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 M¢25  Funded By Mahalo ? |  July 30, 2009 03:23 AM

Rorschach cheat sheet?

I've heard about Rorschach before "watchmen" and thought this was interesting. Do you think the Rorschach test is psychologically valid? What do you think of people trying to "cheat"?

Heard about this here, http://buzz.yahoo.com/buzzlog/92863/?fp=1
http://militantgeek.com/wordpress/wp-content/uploads/2009/03/rorschach.jpg
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July 30, 2009 07:16 AM
The Rorschach test is basically an exercise in forced pareidolia. Although it may well be true that ax murderers (as a group) may tend to describe the blots in more violent (as defined by the examiner) terms than birdwatchers (as a group), it's probably also true that what you "see" can be affected by personal experience (which could pose a problem if you saw a slasher movie the night before your Rorschach test).

The test's supporters claim that publicizing the inkblots and their most common responses may render the test invalid. However, those same supporters state that simply naming the blot is only a small part of the overall test. If this is true, then most of the test results should remain intact, and it may be possible to identify false responses based on changes in the nonverbal part of the response, such as a series of quick answers without much study of the inkblots themselves.

IMHO, although there may be some statistical correlation between Rorschach responses and personality, there are too many uncontrolled variables for it to be more than a secondary diagnostic tool on an individual basis.

For more information on the Rorschach test, the Wikipedia article is well researched and (for now, anyway) includes images of the inkblots and their most common responses, along with a cease-and-desist letter from the test's publisher.
Source(s):
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rorschach_test

Asker's Rating:
• great! everyone had nice input...


Tags: test, inkblot, rorschach

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July 30, 2009 03:42 AM
I believe the rorschach test is no more valid than watching clouds and describing what you think they look like. It is essentially the same thing. The test might be able to reveal some things about a person's interests, but delving deep into someone's psyche I think not.

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July 30, 2009 03:52 AM
I think that you could show people pictures of anything and their answers would tell you all you need to know to make a judgment about their mental state.

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July 30, 2009 05:08 AM
I don't think there is a way to really cheat on this. It's just a matter of someone's opinion what they see in the inkblots. Same as seeing some kind of abstract art and interpreting it in one's own way. Both would give someone an idea of the person's thought processes.

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Helpful: krysstel

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August 01, 2009 04:20 PM
great insight. it is interesting. kind of like the game "ink blot". our family plays it. it's fun!

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