Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health
Volume 33, Number 1, Jan 2026

Editorial & Abstract
1. Editorial: Editorial: Implications of ‘Ergonomics’ Research for the Practice of Projective Assessment, Chris Piotrowski, pages 1-3. Assessment psychologists usually pay little attention to extraneous factors (i.e., the environment) when conducting mental health testing. Yet, decades ago, Hafner (1955) discussed the importance of the assessment ‘Setting’ when administering the Rorschach. In the contemporary assessment enterprise, testing occurs in a variety of unique settings such as medical clinics, correctional facilities, schools, business establishments, university campuses, and practitioners’ office. More recently, (particularly due to the COVID-19 crisis), assessment is frequently performed from remote settings such as place of residence or via an individual’s portable tech devices (Corey & Ben-Porath, 2020; Gnambs & Lenhard, 2024). Other than the testing materials, the examiner, and the patient/client, there are a myriad of factors that could play a significant role in the psychometric credibility of assessment findings. Most of these would be considered ‘ergonomic’ issues, infrequently discussed in the assessment literature. The field of ergonomics, as an applied science, examines and analyzes the interactional aspects of design features pertaining to the physical, cognitive, and environmental domains of human activity (Karwowski & Marras, 1999; Salvendy, 1997). In this context, impact on the individual centers on physical comfort, safety, potential stressors, aesthetics, and optimal performance. The current commentary highlights some of these issues in reference to the practice of projective assessment. I recently conducted a series of bibliometric content analyses of Ergonomics journals regarding coverage on specific investigatory topics over the past 10 years (see Piotrowski, 2026). These studies identified several key topical areas that have implications for the administration of various projective techniques; most noteworthy: lighting/illumination, ambient temperature, weather conditions, colors, noise, time pressure, and indoor design/quality. Most of these ‘environmental’ factors have a ubiquitous and daily impact on our lives. I briefly discuss 3 of these topical issues below. Color: Decades ago, researchers discovered that different color hues have unique influence on psychological and emotional states, such as mood (Wexner, 1954); for example, the color blue tends to have a calming effect (Wright & Rainwater, 1962). With implications for projective assessment, Elliot (2019) concluded that colors can elicit increased arousal and perceptual attention, whereas Greene et al. (1983) found that arousing hues could prevent boredom. Based on Rorschach administration, Drechsler (1960) concluded that the colors red and green can interfere with thought processes, with recent research corroborating these findings (Piotrowski, 2023). Since proper assessment protocol requires optimal effort on the part of the patient/client, the color décor of the furniture and examining room can have a significant impact on the productivity and validity of projective testing results. Music: In the modern age of technological devices, most people are surrounded by music. Both adolescents and adults are seen walking around with their headphones, earphones (e.g., iPods); Music is blasting out of vehicles; even some mental health professionals’ offices have piped-in music in waiting rooms. In fact, music therapy is a recognized treatment approach (Li et al., 2021), and there actually is a Music Apperception Test (van den Daele et al., 2018). With regard to projective techniques, investigators have found that music style has a differential impact on the nature of Thematic Apperception Test narratives and emotional content (Carlton & MacDonald, 2003; McFarland, 1984). With regard to the Rorschach, Satterlee (2006) found significant differences between musicians’ and non-musicians on the quality of inkblot responses. The Weather: The weather is also a ubiquitous and constant factor in our daily lives. Meteorological factors like temperature, humidity, wind velocity, cloudiness, air pressure, precipitation have been associated with weather sensitivity (e.g., daily mood) in human populations (Denissen et al., 2008). Hoeglund (2002) found vast variation in individuals’ mood ratings based on weather conditions, although contrary findings have been reported (see Huibers et al., 2010). Of particular importance for assessment psychologists, Koots et al. (2011) found that personality traits are a significant moderator regarding the influence of weather on affective states. With regard to Inkblot measures, Halali et al. (2017) reported that cool temperature can enhance cognitive control. Tal-Or and Razpurker-Apfeld (2021) found that cold temperature can lead to high levels of empathy for the suffering of others. This latter finding has implications for ‘story’ productions on Thematic tests such as the CAT and TAT, or possibly on conveying affective states in human figure drawings (Piotrowski, 2017). In conclusion, mental health professionals involved in projective assessment need to be cognizant of myriad environmental factors that could have a potential moderator effect on the psychological state of individuals undergoing testing. Thus, in addition to the issues noted above, factors such as room aesthetics, chair design, lighting, noise interruptions, and/or personal comfort could play a significant role in the assessment enterprise. Indeed, ergonomics science has much to contribute to the practice of projective testing. 