Rorschach test methodology and research procedure. Rorschach spots - a projective technique for psychological and psychiatric examination
Hermann Rorschach (1884-1922). Human personality and inkblots
Hermann Rorschach was born on November 8, 1884 in Zurich (Switzerland). He was the eldest son of an unsuccessful artist, forced to earn a living by giving art lessons at school. Since childhood, Herman was fascinated by color spots (in all likelihood, the result of the creative efforts of his father and the boy’s own love of painting), and his school friends nicknamed him Blob. When Herman was twelve, his mother died, and when the young man turned eighteen, his father also died. After graduating with honors from high school, Rorschach decided to study medicine. In 1912, he received his medical degree from the University of Zurich, after which he worked in a number of psychiatric hospitals. In 1911, while still studying at the university, Rorschach conducted a series of interesting experiments to test whether schoolchildren gifted with artistic talents had a more developed imagination when interpreting ordinary inkblots. This research had a huge impact not only on the future career of the scientist, but also on the development of psychology as a science in general. It must be said that Rorschach was not the first to use color spots in his research, but in his experiment they were used for the first time within the framework of an analytical approach. The results of the scientist's first experiment were lost over time, but over the next ten years Rorschach conducted large-scale research and developed a systematic technique that allows psychologists to determine people's personality types using ordinary inkblots.
Thanks to his work in a psychiatric clinic, the researcher had free access to its patients. Thus, Rorschach studied both mentally ill people and emotionally healthy people, which allowed him to develop a systematic test using inkblots, which can be used to analyze a person’s personality characteristics, determine his personality type and, if necessary, correct it.
In 1921, Rorschach presented the results of his large-scale work to the world by publishing a book called Psychodiagnostics. In it, the author outlined his theory about the personal characteristics of people. One of the main points is that each person's personality consists of the qualities of introversion and extroversion—in other words, that we are motivated by both external and internal factors. According to the scientist, the inkblot test allows one to assess the relative ratio of these properties and identify any mental deviation or, on the contrary, personality strengths. The psychological scientific community paid virtually no attention to the first edition of Rorschach's book, since at that time the prevailing belief was that it was impossible to measure or test what a person's personality consisted of. However, over time, colleagues began to understand the usefulness of the Rorschach test, and in 1922, the psychiatrist discussed the possibilities of improving his technique at a meeting of the Psychoanalytic Society. Unfortunately, on April 1, 1922, after suffering from severe abdominal pain for a week, Hermann Rorschach was admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis, and on April 2 he died of peritonitis. He was only thirty-seven years old and never saw the enormous success of the psychological tool he invented.
Rorschach ink blots
The Rorschach test uses ten ink blots: five black and white, two black and red, and three color. The psychologist shows the cards in strict order, asking the patient the same question: “What does this look like?” After the patient has seen all the pictures and given the answers, the psychologist shows the cards again, again in strict order. The patient is asked to name everything that he sees in them, where exactly in the picture he sees this or that image, and what in it forces him to give exactly that answer. Cards can be turned over, tilted, manipulated in any other way. The psychologist must accurately record everything the patient says and does during the test, as well as the timing of each response. Next, the answers are analyzed and points are calculated. Then, through mathematical calculations, a result is derived from the test data, which is interpreted by a specialist. If an inkblot does not evoke any associations in a person or he cannot describe what he sees on it, this may mean that the object depicted on the card is blocked in his consciousness, or that the image on it is associated in his subconscious with a topic that he would not like to discuss at the moment.
Card 1
On the first card we see a stain of black ink. It is shown first, and the answer to it allows the psychologist to suggest how this person performs tasks that are new to him - therefore, associated with a certain stress. People usually say that the image reminds them of a bat, a moth, a butterfly, or the face of some animal, such as an elephant or a rabbit. The answer reflects the respondent's personality type as a whole.
For some people, the image of a bat is associated with something unpleasant and even demonic; for others it is a symbol of rebirth and the ability to navigate in the dark. Butterflies can symbolize transition and transformation, as well as the ability to grow, change, and overcome difficulties. The moth symbolizes feelings of abandonment and ugliness, as well as weakness and anxiety. The face of an animal, particularly an elephant, often symbolizes the ways in which we confront difficulties and the fear of internal problems. It can also mean “a bull in a china shop,” that is, it conveys a feeling of discomfort and indicates a certain problem that a person is currently trying to get rid of.
Card 2
This card features a red and black stain, and people often see it as something sexy. Parts of the red color are usually interpreted as blood, and the reaction to it reflects how a person manages his feelings and anger and how he deals with physical harm. Respondents most often say that the spot reminds them of an act of supplication, two people, a person looking into a mirror, or a long-legged animal such as a dog, bear or elephant.
If a person sees two people in the spot, it can symbolize codependency, an obsession with sex, ambivalence about sexual intercourse, or a focus on connection and close relationships with others. If the spot resembles a person reflected in a mirror, this may symbolize self-centeredness or, on the contrary, a tendency to self-criticism. Each of the two options expresses either a negative or positive personality characteristic, depending on how the image evokes in the person. If the respondent sees a dog in the spot, this may mean that he is a loyal and loving friend. If he perceives the stain as something negative, then he needs to face his fears and acknowledge his inner feelings. If the spot reminds a person of an elephant, this may symbolize a tendency to think, developed intelligence and good memory; however, sometimes such a vision indicates a negative perception of one’s own body. The bear imprinted in the spot symbolizes aggression, competition, independence, and disobedience. In the case of English-speaking patients, a play on words can play a role: bear (bear) and bare (naked), which means a feeling of insecurity, vulnerability, as well as the sincerity and honesty of the respondent. The spot on this card is reminiscent of something sexual, and if the respondent sees it as a person praying, this may indicate an attitude towards sex in the context of religion. If the respondent sees blood in the stain, it means that he associates physical pain with religion or, when experiencing complex emotions like anger, resorts to prayer, or associates anger with religion.
