Relationship Conflict - A Case study with the help of Somatic Inkblot Test

Nipun Ranga, Sakshi Bhagta & Anand Dubey

(SIS Journal of Projective Psychology & Mental Health, (2022):29:2, 111-115).

The Somatic Inkblot Test (Booklet version) was administered to a couple, who were in a relationship for 5 years. Both are employed and financially stable. They are having relationship issues, and the male partner wants to walk out from this relationship. He feels he cannot adjust anymore. The responses given by them on the test indicated intimacy, erotic conflict, and personality issues. The responses were analysed using psychoanalytical interpretation and content analysis and discussed in the case study.

Introduction:

We go through the different developmental stages of life from conception to death and each developmental stage is important for growth. In adulthood having a partner is an important part of our emotional and sexual life. We need to feel emotionally safe and secure and at the same time, we must fulfil our physical needs. A relationship should make us happy and fulfil all kinds of emotional needs such as love, affection, support, and intimate sharing. When the physical and emotional needs are not satisfied by the partner, it leads to emotional disturbance, dissatisfaction, and stress in life (Manickam, & Suhani (2014). It is normal to have a problem in a relationship but it's more important to resolve it and proceed ahead with the intention to have a stronger relationship. When we are in a committed relationship, we must consider our partner as an important player of an informal team.

When we are in a committed relationship, we naturally feel the intimacy towards our partner and to make it stronger, physical relationship plays a great role. When two adults are in a relationship, sex becomes a normal part of it and no intimate relationship works without sexual bond. It is a prime factor to make the relationship more meaningful. 

The Case:

The couple has been in a relationship for 5 years and approached one of the authors for counselling to resolve issues   in their relationship. The male partner is 30 years old and is an entrepreneur of a small firm, whereas the female is 30 years old working as a government employee. Members of both families are aware of their relationship. The male partner lives with his maternal grandmother along with his mother. His parents got separated when he was about 6 years old. His mother moved back to her parents' home, where he got love and affection from everyone in the family. He never felt the separation from his father because he was looked after well in his grandfather’ family.  

On the other hand, the female partner lived alone in a flat, away from her parents, because she took a job in a different city. She has two siblings, an elder sister, and one younger brother. She moved to a charitable hostel at the age 10 years. She completed her graduation and took employment.  

The female feels that he is cheating on her and she is the one who is giving everything to the relationship, but he doesn't support her. However, the male feels she is a very dominating person, kind of insecure and expects a lot from him. He said she wants to have full control over him. She has taken all the passwords of his laptop and wants to know everything he does in a day and doesn't like him meeting with his friends. She has created scenes many times when he met his female friends. The female partner further complains that she supports him and his family and cares about them a lot, but he doesn't reciprocate the same to me and my family. They have no sexual relationship during 5 years of courtship. According to the male partner, he tried to make a physical relationship with her, but she was never interested. On the other hand, the female partner said she has no interest in sexual intimacy and feels awkward even to talk about it.

During clinical intervention, it was observed that the male partner looked stressed but emotionally balanced whereas the female was crying, and her behaviour was not appropriate as per the situation. She was confused and emotionally unbalanced as per the situation.

Methodology:

Both the partners were administered the Somatic Inkblot Test Booklet version individually following standard procedure (Cassell & Dubey, 1990, 2003; Dubey et al, 2019). The significant responses along with rejection of images were analysed using content analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation (Schafer, 1954).

Responses of Male Partner on SIS-II Booklet:

Three most liked images: 

A6 (Image 4 of SIT): “Small boy with teddy” is a normal response suggesting his healthy childhood memories.

B5 (Image 20 of SIT): “Two people sitting on chairs and sharing thoughts”. This is a healthy response with positive emotional content. It may also indicate his desire to be with his partner and sharing nice moments of life.

B31 (Image 30 of SIT): “Family picture” is a normal response. It suggests that instead of the parent’s separation he found the congenial family atmosphere.

Other Significant Responses:

A7 (Image 5 of SIT): “Drawing of a dancing boy”. If a male fails to perceive a  “dancing lady” it indicates that the man has traumatic experience from a female. In either case non perception of dancing lady indicates poor interpersonal relationship with opposite sex. 

A10: “face with tears in eyes” which may be indicative of depressive content and low self-image.

A13 (Image 8 of SIT): “burning hand asking for help”. It is indicative of depressive content and a feeling of hopelessness. It may also indicate a severe adverse situation with lots of problems which he wanted to share with the therapist. 

