The use of inkblots is often associated with the psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, but its origins lie in children's games, experiments on visual perception, studies of the effects of hashish, the testing of immigrants at Ellis Island and the work of Frederic Bartlett.

Who invented the inkblot?

Hermann Rorschach, (born November 8, 1884, Zürich, Switzerland—died April 2, 1922, Herisau), Swiss psychiatrist who devised the inkblot test that bears his name and that was widely used clinically for diagnosing psychopathology.

What does inkblot mean?

1 : a blot of ink. 2 : any of several cards showing blots of ink for use in psychological testing also : inkblot test.

What is inkblot technique in psychology?

An ink blot test is a personality test that involves the evaluation of a subject's response to ambiguous ink blots. ... In projective tests, participants' interpretations of ambiguous stimuli are used to analyze inner thoughts, feelings, and personality traits.

What is the purpose of the inkblot test?

The Rorschach test is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning.

How does the Rorschach inkblot test work? - Damion Searls

31 related questions found

What do you see in inkblots?

The Rorschach is what psychologists call a projective test. The basic idea of this is that when a person is shown an ambiguous, meaningless image (ie an inkblot) the mind will work hard at imposing meaning on the image. That meaning is generated by the mind.

What do schizophrenics see in Rorschach?

In pathognomic signs in Rorschach responses, mutilation, response impotence, confabulation, perplexity, position response, contamination, and self reference was higher among patients with mania while perseveration response was higher in paranoid schizophrenia.

How are inkblots made?

To create an inkblot creature, I invited guests to put a few drops of each color on their paper, fold it in half along a center crease, then press and rub all around the folded paper. When they opened it back up, the paint had squished and spread into an interesting and colorful form!

Are inkblot tests still used?

Today, some psychologists dismiss the Rorschach as merely a relic of psychology's past, a pseudoscience on par with phrenology. However, though the inkblot test may not be a perfect tool, it continues to be used widely, particularly for diagnosing schizophrenia—which was Rorschach's original intent for the test.

Do psychiatrists still use ink blots?

Yes, though there is some debate over how useful the tests can be. Many psychologists use Rorschach inkblots to gauge personality and measure emotional stability. They're often used as character evidence in civil court proceedings and parole hearings and as a way of diagnosing mental illness in a clinical setting.

What do you see first will determine your personality?

According to Hermann Rorschach, the creator of a famous test with inkblots, the things that a person sees in the picture are determined by their character and personality. Abstract pictures can point out the things taking place in people's minds, as well as reveal some hidden features of their personality.

Are Rorschach tests reliable?

Based upon published reports, the Rorschach can be regarded as a reliable and valid psychometric instrument, given that certain conditions are met. One is that it is administered by an experienced, competent, and trained examiner. Another condition is that a known and structured method of assessment be used.

What part of speech is inkblot?

Inkblot is a noun - Word Type.

Who can administer the Rorschach inkblot test?

The test is conducted by a professional psychologist on subjects ranging between ages 5 and adulthood. Adminstrators typically sit side-by-side to ensure they do not influence the participants answers. The test consists of a series of 10 symetrical blots where the subject states what they see.

What happens if you don't see anything in the Rorschach test?

Three-quarters of people report that the blots look like humans, meaning that if someone doesn't see at least one human figure, this could indicate an unusual response to social interaction.

What is the criticism of the use of the inkblots?

What is an important criticism of the Rorschach Inkblot Technique? It penalizes less intelligent or less vocal people for not giving many answers. It rarely gives us information we could not easily find in other ways. Almost any answer to any item is typically regarded as normal.

How many Rorschach inkblots are there?

Rorschach test, also called Rorschach inkblot test, projective method of psychological testing in which a person is asked to describe what he or she sees in 10 inkblots, of which some are black or gray and others have patches of colour. The test was introduced in 1921 by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach.

What are the limitations of the Rorschach inkblot test and the TAT?

With the exception of schizophrenia and similarly severe thought disorders, the Rorschach fails to spot any common mental illnesses accurately. The list of what it fails to diagnose includes depression, anxiety disorders, psychopathic personality, and violent and criminal tendencies.

How do you perform a Rorschach inkblot test?

Describe the test to the test taker.

Tell them what you are going to do, such as "I will hold up individual cards with inkblots on them. You will describe what you see in the image. Keep in mind, there is no right or wrong answer, and you can describe more than one thing you see in the picture."

What is Rorschach mental illness?

In psychiatry, the Rorschach test is used to analyze a person's subconscious personality characteristics and emotional functioning. Thus, it is generally applied to detect underlying thought disorders, especially among patients with psychosis.

Can Rorschach test be used as a stand alone test for schizophrenia?

“We think it is acceptable to use the Rorschach to assess thought disorder or schizophrenia-related symptoms,” always and exclusively according to the current international norms of the system promoted by Exner, says the psychologist.

Why is Rorschach inkblot test unreliable?

Did the patient interpret the color? That kind of thing. The PSPI review found that therapists disagree on fully half of these variables, making the scores unreliable for diagnosis.