Card 3
The third card shows a blot of red and black ink, and its perception symbolizes the patient's relationship to other people in social interaction. Most often, respondents see on it the image of two people, a person looking in the mirror, a butterfly or a moth.
If a person sees two people having lunch in a spot, this means that he leads an active social life. A spot that resembles two people washing their hands speaks of insecurity, a feeling of one’s own uncleanliness, or paranoid fear. If a respondent sees two people playing a game in a spot, this often indicates that he is taking the position of an opponent in social interactions. If the spot resembles a person looking at his reflection in the mirror, this may indicate self-centeredness, inattention to others and an inability to understand people.
Card 4
Experts call the fourth card “father’s.” The spot on it is black, and some parts of it are fuzzy and blurry. Many people see something large and frightening in this picture - an image that is usually perceived not as feminine, but as masculine. The reaction to this spot allows us to reveal a person’s attitude towards authorities and the characteristics of his upbringing. Most often, the spot reminds respondents of a huge animal or monster, or a hole of some animal or its skin.
If the patient sees a large animal or monster in the spot, this may symbolize feelings of inferiority and admiration for authority, as well as an exaggerated fear of people in authority, including one's own father. If the stain resembles the skin of an animal to the respondent, this often symbolizes severe internal discomfort when discussing topics related to the father. However, this may also indicate that the problem of one’s own inferiority or admiration for authority is not relevant for this respondent.
Card 5
On this card we again see a black spot. The association caused by it, like the image on the first card, reflects our true “I”. Looking at this image, people usually do not feel threatened, and since the previous cards evoked completely different emotions in them, this time the person does not experience any particular tension or discomfort - therefore, a deeply personal reaction will be characteristic. If the image he sees is very different from the answer given when he saw the first card, this means that cards two through four most likely made a big impression on him. Most often, this image reminds people of a bat, butterfly or moth.
Card 6
The picture on this card is also one-color, black; it is distinguished by the texture of the stain. This image evokes interpersonal intimacy, which is why it is called the “sex card.” Most often, people say that the spot reminds them of a hole or the skin of an animal, which may indicate a reluctance to enter into close relationships with other people and, as a result, a feeling of inner emptiness and isolation from society.
Card 7
The spot on this card is also black and is usually associated with the feminine. Since people most often see images of women and children in this spot, it is called “maternal.” If a person has difficulty describing what is shown on the card, this may indicate that he has difficult relationships with women in his life. Respondents often say that the spot reminds them of the heads or faces of women or children; it can also bring back memories of a kiss.
If the spot appears similar to the heads of women, this symbolizes the feelings associated with the respondent's mother, which affect his attitude towards the female sex in general. If the spot resembles children's heads, this symbolizes feelings associated with childhood and the need to care for the child who lives in the soul of the respondent, or that the patient's relationship with his mother needs close attention and, possibly, correction. If a person sees two heads bowed for a kiss in the spot, this indicates his desire to be loved and reunite with his mother, or that he seeks to reproduce the once close relationship with his mother in other relationships, including romantic or social ones.
Card 8
This card has gray, pink, orange, and blue colors. Not only is this the first multi-color card in the test, it is also particularly difficult to interpret. If it is when demonstrating it or changing the pace of showing pictures that the respondent experiences obvious discomfort, it is very likely that in life he has difficulties processing complex situations or emotional stimuli. Most often people say that they see a four-legged animal, a butterfly or a moth here.
Card 9
The spot on this card includes the colors green, pink, and orange. It has a vague outline, making it difficult for most people to understand what this image reminds them of. For this reason, this card assesses how well a person copes with lack of structure and uncertainty. Most often, patients see on it either the general outlines of a person, or some vague form of evil.
If the responder sees a person, then the feelings experienced convey how successfully he copes with the disorganization of time and information. If the spot resembles some abstract image of evil, this may indicate that the person needs a clear routine in his life to feel comfortable, and that he does not cope well with uncertainty.
Card 10
The last card of the Rorschach test has the most colors: there are orange, yellow, green, pink, gray, and blue. In form it is somewhat similar to the eighth card, but in complexity it is more consistent with the ninth. Many people have a rather pleasant feeling when they see this card, except those who were very puzzled by the difficulty of identifying the image depicted on the previous card; when they look at this picture they feel the same. This may indicate that they have difficulty coping with similar, synchronous, or overlapping stimuli. Most often people see a crab, lobster, spider, rabbit head, snakes or caterpillars on this card.
The image of a crab symbolizes the respondent's tendency to become too attached to things and people, or a quality such as tolerance. If a person sees a lobster in a picture, it can indicate his strength, tolerance and ability to cope with minor problems, as well as his fear of harming himself or being harmed by someone else. If the spot resembles a spider, it may be a symbol of fear, a feeling that the person has been dragged into a difficult situation by force or deceit. In addition, the image of a spider symbolizes an overly protective and caring mother and the power of a woman. If a person sees the head of a rabbit, it can symbolize reproductive ability and a positive attitude towards life. Snakes reflect a sense of danger or a sense of being deceived, as well as fear of the unknown. Snakes are also often regarded as a phallic symbol and are associated with unacceptable or forbidden sexual desires. Since this is the last card in the test, if the patient sees caterpillars on it, this indicates prospects for his growth and understanding that people are constantly changing and developing.
