“But my dear man, reality is only a Rorschach ink-blot, you know.” -- Alan Wilson

WRITTEN BY SHRADHA VINODH

I'm pretty sure most of you are already familiar with the famous 'ink-blot' tests, if you aren't then please watch a movie.

BACKGROUND AND ORGIN:

The famous Rorschach test was named after creator and psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach. The test is basically allowing people to interpret the abstract inkblot image. By doing so it helps mental health professionals to draw conclusions about their personalities and possible mental disorders.

The test had made its debut in 1921!

The thing most people don’t know about the Rorschach test that it was initially inspired by a children’s game! A game called Klecksography was a popular children’s game which was the art of making images with inkblots. The game involved pouring ink onto the paper, folding the paper over, and seeing the images formed.

While working in a Swiss asylum, Rorschach thought about how patients would interpret the inkblots and how varied it would be. This inspired him to begin using his own custom made, abstract, symmetrical designs to solicit conceptual answers from his subjects.

He believed that he could dig deeper into a patient’s subconscious than written psychological tests allowed.

It is not surprising that most of Rorschach's colleagues did not approve of his illustrations. They did not believe that the blot test didn't have any value. Then in 1912, Rorschach published them in his book, Pscyhodiagnostics.

Many German psychologists called them "crude".

In 1923, the test received wide acclaim when child psychologist David Mordecai Levy brought to the United States, a year after Rorschach died.

WEIRD FACT: THE TESTS WERE PURPOSEFULLY MESSY

Rorschach developed 10 blots with structured disorder. He felt that the blots couldn't be presented as if it was deliberately crafted. Rorschach also omitted any perceptible brush strokes or other indications they had been handmade.

HOW THE TEST WAS ASSESSED

Subjects usually process the test and each image on three planes:

· Form

· Movement

· Color

Finally, Rorschach observed how people reacted to the introduction of color in five of the 10 cards. A person's response to the sudden infusion of pigment into the black and white shapes might indicate stronger emotional responses.

Here's something interesting yet unsurprising: Rorschach thought the test would work on everyone EXCEPT TEENAGERS.

Why?

Rorschach felt the test failed to assess teenagers, because they had too much in common with the clinically insane. period.

In conclusion, the Rorschach test is an interesting and effective method of assessing one's mental state and personality. Unfortunately, the test is still not being taken seriously. The tests are supposed to be clinical but it's all across the internet today. Which is why most psychiatrists don't usually use the ink-blot tests to assess patients.

( I did an online ink blot test, turns out I'm 85% normal so that's great.)