A16 (Image 9 of SIT): “two birds giving shelter” is a good response, indicating good interpersonal relationship and a desire to protect each other. 

A21 (Image 13 of SIT): “Dancing figure wearing some costume.” He avoided perceiving the typical response of two children. Not perceiving two children/babies is a strong indication of conflict with the father. During inquiry he said that after separation from his father, his mother tried her best to keep him happy. 

B4 (Image 19 of SIT): “two spoilt faces” which may indicate severe aggression towards his father. It may also indicate poor interpersonal relationships between the couple as his girlfriend tries to dominate him. 

B8: “a huge piece of rock kept on a cliff of a mountain”. Content analysis is indicative of feeling burden and suffocation in the relationship. 

B12: “angry/ frustrated face”. This may indicate his own frustration and anger towards his partner.

B15 (Image 21 of SIT): “multiple knives thrown at someone”. The response indicates severe hostility and aggression which must be addressed by the therapist. This is an alarming sign which needs immediate attention.

B19 (Image 24 of SIT): “ball surrounded by snakes”. It suggests his feeling of being trapped in the relationship. Not perceiving hearts indicates conflict in a love relationship and craving for affection. 

B28 (Image 28 of SIT): “a person standing disappointed” and a “mother and child”. The person standing disappointed indicates his own disappointment with his partner. Mother and child is a normal response, indicating healthy, smooth interpersonal relationship with his mother. 

Rejected Images:

A8:  This image is normally perceived as Man; man showing male parts. Male sex organ is the most common response on this image. Rejection of this image may indicate sexual conflict with male partner. Avoiding perceiving male organ may also indicate avoiding sexual contact which is supported by their case histories.

A9 (Image 6 of SIT): Two persons dancing/interacting is a normal response in this image.  Rejection of this image may indicate disturbed interpersonal relationships between the couple. 

A17 (Image 10 of SIT): This image is normally perceived as Chest; ribs; heart; lungs but rejection may indicate physical ailments such as Cardiac/liver problems with self or with some significant family members. During inquiry he said that his maternal grandmother recently got operated for a heart problem. 

B6: Rejection of this image may indicate erotic conflict. Usually, people perceive upper thighs and lower abdomen, a pair of paints on this image.

B16: Spinal Cord is a frequently perceived response on this image which he failed to perceive. The rejection of this image may indicate his sexual conflict.    

B17 (Image 22 of SIT): Heart is the common response on this image. Rejection of this image may indicate a conflicting love relationship in this case.

B18 (Image 23 of SIT): Male Sex organ is the typical normal response on this image. It indicates healthy erotic imagery. Rejection of this image may indicate sexual conflict as he confirmed that he wanted to have a physical relationship with his partner, but she always denied it. 

B21 (Image 25 of SIT): Rejection of this image may indicate suppressed hostility/aggression. Guns are the normal response. 

B26: Female sex organ is a normal response on this image whereas rejection may indicate sexual conflict with the partner which he confirmed during intervention.

Responses of Female Partner on SIS-II Booklet:

Three most liked images: 

A16 (Image 9 of SIT): “Kissing happy birds, heart” is a normal response which indicates her desire to have an active love relationship. She could not establish a relationship with her partner because of the pressure of her family and non-acceptance of such a relationship in her culture/ society. Heart is a normal healthy response.

B3: “Man, woman within heart, someone standing, girl holding flower” is a normal response and shows her desire to get love and attention from her partner. 

B18 (Image 23 of SIT): “Alone child seating” is an atypical response to this image. Male phallic organ is the normal perception of this image. Females with sexual conflict often reject this image because it symbolizes male phallic body part. The therapist must address her relationship issues during therapy sessions, and she must be given sex education and normal practices in couple relationship. 

Three least like images: 

A21 (Image 13 of SIT): “Dancing Babies, Heart, Death God”. Dancing babies indicate her smooth childhood, but the “Death God” indicates the presence of a scary feeling towards her father.  

A30: “Ghost eyes/nose, skull” may indicate uncertainty in life and unconscious fear. Perception of “Ghost” may also indicate fearfulness, helplessness, weakness (Schafer,1954).

B2: “Person with tail carrying a child”. The person with the tail may symbolize an animal who is carrying a child. Except for strict behaviour from her maternal uncle's family, where she lived a major part of her life, she does not remember any cruelty. However, the feeling of separation from her father cannot be ruled out which may have an impact on her. She might come out with her issues during therapy sessions later. 

Other Significant Responses:

A8: “sad girl” which may indicate her passive mood.  Normally people project male phallic symbols on this image which she has denied perceiving, may further indicate erotic conflict and poor interpersonal relationship with her partner.