2. Projective Methods: Applications in Contemporary Marketing and Consumerism Research, Chris Piotrowski, pages 4-7. The application of projective techniques in scholarly research on marketing issues, consumer preferences, and human resource management has a long history. Based on perennial criticism of projective measures in the past, it would be of interest whether projective methods continue to attract research attention and academic scrutiny across the disciplines of marketing, consumerism, and management. Based on a bibliographic strategy, the current study identified contemporary research articles where projective tests were the main methodology in studies in these business-related areas. From an original pool of over 75 peer-reviewed articles, the author identified the key studies (n=10) that supported the continued reliance on projective methods in scholarly efforts across these sub-fields. Overall, nearly all of the investigations found some degree of utility regarding projective tests as part of the research design. Thus, despite methodological critiques, projective measures are considered valid research tools across contemporary business-related areas of study. 3. Self-insight, Self-concept Clarity, Gullibility, Celebrity Admiration & Compulsive Buying, Hyeyeon Hwang, Bethany Jurs, Lynn E. McCutcheon & Edsen Donato, pages 8-15. Compulsive buying is a widespread problem in American society with often devastating consequences. A measure of compulsive buying, along with four measures believed to be related to each other, gullibility, celebrity worship, self-insight, and self-concept clarity, based on previous research, were administered. Results indicated that all five measures were related to each other. Specifically, we found that self-insight and self-concept clarity were positively related to each other (.73, p<.01), and negatively related to gullibility, celebrity worship, and compulsive buying. We also predicted and found that compulsive buying was positively correlated with celebrity worship (.22, p<.01) and gullibility (.15, p<.05). We further predicted that scores on self-insight, self-concept clarity, gullibility, and celebrity worship measures would combine to predict compulsive buying in a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Self-insight proved to be the best predictor of compulsive buying (beta = -.30); addition of the celebrity worship (beta = .16) measure resulted in a total explained variance of 13 %. The discussion focuses on why the other predictors added little to the predictive model. Further validation for the relatively new brief measure of celebrity worship and the importance of the role of psychological assessment in the context of compulsivity was noted. 4. A Novel Approach to Sentence Completions: Associations between Language and Object Relations in an Inpatient Psychiatric Sample, Alex M. Ray & John T. Rucker pages 16-22. The study of language and psychopathology has experienced an empirical surge in recent decades. Empirical efforts have connected language to broad psychological disturbances (e.g., trauma, depression, suicidality) yet less is known about how language relates to narrow constructs governing self/interpersonal functioning (i.e., object relations). This report represents a novel approach using sentence completion test data to examine associations between linguistic expressions and distinct features of object relations. To that end, 159 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients were administered the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI), Inventory for Personality Organization (IPO), and the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) in the first week of hospital admission. Several statistically significant correlations between linguistic expressions and BORRTI and IPO scale scores emerged. Meaningful patterns of correlations are understood in the context of psychoanalytic theory and literature on language and psychopathology. Clinical implications of these research findings, alongside future directions and limitations, are discussed. 