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The Rorschach inkblot test is a method of psychological evaluation. It is associated with the Freudian school of thought. Psychologists use this test to probe the unconscious mind.

History

The Rorschach inkblot test was developed by Hermann Rorschach, a Swiss psychologist. Rorschach was a proponent of Freudian psychoanalysis, which emphasizes the role of the subconscious.

Methods

There are ten "official" inkblots. Psychologists prefer that the general public not see them so that it will not skew results when the test is peformed. The psychologist shows the inkblots in a particular order and asks the person to say the first thing that comes to mind. After the patient has seen and responded to all the inkblots, the psychologist then gives them to him again one at a time to study. The patient is asked to list everything he sees in each blot. The blot can be rotated, although the psychologist will not tell the patient so. Spontaneous turning of the blot or asking permission to do so is seen as a positive sign. As the patient is examining the blots, the psychologist writes down everything he says or does, no matter how trivial.

Evaluation

Each inkblot theoretically reveals the patient's feelings about a particular person or situation. For example, one inkblot is supposed to represent the patient's mother. Negative comments regarding the images in this inkblot indicate unresolved conflict with the mother. Another inkblot shows how the patient feels about his father. Most, if not all, inkblots contain sexual symbols and images. Some are quite blatant. More than four mentions of sexual imagery means that the patient has an obsession with sex. Seeing certain images may indicate schizophrenia, although this is disputable.