The effects of visual stimuli on Rorschach responses.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of the immediate visual environment upon the subject's responses to the Rorschach Inkblot Technique. There has been uncertainty about the nature of "projection" that occurs with the Rorschach. In other words, it is possible that the environment is contributing to the projection while being tested with the Rorschach. If this is the case, these influences may lead to an inaccurate diagnosis. Subjects included 40 volunteer undergraduate students enrolled in psychology courses. Once the list of volunteers was complied, subjects were randomly assigned to one of two testing conditions. In Condition 1, subjects were tested with the Rorschach in a room containing a human anatomy chart. In Condition 2, subjects were tested with the Rorschach but had no exposure to the anatomical chart. It was hypothesized that individuals tested in a room containing an anatomical chart would have more content responses of human anatomy on the Rorschach protocol than a group that had no exposure to the chart. A 2 X 2 (Gender, male/female X Testing Condition, exposure/no exposure to anatomy chart) analysis of variance (ANOVA) was conducted. The results did not support these hypotheses. We can conclude from this study that the individual's responses on the Rorschach protocol do not seem to be influenced by the visual stimuli in the testing environment. Several possible reasons for these results are discussed.