5. Behavior Addiction in Young Adults: Blind Analysis through Somatic Inkblot Test, Bhavya Mishra, Anand Dubey & Satyadhar Dwivedi, pages 23-29. Online games are becoming increasingly popular every day. Internet gaming addiction has caused negative consequences for young adults. The establishment of specialized treatment centers in South-East Asia, the United States, and Europe reflects the growing need for professional help. It is argued that by understanding the appeal of Internet gaming, its context, and neurobiological correlates, it can be comprehensively understood. The index case of a 20-year-old young adult, having internet Game addiction, was administered the Somatic Inkblot Test (SIS-II) for the assessment of personality and underlying unconscious conflict. The responses have been analyzed using content analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation. The blind analysis validates the history reported by the client and his parents and serves as an aid to plan further therapeutic intervention. The findings revealed the client has poor interpersonal relationships with his father and mother, low self-esteem, aggressive behavior and depression. 6. Treatment Resistant Anxiety Disorder (TR-AD): Gestalt Views and SIS Projection, L. S. S. Manickam, P. Vani, R. Parvathy & B.L. Dubey, pages 30-37. Treatment-resistant anxiety disorders (TR-AD) pose a significant clinical challenge, contributing to chronicity, comorbidities, and considerable individual and socioeconomic burden. We present the case report of a 50-year-old married man with a 39-year history of anxiety, his responses on the Somatic Inkblot Test (SIS-II Booklet form) and the blind interpretation of these responses. The findings suggest that individuals with anxiety persisting for two or more years and resistant to conventional treatment may benefit from projective test interventions (SIS-II assessment) for early identification of resistance, thereby facilitating therapeutic breakthroughs or clarifying mechanisms of symptom maintenance. From a Gestalt therapy perspective, a field-restricted environment such as inpatient treatment setting may further support resolution of unfinished business and enhance awareness, offering a complementary pathway for engaging resistant anxiety. 7. Perceptual Accuracy on Rorschach in Patients with Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Varun Kumar, Ashok Parasar, N.K Nidhi & Ashok Kumar Patel, Pages 38-43. The present study aims to examine perceptual accuracy in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Schizophrenic disorders are generally characterized by fundamental and distinctive distortions in thinking and perception, often accompanied by inappropriate or blunted affect. Despite these disturbances, clear consciousness and intellectual capacity are typically preserved, although certain cognitive deficits may develop over time. OCD is more commonly observed in males and less frequently among first-born children (Pollard, Wiener, Merkel, & Enseley, 1990). Functional neuroimaging studies in OCD patients have demonstrated abnormal activity in regions such as the anterior/lateral orbit frontal cortex, cingulated gyrus, striatal cortex, and caudate nucleus (Linden, 2006; Rauch, Shin, & Wright, 2003). The primary objective of this study was to compare perceptual accuracy between patients with schizophrenia and those with OCD. A total of 60 patients (30 with schizophrenia and 30 with OCD) were selected from the outpatient department of the Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural and Medical Sciences, Raipur (C.G.) for inclusion in the study. The assessment tools employed included a socio-demographic data sheet and the Rorschach Inkblot Test. 8. Intervention using Somatic Inkblot Test in Dissociative Disorder - A Case Study, Divyanshi Thakwani & Satyadhar Dwivedi, Pages 44-49. Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions that involve experiencing a loss of connection between thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings, behavior and identity. These conditions include escape from reality in ways that are not wanted and not healthy. This causes problems in managing everyday life. The Somatic Imagery Test was administered to a 28-year-old female with complaints of anxiety, episodes of trance and possession, difficulty focusing on her daily routine, recurrent episodes of unconsciousness (4–5 times a day), and an overwhelming sensation of being possessed by a divine force—specifically Maa Durga or Kali. The inkblot images were helpful in eliciting underlying emotional distress, unresolved conflicts, and significant stressors, thereby corroborating the client’s account and aiding the process of psychotherapeutic intervention. 9. A Systematic Review on Maternal Mental Health Scales for Pregnant Women, Shraddhesh K. Tiwari & Aparna Sharma, Pages 50-59. This study was designed to review the psychometric properties and cultural gaps in existing maternal mental health scales. Google Scholar, PubMed and PsycINFO were used to search published articles from 2005 to 2025 on Maternal Mental Health Scales and PRISMA guidelines followed to include the scale studies. The results brought 26 scales which deal with domains of pregnancy issues such as anxiety, maternal stress, pregnancy experience etc. The available scales were reviewed for their sample, number of items, domains, response format, psychometric properties, language and study location, country and their cultural context. The present study highlights the progress of maternal mental health during the last two decades, along with the substantial disparities between developed and developing countries.
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Editorial & Abstract

