Science Forums 2

[CraigD]

Originally Posted by lawcat

What is the general feeling and understanding of the Rorschach test?

My experience with the Rorschach “ink blot” test consists seeing the usual fictional depictions of it in movies and TV shows, a brief mention of it in an "introduction to psychology" class, conversations about it with a couple of clinical psychologists that use it, and conversations with a neuropsychologist who did.

My class did little more than teach me to identify “Rorschach test” with “ink blot test”.

The clinical psychologists I know who uses it, all LCSWs, described it as essentially a “therapeutic prop” which they used like other props, such as illustrations in books or stuffed animals to relax, gain the confidence of, and encourage communication with their patients. The actual responses to particular images were of no more importance than other information obtained from conversing with them.

The neurophsycologist I knew used it in a very technical way to assess the presence or changes to specific kinds of brain injuries affecting visual perception. He used a complicated, commercially published kit in which atypical responses to each image correlated to particular brain injuries.

Based on this experience, I don’t think a self-administered ink blot test, online or paper-based, is a very good way to measure personality traits.

Originally Posted by lawcat

I took one online, which has questionable credibility, at Online Rorschach Test.

The test appears to give different results, if taken at different times of the day, or month, It appears to be momentary mood indicator, more than a personality test.

It’s not even that – according to the site’s own information, it’s purely random.

From the site’s “test theory” link:

… We, on the other hand, dispense with all that technical and pseudo-scientific mumbo-jumo, and simply give you some random answers. Many people claim that these arfe (sic) every bit as good as the "real" Rorschach answers determined by some highly paid, fancy-pants clinician or psychologist.

The site appears to be a gag site, for entertainment.