Fragment from Paul Kleinman's book “Psychology. People, concepts, experiments"
Series of messages "Psychological tests":
Part 1 - Psychological Rorschach test (ink blots)
Below are ten Rorschach inkblots printed in the publication Rorschach test - Psychodiagnostic techniques indicating the most common responses for the entire image or the most prominent details according to various authors. This material has been in the public domain in Switzerland, the birthplace of Hermann Rorschach, since at least 1992 (70 years after the author's death or 50 years after the cut-off date of 1942), according to Swiss copyright law. They are also in the public domain under the United States copyright law, which states: "All works published before 1923 are considered to be in the public domain."
All pictures are clickable
Table I :
Popular answers:
Piotrowski: bat (53%), butterfly (29%)
Dana (France): butterfly (39%)
A comment: Receiving for consideration table I, subjects often ask about what they should do, and questions about what they can do with the table (for example, rotate) are not very significant. As the first table, it can contain information about how the subject solves new, stressful problems. This does not mean, however, that tables that are usually difficult for a subject to handle have popular answers available.
Table II : 
Popular answers:
Beck: two people
Piotrowski: four-legged animal (34%, gray parts)
Dana (France): animal: dog, elephant, bear (50%, gray)
A comment: Red details Table II often seen as blood and are the most distinctive feature. Responses may contain indications of how the subject can manage feelings of anger or aggression. This chart can evoke a variety of sexual responses.
Table III : 
Popular answers:
Beck: two people (gray)
Piotrowski: human figures (72%, grey)
Dana (France): human (76%, gray)
A comment: Table III typically perceived as two people participating in an interaction, and can provide information about the subject's relationships and connections with other people (in particular, a delayed response can reveal difficulties in interpersonal, social interaction).
Table IV : 
Popular answers:
Piotrowski: animal skin, skin rug (41%)
A comment: Table IV characterized by dark color and shading (which creates difficulties for depressed subjects), and is often perceived as a large, and sometimes threatening, figure. Compounding the general impression of the subject, who, being in a subordinate position (“Looking up”) at the table, serves to reveal a sense of authority. The vision of a person or animal in a table is almost always classified as masculine rather than feminine, and these qualities expressed by the subject may indicate attitudes towards men and authority.
Table V : 
Popular answers:
Beck: bat, butterfly, moth
Piotrowski: butterfly (48%), bat (40%)
Dana (France): butterfly (48%), bat (46%)
A comment: Table V is easy to work out in detail and is not perceived as threatening. Provokes a “change of pace” in the test, after the previous more complex tables. Several features contained here raise concerns or complicate development. This is the easiest spot to get a good quality answer.
Table VI : 
Popular answers:
Beck: animal skin, fur, carpet
Piotrowski: animal skin, fur, carpet (41%)
Dana (France): animal skin (46%)
A comment: Texture is the dominant characteristic Table VI, which often evokes associations associated with close interpersonal interactions; The chart is defined as a "sex spot" and probable sexual perceptions are reported on this chart more frequently than on any other. Although other tables have a greater variety of sexual image recognition.
Table VII : 
Popular answers:
Beck: human heads and faces (top)
Piotrowski: heads of women and children (27%, top)
Dana (France): human head (46%, top)
A comment: Table VII may be associated with femininity (the human figures recognized in it are often described as women and children), and has a function as a "Mother Table", where difficulty in resolving may be associated with a preoccupation with problems with female figures in the subject's life. The central feature is relatively often (though not the most popular answer) recognized as a vagina, making this chart particularly relevant to the theme of female sexuality.
Table VIII : 
Popular answers:
Beck: animal, not cat and dog (pink)
Piotrowski: four-legged animal (94%, pink)
Dana (France): four-legged animal (93%, pink)
The Rorschach test or Rorschach inkblot technique is one of the most famous psychodiagnostic personality tests. Each of us has seen at least one picture with blots that resemble... But here, in fact, the test begins, since the answer determines the individual properties and inclinations of a particular person. Recently, due to its massive distribution on social networks, the Rorschach test is often presented in significantly simplified versions, but in fact it is a powerful psychological tool.
I often glimpsed these pictures and heard about this test, but I didn’t have to take it myself, and even more so I didn’t quite understand the methodology and specifics of this test. Let's all find out about this together now, and at the same time remember about its author and the history of the creation of the Rorschach test
HERMANN RORSCHACH WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 8, 1884 IN ZURICH (SWITZERLAND). He was the eldest son of an unsuccessful artist, forced to earn a living by giving art lessons at school. Since childhood, Herman was fascinated by color spots (in all likelihood, the result of the creative efforts of his father and the boy’s own love of painting), and his school friends nicknamed him Blob. When Herman was twelve, his mother died, and when the young man turned eighteen, his father also died. After graduating with honors from high school, Rorschach decided to study medicine. In 1912, he received his medical degree from the University of Zurich, after which he worked in a number of psychiatric hospitals. In 1911, while still studying at the university, Rorschach conducted a series of interesting experiments to test whether schoolchildren gifted with artistic talents had a more developed imagination when interpreting ordinary inkblots. This research had a huge impact not only on the future career of the scientist, but also on the development of psychology as a science in general. It must be said that Rorschach was not the first to use color spots in his research.
It is clear to say that the Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist Hermann Rorschach came up with the idea of creating such a test - a very difficult task. PhD Jane Framingham, for example, believes that a similar idea could have been inspired by the popular children's game at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, “Klecksographie” - charades based on inkblots. Rorschach's teacher and friend Konrad Goering could have used inkblots as a psychological tool.
The history of the test itself can begin in 1911, when E. Bleuler first introduced the term “schizophrenia” into scientific use, and G. Rorschach became interested in this disease and devoted his dissertation to its study. During the experimental part, he noticed that patients interpreted the spots from the game “Klecksographie” differently. But then he made only a small report about his observation.