1. Editorial: Editorial: Implications of ‘Ergonomics’ Research for the Practice of Projective Assessment, Chris Piotrowski, pages 1-3. Assessment psychologists usually pay little attention to extraneous factors (i.e., the environment) when conducting mental health testing. Yet, decades ago, Hafner (1955) discussed the importance of the assessment ‘Setting’ when administering the Rorschach. In the contemporary assessment enterprise, testing occurs in a variety of unique settings such as medical clinics, correctional facilities, schools, business establishments, university campuses, and practitioners’ office. More recently, (particularly due to the COVID-19 crisis), assessment is frequently performed from remote settings such as place of residence or via an individual’s portable tech devices (Corey & Ben-Porath, 2020; Gnambs & Lenhard, 2024).

Other than the testing materials, the examiner, and the patient/client, there are a myriad of factors that could play a significant role in the psychometric credibility of assessment findings. Most of these would be considered ‘ergonomic’ issues, infrequently discussed in the assessment literature. The field of ergonomics, as an applied science, examines and analyzes the interactional aspects of design features pertaining to the physical, cognitive, and environmental domains of human activity (Karwowski & Marras, 1999; Salvendy, 1997). In this context, impact on the individual centers on physical comfort, safety, potential stressors, aesthetics, and optimal performance. The current commentary highlights some of these issues in reference to the practice of projective assessment. I recently conducted a series of bibliometric content analyses of Ergonomics journals regarding coverage on specific investigatory topics over the past 10 years (see Piotrowski, 2026). These studies identified several key topical areas that have implications for the administration of various projective techniques; most noteworthy: lighting/illumination, ambient temperature, weather conditions, colors, noise, time pressure, and indoor design/quality. Most of these ‘environmental’ factors have a ubiquitous and daily impact on our lives. I briefly discuss 3 of these topical issues below.

Color: Decades ago, researchers discovered that different color hues have unique influence on psychological and emotional states, such as mood (Wexner, 1954); for example, the color blue tends to have a calming effect (Wright & Rainwater, 1962). With implications for projective assessment, Elliot (2019) concluded that colors can elicit increased arousal and perceptual attention, whereas Greene et al. (1983) found that arousing hues could prevent boredom. Based on Rorschach administration, Drechsler (1960) concluded that the colors red and green can interfere with thought processes, with recent research corroborating these findings (Piotrowski, 2023). Since proper assessment protocol requires optimal effort on the part of the patient/client, the color décor of the furniture and examining room can have a significant impact on the productivity and validity of projective testing results.

Music: In the modern age of technological devices, most people are surrounded by music. Both adolescents and adults are seen walking around with their headphones, earphones (e.g., iPods); Music is blasting out of vehicles; even some mental health professionals’ offices have piped-in music in waiting rooms. In fact, music therapy is a recognized treatment approach (Li et al., 2021), and there actually is a Music Apperception Test (van den Daele et al., 2018). With regard to projective techniques, investigators have found that music style has a differential impact on the nature of Thematic Apperception Test narratives and emotional content (Carlton & MacDonald, 2003; McFarland, 1984). With regard to the Rorschach, Satterlee (2006) found significant differences between musicians’ and non-musicians on the quality of inkblot responses.

The Weather: The weather is also a ubiquitous and constant factor in our daily lives. Meteorological factors like temperature, humidity, wind velocity, cloudiness, air pressure, precipitation have been associated with weather sensitivity (e.g., daily mood) in human populations (Denissen et al., 2008). Hoeglund (2002) found vast variation in individuals’ mood ratings based on weather conditions, although contrary findings have been reported (see Huibers et al., 2010). Of particular importance for assessment psychologists, Koots et al. (2011) found that personality traits are a significant moderator regarding the influence of weather on affective states. With regard to Inkblot measures, Halali et al. (2017) reported that cool temperature can enhance cognitive control. Tal-Or and Razpurker-Apfeld (2021) found that cold temperature can lead to high levels of empathy for the suffering of others. This latter finding has implications for ‘story’ productions on Thematic tests such as the CAT and TAT, or possibly on conveying affective states in human figure drawings (Piotrowski, 2017).

In conclusion, mental health professionals involved in projective assessment need to be cognizant of myriad environmental factors that could have a potential moderator effect on the psychological state of individuals undergoing testing. Thus, in addition to the issues noted above, factors such as room aesthetics, chair design, lighting, noise interruptions, and/or personal comfort could play a significant role in the assessment enterprise. Indeed, ergonomics science has much to contribute to the practice of projective testing.

