Understanding The Rorschach Inkblot Test

RorschachBlot_01

When seeing card I, subjects often inquire on how they should proceed, and questions on what they are allowed to do with the card (e.g. turning it) aren’t very significant. Being the first card, it can provide clues about how subjects tackle a new and stressful task. It is not, however, a card that is usually difficult for the subject to handle, having readily available popular responses.

RorschachBlot_02

The red details of card II are often seen as blood, and are the most distinctive features. Responses to them can provide indications about how a subject is likely to manage feelings of anger or physical harm. This card is also notable for having a variety of common sexual responses.

RorschachBlot_03

Card III is typically perceived as containing two humans involved in some interaction, and may provide information about how the subject relates with other people (specifically, response latency may reveal struggling social interactions).

RorschachBlot_04

Card IV is notable for its dark color and its shading (posing difficulties for depressed subjects), and is generally perceived as a big and sometimes threatening figure; compounded with the common impression of the subject being in an inferior position (“looking up”) to it, this serves to elicit a sense of authority. The human or animal content seen in the card is almost invariably classified as male rather than female, and the qualities expressed by the subject may indicate attitudes toward men and authority.

RorschachBlot_05

Card V is an easily elaborated card that is not usually perceived as threatening, and typically instigates a “change of pace” in the test, after the previous more challenging cards. Containing few features that generate concerns or complicate the elaboration, it is the easiest blot to generate a good quality response about.

RorschachBlot_06

Texture is the dominant characteristic of card VI, which often elicits associaction related to interpersonal closeness; it is specifically a “sex card”, its likely sexual percerpts being reported more frequently than in any other card, even though other cards have a greater variety of commonly seen sexual contents.

RorschachBlot_07

Card VII can be associated with femininity (the human figures commonly seeing in it being described as women or children), and function as a “mother card”, where difficulties in responding may be related to concerns with the female figures in the subject’s life. The center detail is relatively often (though not popularly) identified as a vagina, which make this card also relate to feminine sexuality in particular.

RorschachBlot_08

People often express relief about card VIII, which lets them relax and respond effectively. Similar to card V, it represents a “change of pace”; however, the card introduces new elaboration difficulties, being complex and the first multi-colored card in the set. Therefore, people who find processing complex situations or emotional stimuli distressing or difficult may be uncomfortable with this card.

RorschachBlot_09

Characteristic of card IX is indistinct form and diffuse, muted chromatic features, creating a general vagueness. There is only one popular response, and it is the least frequent of all cards. Having difficulty with processing this card may indicate trouble dealing with unstructured data, but aside from this there are few particular “pulls” typical of this card.

RorschachBlot_10

Card X is structurally similar to card VIII, but its uncertainty and complexity is reminiscent of card IX: people who find it difficult to deal with many concurrent stimuli may not particularly like this otherwise pleasant card. Being the last card, it may provide an opportunity for the subject to “sign out” by indicating what they feel their situation is like, or what they desire to know.

Found at Wikipedia