This was followed by several years of practice, during which G. Rorschach actively tested the inkblot technique on his patients in order to determine personal behavioral factors. As a result, 40 cards with inkblots were created and theoretical material was collected to present the methodology. But there were difficulties with publication. It’s hard to believe now, but not a single publishing house of that time wanted to undertake the printing of Rorschach’s book. And the reason for this was not the fantastic or anti-scientific nature of his ideas, but the banal technical difficulty in printing so many blot designs. As a result, they had to be reduced first to 15, and then to 10. Only after this did one of the publishing houses agree to publish the book. It was published in 1921 under the title “Psychodiagnostik”. In it, the author outlined his theory about the personal characteristics of people. One of the main points is that each person's personality includes such qualities as introversion and extroversion - in other words, that we are motivated by both external and internal factors. According to the scientist, the inkblot test allows one to assess the relative ratio of these properties and identify any mental deviation or, on the contrary, personality strengths. The psychological scientific community paid virtually no attention to the first edition of Rorschach's book, since at that time the prevailing belief was that it was impossible to measure or test what a person's personality consisted of. However, over time, colleagues began to understand the usefulness of the Rorschach test, and in 1922, the psychiatrist discussed the possibilities of improving his technique at a meeting of the Psychoanalytic Society. Unfortunately, on April 1, 1922, after suffering from severe abdominal pain for a week, Hermann Rorschach was admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis, and on April 2 he died of peritonitis. He was only thirty-seven years old and never saw the enormous success of the psychological tool he invented.
In it, in addition to introducing the concept of “psychodiagnostics” into science, the results of studies with inkblots and the test itself with explanations were presented. Rorschach's own scoring system (in other words, explanations of how to interpret the results obtained) focused on classifying possible answers, and paid minimal attention to their content. The following year, the author of the test died. Despite the weakness of certain aspects of the test (unclearness in which category of the proposed classification all possible answer options should be attributed due to the lack of their description in the work), its developments were very highly valued for a long time and were the main diagnostic tools in clinical psychology (for 40-50 years). x years of the twentieth century). In the 1960s, the Rorschach test was criticized, mainly due to the lack of a unified methodology for assessing answers (there are several most common scoring systems: Beck, Piotrovsky, Klopfer, etc.).
But complete discredit was avoided. Mainly thanks to the work of John Exner. He compared the 5 dominant evaluation systems and created something like a unifying system (the work “The Rorschach: A Comprehensive System”). Today, many psychologists use the Rorschach test within the framework of Exner's Integrative System. It is used for diagnosis in correctional institutions in the United States and some other countries, in forensic science, and for the diagnosis of personality disorders in clinical psychology. The test also reveals validity in understanding a person’s personality and emotional state in cases where the patient does not want or cannot (due to dementia, for example, as in the case of Charlie Gordon in Flowers for Algernon) talk about it directly. Globally, based on the answers, one can judge a person’s psychology, understand his past and predict future behavior.
Rorschach ink blots
The Rorschach test uses ten ink blots: five black and white, two black and red, and three color. The psychologist shows the cards in strict order, asking the patient the same question: “What does this look like?” After the patient has seen all the pictures and given the answers, the psychologist shows the cards again, again in strict order. The patient is asked to name everything that he sees in them, where exactly in the picture he sees this or that image, and what in it forces him to give exactly that answer. Cards can be turned over, tilted, manipulated in any other way. The psychologist must accurately record everything the patient says and does during the test, as well as the timing of each response. Next, the answers are analyzed and points are calculated. Then, through mathematical calculations, a result is derived from the test data, which is interpreted by a specialist. If an inkblot does not evoke any associations in a person or he cannot describe what he sees on it, this may mean that the object depicted on the card is blocked in his consciousness, or that the image on it is associated in his subconscious with a topic that he would not like to discuss at the moment.
CARD 1
ON THE FIRST CARD WE SEE A SPOT OF BLACK INK. It is shown first, and the answer to it allows the psychologist to assume how this person performs tasks that are new to him - therefore, associated with a certain stress. People usually say that the image reminds them of a bat, a moth, a butterfly, or the face of some animal, such as an elephant or a rabbit. The answer reflects the respondent's personality type as a whole.
For some people, the image of a bat is associated with something unpleasant and even demonic; for others it is a symbol of rebirth and the ability to navigate in the dark. Butterflies can symbolize transition and transformation, as well as the ability to grow, change, and overcome difficulties. The moth symbolizes feelings of abandonment and ugliness, as well as weakness and anxiety. The face of an animal, particularly an elephant, often symbolizes the ways in which we confront difficulties and the fear of internal problems. It can also mean “a bull in a china shop,” that is, it conveys a feeling of discomfort and indicates a certain problem that a person is currently trying to get rid of.
CARD 2
THIS CARD SHOWS A RED AND BLACK SPOT, and people often see it as something sexy. Parts of the red color are usually interpreted as blood, and the reaction to it reflects how a person manages his feelings and anger and how he deals with physical harm. Respondents most often say that the spot reminds them of an act of supplication, two people, a person looking into a mirror, or a long-legged animal such as a dog, bear or elephant.
If a person sees two people in the spot, it can symbolize codependency, an obsession with sex, ambivalence about sexual intercourse, or a focus on connection and close relationships with others. If the spot resembles a person reflected in a mirror, this may symbolize self-centeredness or, on the contrary, a tendency to self-criticism. Each of the two options expresses either a negative or positive personality characteristic, depending on how the image evokes in the person. If the respondent sees a dog in the spot, this may mean that he is a loyal and loving friend. If he perceives the stain as something negative, then he needs to face his fears and acknowledge his inner feelings. If the spot reminds a person of an elephant, this may symbolize a tendency to think, developed intelligence and good memory; however, sometimes such a vision indicates a negative perception of one’s own body. The bear imprinted in the spot symbolizes aggression, competition, independence, and disobedience. In the case of English-speaking patients, a play on words can play a role: bear (bear) and bare (naked), which means a feeling of insecurity, vulnerability, as well as the sincerity and honesty of the respondent. The spot on this card is reminiscent of something sexual, and if the respondent sees it as a person praying, this may indicate an attitude towards sex in the context of religion. If the respondent sees blood in the stain, it means that he associates physical pain with religion or, when experiencing complex emotions like anger, resorts to prayer, or associates anger with religion.