2. Projective Methods: Applications in Contemporary Marketing and Consumerism Research, Chris Piotrowski, pages 4-7. The application of projective techniques in scholarly research on marketing issues, consumer preferences, and human resource management has a long history. Based on perennial criticism of projective measures in the past, it would be of interest whether projective methods continue to attract research attention and academic scrutiny across the disciplines of marketing, consumerism, and management. Based on a bibliographic strategy, the current study identified contemporary research articles where projective tests were the main methodology in studies in these business-related areas. From an original pool of over 75 peer-reviewed articles, the author identified the key studies (n=10) that supported the continued reliance on projective methods in scholarly efforts across these sub-fields. Overall, nearly all of the investigations found some degree of utility regarding projective tests as part of the research design. Thus, despite methodological critiques, projective measures are considered valid research tools across contemporary business-related areas of study.

3. Self-insight, Self-concept Clarity, Gullibility, Celebrity Admiration & Compulsive Buying, Hyeyeon Hwang, Bethany Jurs, Lynn E. McCutcheon & Edsen Donato, pages 8-15. Compulsive buying is a widespread problem in American society with often devastating consequences. A measure of compulsive buying, along with four measures believed to be related to each other, gullibility, celebrity worship, self-insight, and self-concept clarity, based on previous research, were administered. Results indicated that all five measures were related to each other. Specifically, we found that self-insight and self-concept clarity were positively related to each other (.73, p<.01), and negatively related to gullibility, celebrity worship, and compulsive buying. We also predicted and found that compulsive buying was positively correlated with celebrity worship (.22, p<.01) and gullibility (.15, p<.05). We further predicted that scores on self-insight, self-concept clarity, gullibility, and celebrity worship measures would combine to predict compulsive buying in a stepwise multiple regression analysis. Self-insight proved to be the best predictor of compulsive buying (beta = -.30); addition of the celebrity worship (beta = .16) measure resulted in a total explained variance of 13 %. The discussion focuses on why the other predictors added little to the predictive model. Further validation for the relatively new brief measure of celebrity worship and the importance of the role of psychological assessment in the context of compulsivity was noted.

