Ink Blot Testing

An ink blot similiar to the ones used for ink blot testing.

Ink blot testing is a projective technique personality test. Ink blots look like blobs of ink on paper however ink blots tell psychologist's a lot of information about the personality of a patient.

History

The ink blot test was developed in 1921 by Hermann Rorschach, a Swiss psychologist. Rorschach was an advocate of psychoanalysis which is a study of the unconscious mind.

Function

The ink blot test is performed to determine a person's concept of the world around them. This test analyzes emotions, understanding, interpersonal relationships, self perception and the capability of handling stress.

Types

There are three established ink blot tests with the first being the Rorschach. The Holtzman Inkblot technique (HIT) was later developed by Wayne Holtzman to surmount some of the limitations of the Rorschach and The Somatic Inkblot Series (SIS) was developed by Wilfred A. Cassell which is a recent addition to the traditional Rorschach test.

Methods

Patients are shown ten ink blots one at a time and they are to state the first thing that comes to mind. The patient is then shown the same ten ink blots for a second time with instructions to study them and then list everything they see.

Significance

Ink blot testing assesses the private world of a person's ideas, wishes and fears which allows a psychologist to assess the behavior of a person's personality. Ink blots are commonly used to test mental patients in psychiatric hospitals.

References

• Nova Southeastern University: Rorschach Inkblot Test
• The University Of Texas At Austin: Inkblot Perception And Personality
• Schatz: Rorschach Inkblot Test