CARD 3
THE THIRD CARD SHOWS A SPOT OF RED AND BLACK INK, and its perception symbolizes the patient's attitude towards other people in social interaction. Most often, respondents see on it the image of two people, a person looking in the mirror, a butterfly or a moth.
If a person sees two people having lunch in a spot, this means that he leads an active social life. A spot that resembles two people washing their hands speaks of insecurity, a feeling of one’s own uncleanliness, or paranoid fear. If a respondent sees two people playing a game in a spot, this often indicates that he is taking the position of an opponent in social interactions. If the spot resembles a person looking at his reflection in the mirror, this may indicate self-centeredness, inattention to others and an inability to understand people.
CARD 4
SPECIALISTS CALL THE FOURTH CARD “FATHER'S.” The spot on it is black, and some parts of it are fuzzy and blurry. Many people see something large and frightening in this picture - an image that is usually perceived not as feminine, but as masculine. The reaction to this spot allows us to reveal a person’s attitude towards authorities and the characteristics of his upbringing. Most often, the spot reminds respondents of a huge animal or monster, or a hole of some animal or its skin.
If the patient sees a large animal or monster in the spot, this may symbolize feelings of inferiority and admiration for authority, as well as an exaggerated fear of people in authority, including one's own father. If the stain resembles the skin of an animal to the respondent, this often symbolizes severe internal discomfort when discussing topics related to the father. However, this may also indicate that the problem of one’s own inferiority or admiration for authority is not relevant for this respondent.
CARD 5
ON THIS CARD WE SEE THE BLACK SPOT AGAIN. The association caused by it, like the image on the first card, reflects our true “I”. Looking at this image, people usually do not feel threatened, and since the previous cards evoked completely different emotions in them, this time the person does not experience any particular tension or discomfort - therefore, a deeply personal reaction will be characteristic. If the image he sees is very different from the answer given when he saw the first card, this means that cards two through four most likely made a big impression on him. Most often, this image reminds people of a bat, butterfly or moth.
CARD 6
THE PICTURE ON THIS CARD IS ALSO SINGLE COLOR, BLACK; it is distinguished by the texture of the stain. This image evokes interpersonal intimacy, which is why it is called the “sex card.” Most often, people say that the spot reminds them of a hole or the skin of an animal, which may indicate a reluctance to enter into close relationships with other people and, as a result, a feeling of inner emptiness and isolation from society.
CARD 7
THE SPOT ON THIS CARD IS ALSO BLACK and is usually associated with the feminine principle. Since people most often see images of women and children in this spot, it is called “maternal.” If a person has difficulty describing what is shown on the card, this may indicate that he has difficult relationships with women in his life. Respondents often say that the spot reminds them of the heads or faces of women or children; it can also bring back memories of a kiss.
If the spot appears similar to the heads of women, this symbolizes the feelings associated with the respondent's mother, which affect his attitude towards the female sex in general. If the spot resembles children's heads, this symbolizes feelings associated with childhood and the need to care for the child who lives in the soul of the respondent, or that the patient's relationship with his mother needs close attention and, possibly, correction. If a person sees two heads bowed for a kiss in the spot, this indicates his desire to be loved and reunite with his mother, or that he seeks to reproduce the once close relationship with his mother in other relationships, including romantic or social ones.
CARD 8
THIS CARD HAS GRAY, PINK, ORANGE, AND BLUE. Not only is this the first multi-color card in the test, it is also particularly difficult to interpret. If it is when demonstrating it or changing the pace of showing pictures that the respondent experiences obvious discomfort, it is very likely that in life he has difficulties processing complex situations or emotional stimuli. Most often people say that they see a four-legged animal, a butterfly or a moth here.
CARD 9
THE SPOT ON THIS CARD INCLUDES GREEN, PINK AND ORANGE COLORS. It is vague in outline, so most people have a hard time understanding what the image reminds them of. For this reason, this card assesses how well a person copes with lack of structure and uncertainty. Most often, patients see on it either the general outlines of a person, or some vague form of evil.
If the responder sees a person, then the feelings experienced convey how successfully he copes with the disorganization of time and information. If the spot resembles some abstract image of evil, this may indicate that the person needs a clear routine in his life to feel comfortable, and that he does not cope well with uncertainty.
CARD 10
THE LAST CARD OF THE RORSCHACH TEST HAS THE MOST COLORS: there are orange, yellow, green, pink, gray, and blue. In form it is somewhat similar to the eighth card, but in complexity it is more consistent with the ninth. Many people have a rather pleasant feeling when they see this card, except those who were very puzzled by the difficulty of identifying the image depicted on the previous card; when they look at this picture they feel the same. This may indicate that they have difficulty coping with similar, synchronous, or overlapping stimuli. Most often people see a crab, lobster, spider, rabbit head, snakes or caterpillars on this card.