4. A Novel Approach to Sentence Completions: Associations between Language and Object Relations in an Inpatient Psychiatric Sample, Alex M. Ray & John T. Rucker pages 16-22. The study of language and psychopathology has experienced an empirical surge in recent decades. Empirical efforts have connected language to broad psychological disturbances (e.g., trauma, depression, suicidality) yet less is known about how language relates to narrow constructs governing self/interpersonal functioning (i.e., object relations). This report represents a novel approach using sentence completion test data to examine associations between linguistic expressions and distinct features of object relations. To that end, 159 consecutively admitted psychiatric inpatients were administered the Bell Object Relations and Reality Testing Inventory (BORRTI), Inventory for Personality Organization (IPO), and the Rotter Incomplete Sentences Blank (RISB) in the first week of hospital admission. Several statistically significant correlations between linguistic expressions and BORRTI and IPO scale scores emerged. Meaningful patterns of correlations are understood in the context of psychoanalytic theory and literature on language and psychopathology. Clinical implications of these research findings, alongside future directions and limitations, are discussed. 5. Behavior Addiction in Young Adults: Blind Analysis through Somatic Inkblot Test, Bhavya Mishra, Anand Dubey & Satyadhar Dwivedi, pages 23-29. Online games are becoming increasingly popular every day. Internet gaming addiction has caused negative consequences for young adults. The establishment of specialized treatment centers in South-East Asia, the United States, and Europe reflects the growing need for professional help. It is argued that by understanding the appeal of Internet gaming, its context, and neurobiological correlates, it can be comprehensively understood. The index case of a 20-year-old young adult, having internet Game addiction, was administered the Somatic Inkblot Test (SIS-II) for the assessment of personality and underlying unconscious conflict. The responses have been analyzed using content analysis and psychoanalytic interpretation. The blind analysis validates the history reported by the client and his parents and serves as an aid to plan further therapeutic intervention. The findings revealed the client has poor interpersonal relationships with his father and mother, low self-esteem, aggressive behavior and depression. 6. Treatment Resistant Anxiety Disorder (TR-AD): Gestalt Views and SIS Projection, L. S. S. Manickam, P. Vani, R. Parvathy & B.L. Dubey, pages 30-37. Treatment-resistant anxiety disorders (TR-AD) pose a significant clinical challenge, contributing to chronicity, comorbidities, and considerable individual and socioeconomic burden. We present the case report of a 50-year-old married man with a 39-year history of anxiety, his responses on the Somatic Inkblot Test (SIS-II Booklet form) and the blind interpretation of these responses. The findings suggest that individuals with anxiety persisting for two or more years and resistant to conventional treatment may benefit from projective test interventions (SIS-II assessment) for early identification of resistance, thereby facilitating therapeutic breakthroughs or clarifying mechanisms of symptom maintenance. From a Gestalt therapy perspective, a field-restricted environment such as inpatient treatment setting may further support resolution of unfinished business and enhance awareness, offering a complementary pathway for engaging resistant anxiety. 7. Perceptual Accuracy on Rorschach in Patients with Schizophrenia and Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder, Varun Kumar, Ashok Parasar, N.K Nidhi & Ashok Kumar Patel, Pages 38-43. The present study aims to examine perceptual accuracy in patients diagnosed with schizophrenia and obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). Schizophrenic disorders are generally characterized by fundamental and distinctive distortions in thinking and perception, often accompanied by inappropriate or blunted affect. Despite these disturbances, clear consciousness and intellectual capacity are typically preserved, although certain cognitive deficits may develop over time. OCD is more commonly observed in males and less frequently among first-born children (Pollard, Wiener, Merkel, & Enseley, 1990). Functional neuroimaging studies in OCD patients have demonstrated abnormal activity in regions such as the anterior/lateral orbit frontal cortex, cingulated gyrus, striatal cortex, and caudate nucleus (Linden, 2006; Rauch, Shin, & Wright, 2003). The primary objective of this study was to compare perceptual accuracy between patients with schizophrenia and those with OCD. A total of 60 patients (30 with schizophrenia and 30 with OCD) were selected from the outpatient department of the Post Graduate Institute of Behavioural and Medical Sciences, Raipur (C.G.) for inclusion in the study. The assessment tools employed included a socio-demographic data sheet and the Rorschach Inkblot Test. 8. Intervention using Somatic Inkblot Test in Dissociative Disorder - A Case Study, Divyanshi Thakwani & Satyadhar Dwivedi, Pages 44-49. Dissociative disorders are mental health conditions that involve experiencing a loss of connection between thoughts, memories, feelings, surroundings, behavior and identity. These conditions include escape from reality in ways that are not wanted and not healthy. This causes problems in managing everyday life. The Somatic Imagery Test was administered to a 28-year-old female with complaints of anxiety, episodes of trance and possession, difficulty focusing on her daily routine, recurrent episodes of unconsciousness (4–5 times a day), and an overwhelming sensation of being possessed by a divine force—specifically Maa Durga or Kali. The inkblot images were helpful in eliciting underlying emotional distress, unresolved conflicts, and significant stressors, thereby corroborating the client’s account and aiding the process of psychotherapeutic intervention. 9. A Systematic Review on Maternal Mental Health Scales for Pregnant Women, Shraddhesh K. Tiwari & Aparna Sharma, Pages 50-59. This study was designed to review the psychometric properties and cultural gaps in existing maternal mental health scales. Google Scholar, PubMed and PsycINFO were used to search published articles from 2005 to 2025 on Maternal Mental Health Scales and PRISMA guidelines followed to include the scale studies. The results brought 26 scales which deal with domains of pregnancy issues such as anxiety, maternal stress, pregnancy experience etc. The available scales were reviewed for their sample, number of items, domains, response format, psychometric properties, language and study location, country and their cultural context. The present study highlights the progress of maternal mental health during the last two decades, along with the substantial disparities between developed and developing countries.

Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health
Volume 33, Number 1, Jan 2026

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Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health Volume 33, Number 1, Jan 2026

About Us

Our Sponsors

Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health
Volume 33, Number 1, Jan 2026