A9 (Image 6 of SIT): "Laughing funny person". Two persons, male and female, or any two persons is a healthy response, suggests good interpersonal relationship. However, “laughing at funny person” may indicate   aggression towards the person. She has not perceived the person on the other side which may further indicate her poor interpersonal relationship with her partner and feeling of loneliness. 

A25 (Image 15 of SIT): “eyes, nose, and oval shape”. Female phallic organ is the normal response in this image. The “Eye” represents the female phallic part, is a normal response. It may indicate her healthy attitude towards erotic imagery. However, If a female fails to perceive the embedded phallic content, in this image, it may indicate low self and sexual conflict with male. As she is a mature adult, she needs to learn healthy practices in couple relations during therapy sessions. 

A31 (Image 18 of SIT): “two-person, a boy speaking to a girl (with eyes). It indicates a disturbed relationship with her boyfriend and her suspicious nature towards him.

Though Freudian psychoanalytic symbolism of vagina is eyes, but the client distorted her perception of the reality in terms of the embedded somatic structure embedded. Her distorted projection follows: “eyes nose (two dots in lower area of blot) but not perceived it She was focussing on the minor detail of the image. It is also indicative of sexual conflict and low self-image. 

B18 (Image 23 of SIT): “Alone child sitting”. Malephallicorgan is the common response in this image, which may indicate healthy erotic imagery.  Snake, spine, missiles, sailing boats in sea/river, indicates symbolic Freudian connotation of male phallic organ. Instead of perceiving phallic male part she has viewed it as a lone child which may indicate her pensive mood, feeling of separation and sexual conflict. Females with sexual trauma often reject this image.This may also indicate her avoidance of intimate physical contact with her partner which has been one of reasons to visit the clinic.

Rejected Images:

A11: Rejection of this image may indicate poor self-image and bodily anxiety.

A20 (Image 12 of SIT): Kidney is the most common response in this image. Rejection may indicate kidney/heart problems with self or with some significant family members. During inquiry she had confirmed that she is undergoing treatment for kidney stones. 

A23 (Image 14 of SIT): Spinal Column is the common response in this image. It symbolises male phallic organs. Rejection of this image projects her sexual conflict with her partner, which she had discussed during her initial visit.

A26 (Image 16 of SIT): Fatus is a normal response to this image. Rejection suggests her fear of being getting pregnant by indulging into sexual contact with her partner.  

A27 (Image 17 of SIT): Breast is the normal response. Rejection on this image projects deprivation/conflict with mother during childhood. During enquiry she had confirmed the relationship issues with mother, and she was not properly breastfed by her mother. 

B9: Lungs/Kidney is a common response. The rejection may indicate her own problem of kidney stones. 

B26: The typical response on this image is female sex organ. Rejection of this image shows sexual conflict and poor self-image. 

Conclusion:

The Somatic Inkblot Test was administered to a couple individually having relationship conflict. The images brought on the surface the underlying conflict in the area of intimate relationship, pensive mood, feeling of separation, and interpersonal conflict. The male partner has given 14 Most Typical responses which indicate his contact with reality, moderate ego strength and is free from psychological ailments. However, he has mild depression, frustration, poor interpersonal relationships, and conflict in the sexual area. The female partner has given 13 Most Typical responses, indicating her contact with reality. She has shown poor self-image, mild depression, feeling of separation, conflict in the sexual area, suspicious attitude, and anxiety. The content analyses of SIT responses brought to the surface their disturbed interpersonal relationship. The couple is still undergoing psychotherapy and showing improvement which will be reported in future with the findings on repeat testing.

References:

Cassell, W, A. & Dubey, B. L. (1990). Somatic Inkblot Test- Manual. SIS Canter, Anchorage (USA)

Cassell, W, A. & Dubey, B. L. (2003). Interpreting Inner World through Somatic Imagery: Manual of Somatic Inkblot Series. Anchorage (USA): SIS Center.

Cassell, W, A. & Dubey, B. L. (2014). Dream and SIS Symbolism in Bereavement.SIS Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health, 21:3-10

Dubey, B. L. Banerjee, P. & Dubey, A. (2019). Inkblot Personality Test: Understanding Unconscious Mind, SAGE Publication Inc 

Manickam, L.S.S. & Suhani B.T. (2014). Marital Conflict: An Exploration of Relationship Issues in Couples through SIS-II. SIS Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health, 21: 37-41

Schafer, R. (1954) Psychoanalytic Interpretation in Rorschach Testing, New York, Grune