The image of a crab symbolizes the respondent's tendency to become too attached to things and people, or a quality such as tolerance. If a person sees a lobster in a picture, it can indicate his strength, tolerance and ability to cope with minor problems, as well as his fear of harming himself or being harmed by someone else. If the spot resembles a spider, it may be a symbol of fear, a feeling that the person has been dragged into a difficult situation by force or deceit. In addition, the image of a spider symbolizes an overly protective and caring mother and the power of a woman. If a person sees the head of a rabbit, it can symbolize reproductive ability and a positive attitude towards life. Snakes reflect a sense of danger or a sense of being deceived, as well as fear of the unknown. Snakes are also often regarded as a phallic symbol and are associated with unacceptable or forbidden sexual desires. Since this is the last card in the test, if the patient sees caterpillars on it, this indicates prospects for his growth and understanding that people are constantly changing and developing.
sources
http://www.factroom.ru/psychology/rorschach-test
http://4brain.ru/blog/%D1%82%D0%B5%D1%81%D1%82-%D1%80%D0%BE%D1%80%D1%88%D0%B0%D1% 85%D0%B0/
http://www.psysocialis.ru/rorshah/
Here are some more interesting tests: here is an example, and here is a controversial one. Let's remember about this unusual one The original article is on the website InfoGlaz.rf Link to the article from which this copy was made -The Rorschach test or Rorschach inkblot technique is one of the most famous psychodiagnostic personality tests. Each of us has seen at least one picture with blots that resemble... But here, in fact, the test begins, since the answer determines the individual properties and inclinations of a particular person. Recently, due to its massive distribution on social networks, the Rorschach test is often presented in significantly simplified versions, but in fact it is a powerful psychological tool.
I often glimpsed these pictures and heard about this test, but I didn’t have to take it myself, and even more so I didn’t quite understand the methodology and specifics of this test. Let's all find out about this together now, and at the same time remember about its author and the history of the creation of the Rorschach test
HERMANN RORSCHACH WAS BORN ON NOVEMBER 8, 1884 IN ZURICH (SWITZERLAND). He was the eldest son of an unsuccessful artist, forced to earn a living by giving art lessons at school. Since childhood, Herman was fascinated by color spots (in all likelihood, the result of the creative efforts of his father and the boy’s own love of painting), and his school friends nicknamed him Blob. When Herman was twelve, his mother died, and when the young man turned eighteen, his father also died. After graduating with honors from high school, Rorschach decided to study medicine. In 1912, he received his medical degree from the University of Zurich, after which he worked in a number of psychiatric hospitals. In 1911, while still studying at the university, Rorschach conducted a series of interesting experiments to test whether schoolchildren gifted with artistic talents had a more developed imagination when interpreting ordinary inkblots. This research had a huge impact not only on the future career of the scientist, but also on the development of psychology as a science in general. It must be said that Rorschach was not the first to use color spots in his research.
It is clear to say that the Swiss psychiatrist and psychologist Hermann Rorschach came up with the idea of creating such a test - a very difficult task. PhD Jane Framingham, for example, believes that a similar idea could have been inspired by the popular children's game at the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, “Klecksographie” - charades based on inkblots. Rorschach's teacher and friend Konrad Goering could have used inkblots as a psychological tool.
The history of the test itself can begin in 1911, when E. Bleuler first introduced the term “schizophrenia” into scientific use, and G. Rorschach became interested in this disease and devoted his dissertation to its study. During the experimental part, he noticed that patients interpreted the spots from the game “Klecksographie” differently. But then he made only a small report about his observation.
This was followed by several years of practice, during which G. Rorschach actively tested the inkblot technique on his patients in order to determine personal behavioral factors. As a result, 40 cards with inkblots were created and theoretical material was collected to present the methodology. But there were difficulties with publication. It’s hard to believe now, but not a single publishing house of that time wanted to undertake the printing of Rorschach’s book. And the reason for this was not the fantastic or anti-scientific nature of his ideas, but the banal technical difficulty in printing so many blot designs. As a result, they had to be reduced first to 15, and then to 10. Only after this did one of the publishing houses agree to publish the book. It was published in 1921 under the title “Psychodiagnostik”. In it, the author outlined his theory about the personal characteristics of people. One of the main points is that each person's personality includes such qualities as introversion and extroversion - in other words, that we are motivated by both external and internal factors. According to the scientist, the inkblot test allows one to assess the relative ratio of these properties and identify any mental deviation or, on the contrary, personality strengths. The psychological scientific community paid virtually no attention to the first edition of Rorschach's book, since at that time the prevailing belief was that it was impossible to measure or test what a person's personality consisted of. However, over time, colleagues began to understand the usefulness of the Rorschach test, and in 1922, the psychiatrist discussed the possibilities of improving his technique at a meeting of the Psychoanalytic Society. Unfortunately, on April 1, 1922, after suffering from severe abdominal pain for a week, Hermann Rorschach was admitted to the hospital with suspected appendicitis, and on April 2 he died of peritonitis. He was only thirty-seven years old and never saw the enormous success of the psychological tool he invented.
In it, in addition to introducing the concept of “psychodiagnostics” into science, the results of studies with inkblots and the test itself with explanations were presented. Rorschach's own scoring system (in other words, explanations of how to interpret the results obtained) focused on classifying possible answers, and paid minimal attention to their content. The following year, the author of the test died. Despite the weakness of certain aspects of the test (unclearness in which category of the proposed classification all possible answer options should be attributed due to the lack of their description in the work), its developments were very highly valued for a long time and were the main diagnostic tools in clinical psychology (for 40-50 years). x years of the twentieth century). In the 1960s, the Rorschach test was criticized, mainly due to the lack of a unified methodology for assessing answers (there are several most common scoring systems: Beck, Piotrovsky, Klopfer, etc.).
But complete discredit was avoided. Mainly thanks to the work of John Exner. He compared the 5 dominant evaluation systems and created something like a unifying system (the work “The Rorschach: A Comprehensive System”). Today, many psychologists use the Rorschach test within the framework of Exner's Integrative System. It is used for diagnosis in correctional institutions in the United States and some other countries, in forensic science, and for the diagnosis of personality disorders in clinical psychology. The test also reveals validity in understanding a person’s personality and emotional state in cases where the patient does not want or cannot (due to dementia, for example, as in the case of Charlie Gordon in Flowers for Algernon) talk about it directly. Globally, based on the answers, one can judge a person’s psychology, understand his past and predict future behavior.
