συναισθήματος σε ασθενείς με σκλήρυνση κατά πλάκας

Η σκλήρυνση κατά πλάκας (ΣΚΠ) είναι η συχνότερη αιτία μη τραυματικής νευρολογικής αναπηρίας με επιπτώσεις στο σύνολο της ζωής των πασχόντων. Ο ψυχολογικός παράγων, με προεξάρχοντα το συναίσθημα, το στρες και την ψυχοπαθολογία, θεωρείται ιδιαίτερα σημαντικός στην πρόγνωση και την ποιότητα ζωής των πασχόντων. Η ΣΚΠ και άλλες χρόνιες σωματικές παθήσεις έχουν αποτελέσει αντικείμενο ενδιαφέροντοςτης ψυχανάλυσης καίτοι με μικρή εμπειρική τεκμηρίωση. Σκοπός της έρευνας ήταν να διερευνήσει από ψυχαναλυτική σκοπιά την επίδραση της συμβολικής λειτουργίας και της αλεξιθυμίας στην κλινική εικόνα και την πορεία των ασθενών με ΣΚΠ. Δεκαέξι πάσχουσες/ντες απο ΣΚΠ εξετάστηκαν με τα Rorschach Inkblot Test, Toronto Alexithymia Scale, Hospital Anxiety-Depression Scale και Expanded Disability Status Scale. Στη συνέχεια κράτησαν ημερολόγιο απαντώντας το δις εβδομαδιαίως για 3 μήνες. Το ημερολόγιο αποτελείτο από τις Multiple Sclerosis Impact Diary, Perceived Stress Scale και Positive Affect-Negative Affect Scale. Είναι η πρώτη φορά που η μεθοδολογία παρούσας έρευνας χρησιμοποιήθηκε για τη μελέτη της ΣΚΠ και συγκεκριμένα για τις υπό μελέτη μεταβλητές. Οι αναλύσεις έγιναν με Πολυεπίπεδη Ιεραρχική Γραμμική Μοντελοποίηση. (1) Η αλεξιθυμία και η ψυχοπαθολογία προέβλεψαν τα συμπώματα κινητικότητας και κόπωσης της ΣΚΠ, της επίπτωσής τους στη ζωή των ασθενών και την ποιότητας ζωής τους. Υψηλότερα επίπεδα αλεξιθυμίας και πιο σοβαρή ψυχοπαθολογία συνδέθηκαν με περισσότερα συμπτώματα κινητικότητας και κόπωσης, μεγαλύτερη επίπτωση των συμπτωμάτων αυτών στη ζωή των ασθενών και χειρότερη ποιότητα ζωής. (2) Η φαντασιακή δραστηριότητα προέβλεψε τα συμπτώματα των ασθενών όπου ελλιπης ή υπερβολική φαντασιακή δραστηριότητα προέβλεψε περισσότερα συμπτώματα κινητικότητας και κόπωσης. (3) Το αρνητικό συναίσθημα και το αντιλαμβανόμενο στρες συσχετίστηκαν με τα συμπτώματα κόπωσης και κινητικότητας της ΣΚΠ, την επίπτωση της κόπωσης στη ζωή των ασθενών και την ποιότητα ζωής με κυκλικής φύσης συσχέτιση. Η επίπτωση των συμπτωμάτων κινητικότητας προέκυψε να ακολουθεί χρονικά αλλαγές του θετικού συναισθήματος, το οποίο προβλέφθηκε από τα ίδια τα συμπτώματα κινητικότητας. (4) Τα προβλήματα στη συμβολική λειτουργία και η αλεξιθυμία προέκυψαν να επαυξάνουν την επίδραση του αρνητικού συναισθήματος και του στρες στη δραστηριότητα της πάθησης αλλά πλευρές της χρηστικής ή και νορμοπαθούς σκέψης και καταστολής της φαντασίωσης να μειώνουν την επίπτωσή της στη ζωή των ασθενών. Συνοψίζοντας τα ιδιαίτερα πρωτότυπα ευρήματα, επιβεβαιώνεται ότι η δυσλειτουργική συμβολική λειτουργία, το αντιλαμβανόμενο στρες και το αρνητικό συναίσθημα επιβαρύνουν τους ασθενείς ψυχολογικά αλλά και σωματικά, ενώ το θετικό συναίσθημα δρα προστατευτικά ως προς την ψυχολογική και σωματική ευρρωστία των ασθενών. Μολαταύτα, οι πλευρές της συμβολικής λειτουργίας που αφορούν στην καταστολή ή την αποφυγή της συναισθηματικής και φαντασιακής ζωής προέκυψαν να προστατεύουν την καθημερινότητα των ασθενών μειώνοντας τη συνειδητή επίπτωση του αρνητικού συνασθήματος και του στρες. Ταυτόχρονα μειώνουν όμως και την ευεγερτική επίδραση του θετικού συναισθήματος. Η αποτυχία της συμβολοποίησης φαίνεται ότι επιβαρύνει άμεσα τους ασθενείς ως προς τη δραστηριότητα της πάθησης. Εντούτοις, πιθανώς λειτουργεί ως άμυνα έναντι του στρες και του συναισθήματος, τα οποία καίτοι έχουν ιδιαίτερα σημαντική επίδραση στην ΣΚΠ θα πρέπει να διερευνώνται λαμβάνοντας υπόψιν την αλληλλεπίδρασή τους με άλλους παράγοντες.

Features and results of the diagnosis of disorders of social and emotional intelligence of patients with schizophrenia at an early stage of the disease

Aim. The aim of the paper was to study the specifics of diagnosing disorders of social and emotional intelligence of patients with schizophrenia at an early stage of the disease (mainly by projective methods) and to determine, thanks to the diagnosis, the targets of psychocorrectional effects. Methods. 64 people were studied (40 men and 24 women, average age 28 years). The experimental group included patients with a verified diagnosis of schizophrenia (F20) at an early stage of the disease (33 people, 21 men and 12 women) aged 16 to 37 years (average age 29 years), the control group of a similar age and gender structure mentally healthy persons (31 people, 19 men and 12 women, average age 28 years). As research methods the following tests were used: (1) Methodology G. Rorschachs Ink Spot Test (The Rorschach Inkblot Test, 1921); (2) Test Understanding the mental state of the eyes Reading the mind in the Eyes (Baron-Cohen et al., 2001) a modified version of E.E. Rumyantseva (2016); (3) Test Social Intelligence by J. Guildford, M. Sulliven (adaptation by E.S. Mikhailova, 1996); (4) Methodology Emotional Intelligence by J. Mayer, P. Salovei and D. Caruso (MSCEIT V2.0, 2014); (5) Test of emotional intelligence of Lucin (EmIn); (6) Hall emotional intelligence test. Data Processing Methods: John Exner Integrative System (Exner, 1997, 2003). Results. It was found that patients with schizophrenia, even at an early stage of the course of the disease, are worse at solving problems to assess the success of social functioning. Conclusions. The most significant and reliable differences (reliable by the U-criterion, at p 0.001) are found when schizophrenic patients perform tasks related to the characteristics of perception and analysis not so much of the social stimuli themselves, as by their nuancing. The structure of violations of social functioning is also dominated by difficulties in predicting both their further actions and the interlocutor. Determined by the decrease in general social incompetence is the practically reduced possibility of using emotions and their manifestations in solving social problems.