Can Neuroscience Provide a New Foundation for the Rorschach Variables?

Recent progress in neuroscience has made it possible to use neurophysiological techniques to validate and deepen the interpretation of Rorschach variables. The aim of this article is to review the results from Rorschach studies using the neurophysiological approach to discuss the consistencies and inconsistencies between the different results, and then to consider the future direction of Rorschach research in this area. We also provide unpublished data to complement the picture from peer-reviewed studies. Two main approaches to neuropsychological studies on the Rorschach exist. One approach is to measure brain activities directly during the Rorschach administration; a series of studies using multiple neurophysiological methods revealed activation of the mirror neuron system with relation to human movement responses. Another possible approach is to investigate whether individual differences in Rorschach scores can be explained by neurophysiological measurements during the administration of another psychological task. This article reviews how these two approaches provide novel insights into the Rorschach Test.

A Systematic Narrative Review of Evaluating Change in Psychotherapy With the Rorschach Test

In 2004, Grønnerød conducted a meta-analysis on the use of the Rorschach Test to detect change in psychotherapy. Results showed which Rorschach variables were associated with change in clients, and to what extent. The purpose of this study was to update the picture from the year of publication of the previous meta-analysis until 2019. A systematic review of the literature was carried out, including 17 studies of relevance to this research. Results showed that the Rorschach Test captures the changes in patients after psychotherapy, particularly when treatment is tailored to the unique needs of clients. We describe the limitations of the studies included in this systematic review and propose strategies to increase the effectiveness of using the Rorschach to evaluate treatment outcome.

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.

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.

Color Projection in the Rorschach Test

The purpose of this study was to examine the basic features of Color Projection (CP). This study examined how CP appeared in relation to card, position, location, development quality, form quality, determinants, contents, special scores, and projected colors. Japanese adult psychiatric patients participated in the study. A total of 68 CP responses in 37 protocols were collected from over 1,500 Rorschach protocols. The results indicated that almost 60% of CP were in response to Card I or VI, which suggests that CP may be an initial shock reaction to achromatic colors and shading. Moreover, almost all CP were shown with the card in the original position, and more than half of CP were shown with W and DQo. This suggests that coping strategies when using CP may consist of changing recognitions rather than changing behaviors. On the other hand, these results also show that almost 30% of CP responses were scored MOR, and some CP responses were changed to colors that are generally considered to be less beautiful or undesirable in Japan. Therefore, in conclusion, it is possible that the current interpretive hypothesis of denial of unpleasant feelings may not be characteristic of all CP responses.

«Հայրենիքի պաշտպանի» և «մարդասպանի» անհատական հոգեբանական առանձնահատկությունները զինծառայողի ընկալման մեջ

The purpose of this article is to differentiate servicemen according to the character accentuation and to study the impact of war on their mental features. The objectives stemming from the purpose of the article is to study the age groups of the servicemen who took part in the hostilities, to identify the risk groups, to analyze the psychological tendencies of the «murderer» and the serviceman. The investigation uses a number of research methods: observation, qualitative and quantitative analysis of data and presentation, Rorschach test. In the course of the research, the following conclusions were made: war participants do not always pursue the same goal, war can be a means to satisfy their killing instinct or it can bring out a previous trauma and cause a killing pleasure. It is not necessary for the servicemen to have obvious mental problems to be considered murderers and not take part in hostilities. During the hostilities, people with different personality types are involved, which can leadto different traumas that can arise in different military situations.

Teaching the Rorschach Comprehensive System

The administration process of the Rorschach test is of utmost importance as it influences both the coding and the interpretative procedures. Performing it appropriately requires complex skills, knowledge, and solid training. The aim of the study is to describe students’ interests in and difficulties with administering the Rorschach (Comprehensive System) for the first time. A two-phase methodology, including an analysis of questionnaire responses followed by a study of students’ written narratives, using Iramuteq textual analysis software, was implemented with two different samples of third-year undergraduates (including 63 and 253 participants, respectively), recruited from a French psychology school. Our results show that students have a strong interest in understanding the test and wish to use it in their future practice. When administering the Rorschach for the first time, students find it difficult to cope with the complexity of the procedures at a technical, emotional, and relational level.

Assessment of the Therapeutic Evolution of Psychiatric Patients through Rorschach Psychodiagnosis

The present work aims to constitute an important contribution to the scientific proof of the effectiveness of psychiatric and psychotherapeutic interventions, through the Rorschach test. A clinical sample of 10 psychiatric patients, admitted and followed at the Day Hospital of a psychiatric hospital in the North of Portugal, where the psychoanalytic orientation intervention model is followed. The data were collected in two moments: upon admission, a sociodemographic and clinical questionnaire and Rorschach's projective proof were applied; after three months of treatment, Rorschach was re-applied, followed by a survey of exclusion criteria and patient evaluation on the therapeutic program.The comparative analysis of the data showed a slight therapeutic evolution and personality functioning.

A Rorschach-próba hazai útja

Célkitűzés: A tanulmány a Rorschach projektív személyiségvizsgálat meghonosodásának, elterjedésének és a – főként klinikai területeken való – alkalmazásának útját kívánja nyomon követni. Mindmáig nincs rendezett és hiteles történeti feldolgozása a tesztnek a hazai alkalmazott lélektani fejlődés kereteibe helyezve. Ezt pótolja jelen munkánk.Módszer: Történeti és alkalmazásfejlődési adatgyűjtés forrásmunkákból merítve, valamint időrendben követett publikációs aktivitás tükrében öt időrendi-folyamati fejlődési szakasz különíthető el. Legmarkánsabb fejlődési ugrás a Közös Rorschach-próba bevezetése és képzése volt, valamint a nemzetközi szintű Rorschachmegújulásban hazánkban is bevezetés alatt álló R-PAS, a teljesítményelvű Rorschach-teszt.Eredmények: A tanulmány követhetővé teszi a hazai betelepítésben és meghonosításban a Szondi-iskola munkatársainak szerepét. A klinikai pszichológiai gyakorlatban Mérei Ferenc és Szakács Ferenc jelentőségét, a Közös Rorschach hazai kultúrában pedig Bagdy Emőke tevékenységének szerepét.Konklúzió: A teszt megújulva tovább él, módszertani eljárásaiban követve a változó pszichológiai szemléletnek a gyakorlati munkában érvényesülő kihatásait. A tesztkövetelmények (validitás, megbízhatóság standardok megújítása stb.) azonban időt átívelő módon állandóak.Objective: This study aims to trace the establishment, spread and application of the Rorschach projective personality examination, mainly in clinical fields. To date, there has been no systematic and scientific examination of the history of the test within the framework of the development of Hungarian applied psychology, which the present study aims to redress.Method: This study is based on an analysis of historical sources and data on the development of the application of the Rorschach test, as well as a chronological examination of relevant publications. The development process can be divided into five stages. The most significant developmental leaps were the introduction of and training for the Joint Rorschach test and the introduction of the R-PAS, an empirically based scoring system for the Rorschach test, in the framework of the international Rorschach renewal.Results: The study highlights the importance of the Szondi School in the introduction and establishment of the Rorschach test in Hungary, and the role of Ferenc Mérei and Ferenc Szakács in Hungarian clinical psychological practice, as well as that of Emőke Bagdy in the Hungarian application of the Joint Rorschach.Conclusion: The study shows that the test has been given a new lease of life, in line with the latest methodology and the effects of changing approaches to psychological practice. At the same time, the testing requirements (validity, reliability, renewal of standards, etc.) are constant across time.