Rorschach ink blots
The Rorschach test uses ten ink blots: five black and white, two black and red, and three color. The psychologist shows the cards in strict order, asking the patient the same question: “What does this look like?” After the patient has seen all the pictures and given the answers, the psychologist shows the cards again, again in strict order. The patient is asked to name everything that he sees in them, where exactly in the picture he sees this or that image, and what in it forces him to give exactly that answer. Cards can be turned over, tilted, manipulated in any other way. The psychologist must accurately record everything the patient says and does during the test, as well as the timing of each response. Next, the answers are analyzed and points are calculated. Then, through mathematical calculations, a result is derived from the test data, which is interpreted by a specialist. If an inkblot does not evoke any associations in a person or he cannot describe what he sees on it, this may mean that the object depicted on the card is blocked in his consciousness, or that the image on it is associated in his subconscious with a topic that he would not like to discuss at the moment.
CARD 1
ON THE FIRST CARD WE SEE A SPOT OF BLACK INK. It is shown first, and the answer to it allows the psychologist to assume how this person performs tasks that are new to him - therefore, associated with a certain stress. People usually say that the image reminds them of a bat, a moth, a butterfly, or the face of some animal, such as an elephant or a rabbit. The answer reflects the respondent's personality type as a whole.
For some people, the image of a bat is associated with something unpleasant and even demonic; for others it is a symbol of rebirth and the ability to navigate in the dark. Butterflies can symbolize transition and transformation, as well as the ability to grow, change, and overcome difficulties. The moth symbolizes feelings of abandonment and ugliness, as well as weakness and anxiety. The face of an animal, particularly an elephant, often symbolizes the ways in which we confront difficulties and the fear of internal problems. It can also mean “a bull in a china shop,” that is, it conveys a feeling of discomfort and indicates a certain problem that a person is currently trying to get rid of.
CARD 2
THIS CARD SHOWS A RED AND BLACK SPOT, and people often see it as something sexy. Parts of the red color are usually interpreted as blood, and the reaction to it reflects how a person manages his feelings and anger and how he deals with physical harm. Respondents most often say that the spot reminds them of an act of supplication, two people, a person looking into a mirror, or a long-legged animal such as a dog, bear or elephant.
If a person sees two people in the spot, it can symbolize codependency, an obsession with sex, ambivalence about sexual intercourse, or a focus on connection and close relationships with others. If the spot resembles a person reflected in a mirror, this may symbolize self-centeredness or, on the contrary, a tendency to self-criticism. Each of the two options expresses either a negative or positive personality characteristic, depending on how the image evokes in the person. If the respondent sees a dog in the spot, this may mean that he is a loyal and loving friend. If he perceives the stain as something negative, then he needs to face his fears and acknowledge his inner feelings. If the spot reminds a person of an elephant, this may symbolize a tendency to think, developed intelligence and good memory; however, sometimes such a vision indicates a negative perception of one’s own body. The bear imprinted in the spot symbolizes aggression, competition, independence, and disobedience. In the case of English-speaking patients, a play on words can play a role: bear (bear) and bare (naked), which means a feeling of insecurity, vulnerability, as well as the sincerity and honesty of the respondent. The spot on this card is reminiscent of something sexual, and if the respondent sees it as a person praying, this may indicate an attitude towards sex in the context of religion. If the respondent sees blood in the stain, it means that he associates physical pain with religion or, when experiencing complex emotions like anger, resorts to prayer, or associates anger with religion.
CARD 3
THE THIRD CARD SHOWS A SPOT OF RED AND BLACK INK, and its perception symbolizes the patient's attitude towards other people in social interaction. Most often, respondents see on it the image of two people, a person looking in the mirror, a butterfly or a moth.
If a person sees two people having lunch in a spot, this means that he leads an active social life. A spot that resembles two people washing their hands speaks of insecurity, a feeling of one’s own uncleanliness, or paranoid fear. If a respondent sees two people playing a game in a spot, this often indicates that he is taking the position of an opponent in social interactions. If the spot resembles a person looking at his reflection in the mirror, this may indicate self-centeredness, inattention to others and an inability to understand people.
CARD 4
SPECIALISTS CALL THE FOURTH CARD “FATHER'S.” The spot on it is black, and some parts of it are fuzzy and blurry. Many people see something large and frightening in this picture - an image that is usually perceived not as feminine, but as masculine. The reaction to this spot allows us to reveal a person’s attitude towards authorities and the characteristics of his upbringing. Most often, the spot reminds respondents of a huge animal or monster, or a hole of some animal or its skin.
If the patient sees a large animal or monster in the spot, this may symbolize feelings of inferiority and admiration for authority, as well as an exaggerated fear of people in authority, including one's own father. If the stain resembles the skin of an animal to the respondent, this often symbolizes severe internal discomfort when discussing topics related to the father. However, this may also indicate that the problem of one’s own inferiority or admiration for authority is not relevant for this respondent.
CARD 5
ON THIS CARD WE SEE THE BLACK SPOT AGAIN. The association caused by it, like the image on the first card, reflects our true “I”. Looking at this image, people usually do not feel threatened, and since the previous cards evoked completely different emotions in them, this time the person does not experience any particular tension or discomfort - therefore, a deeply personal reaction will be characteristic. If the image he sees is very different from the answer given when he saw the first card, this means that cards two through four most likely made a big impression on him. Most often, this image reminds people of a bat, butterfly or moth.
CARD 6
THE PICTURE ON THIS CARD IS ALSO SINGLE COLOR, BLACK; it is distinguished by the texture of the stain. This image evokes interpersonal intimacy, which is why it is called the “sex card.” Most often, people say that the spot reminds them of a hole or the skin of an animal, which may indicate a reluctance to enter into close relationships with other people and, as a result, a feeling of inner emptiness and isolation from society.
CARD 7
THE SPOT ON THIS CARD IS ALSO BLACK and is usually associated with the feminine principle. Since people most often see images of women and children in this spot, it is called “maternal.” If a person has difficulty describing what is shown on the card, this may indicate that he has difficult relationships with women in his life. Respondents often say that the spot reminds them of the heads or faces of women or children; it can also bring back memories of a kiss.
If the spot appears similar to the heads of women, this symbolizes the feelings associated with the respondent's mother, which affect his attitude towards the female sex in general. If the spot resembles children's heads, this symbolizes feelings associated with childhood and the need to care for the child who lives in the soul of the respondent, or that the patient's relationship with his mother needs close attention and, possibly, correction. If a person sees two heads bowed for a kiss in the spot, this indicates his desire to be loved and reunite with his mother, or that he seeks to reproduce the once close relationship with his mother in other relationships, including romantic or social ones.
CARD 8
THIS CARD HAS GRAY, PINK, ORANGE, AND BLUE. Not only is this the first multi-color card in the test, it is also particularly difficult to interpret. If it is when demonstrating it or changing the pace of showing pictures that the respondent experiences obvious discomfort, it is very likely that in life he has difficulties processing complex situations or emotional stimuli. Most often people say that they see a four-legged animal, a butterfly or a moth here.
CARD 9
THE SPOT ON THIS CARD INCLUDES GREEN, PINK AND ORANGE COLORS. It is vague in outline, so most people have a hard time understanding what the image reminds them of. For this reason, this card assesses how well a person copes with lack of structure and uncertainty. Most often, patients see on it either the general outlines of a person, or some vague form of evil.
If the responder sees a person, then the feelings experienced convey how successfully he copes with the disorganization of time and information. If the spot resembles some abstract image of evil, this may indicate that the person needs a clear routine in his life to feel comfortable, and that he does not cope well with uncertainty.
CARD 10
THE LAST CARD OF THE RORSCHACH TEST HAS THE MOST COLORS: there are orange, yellow, green, pink, gray, and blue. In form it is somewhat similar to the eighth card, but in complexity it is more consistent with the ninth. Many people have a rather pleasant feeling when they see this card, except those who were very puzzled by the difficulty of identifying the image depicted on the previous card; when they look at this picture they feel the same. This may indicate that they have difficulty coping with similar, synchronous, or overlapping stimuli. Most often people see a crab, lobster, spider, rabbit head, snakes or caterpillars on this card.
The image of a crab symbolizes the respondent's tendency to become too attached to things and people, or a quality such as tolerance. If a person sees a lobster in a picture, it can indicate his strength, tolerance and ability to cope with minor problems, as well as his fear of harming himself or being harmed by someone else. If the spot resembles a spider, it may be a symbol of fear, a feeling that the person has been dragged into a difficult situation by force or deceit. In addition, the image of a spider symbolizes an overly protective and caring mother and the power of a woman. If a person sees the head of a rabbit, it can symbolize reproductive ability and a positive attitude towards life. Snakes reflect a sense of danger or a sense of being deceived, as well as fear of the unknown. Snakes are also often regarded as a phallic symbol and are associated with unacceptable or forbidden sexual desires. Since this is the last card in the test, if the patient sees caterpillars on it, this indicates prospects for his growth and understanding that people are constantly changing and developing.
Back in 1921, a psychiatrist and psychologist from Switzerland, Hermann Rorschach, created a personality test named after him - Rorschach test, also known under the names: “Rorschach blots or blots”, as well as the “inkblot technique”, which is still quite in demand and popular among psychologists and psychotherapists in diagnosing the psyche, its disorders and disorders.
The term “Psychodiagnostics” was also coined by Rorschach.
The stimulus material of the Rorschach projective test consists of 10 amorphous (weakly structured) black-and-white and color pictures, the so-called. Rorschach spots, symmetrical along the axis and located in a certain order from 1 to 10.
Take the Rorschach test online
Take the Rorschach test online possible only in a truncated form, because in order to obtain real psychodiagnostic results, an examination is necessary in the presence of a psychologist, and even in conjunction with others, including clinical studies and a survey of the subject. In this case, the person being tested, looking at the image, the Rorschach blot, uses free associations and says the first thing that comes to mind: a word, an image, a concept...What a person “sees” in a blot (ink stain) will help determine the characteristics of his personality and psyche - the norm and deviations, up to personality, neurotic disorders and pathology.
So, take the Rorschach test online for free
Now, if you are ready, you can go through Rorschach test online, free in a truncated version...
You are asked to answer questions about what you think each picture or Rorschach blot looks like.
Attention! For the purity of the Rorschach test study, first, in order, look at each blot and, based on personal associations, tell yourself (preferably write down) what comes to your mind: what the Rorschach blot reminds you of, what it looks like...
Then, at the end of the content (page), select the definitions that suit your associations by the number of each ink. Click on the result button and find out a lot about your personality.
Those who want to take the famous Rorschach test with the participation of a psychologist, for example via Skype, and receive the most reliable personality studies together with psychoanalysis, can SIGN UP for online psychodiagnostics from the main page of the site.
Rorschach inkblot technique - take the test
Blob No. 1
Blot No. 2
Blob No. 3
Blob No. 4
Blob No. 5
Blot No. 6
Blot No. 7
Blob No. 8
Blob No. 9
Blob No. 10
Addition to the Rorschach test online - choose the definition that suits your associations
