CHAPTER 5

Administration and Scoring of Rorschach:

Administration:

Before administration of the Rorschach test, the Examiner should have items such as: Rorschach Cards in Alphabetical Order (face down on the table), Record Sheets, Stop watch, Location Chart, Pencil and Ball pen.

He should insure assessing subject’s present physical and mental condition, reason of referral (if referred by someone), and previous diagnosis if any. The Subject should be relaxed and cooperative and explain how the test will help in planning the overall treatment plan.

There are three systems most widely used and have almost common procedure of administration. There is little difference in their “instructions” though most of psychologists follow it interchangeably. The instructions of Klopfer et al (1942) and Beck (1937) are given below:

Instruction:

Klopfer has suggested the following Instructions:

“People see all sorts of things in these ink-blot pictures; now tell me what you see, what it might be for you, what it makes you think of." (Klopfer & Kelly, 1942, page-32)

Beck has suggested the following Instructions (published by Beck (1937) :

“The test consists of a series of 10 Cards and you will be given ten cards, one by one. The cards have on them designs made up out of ink blots. Look at each card, and tell the examiner what you see on each card, or anything that might be represented there. Look at each card as long as you like; only be sure to tell the examiner everything that you see on the card as you look at it. When you have finished with a card, give it to the examiner as a sign that you are through it”. (Beck, S. J. 1949, Page 2).

However, “the essence of Rorschach test procedure is to leave the subject entirely free. He makes his own selection, in each test figure, of the portion to which he reacts; any of a number of factors may determine what he sees; the content may be anything. In his test Rorschach has thus combined two sets of conditions, (a) fixed objective stimulus (and) (b) freedom of subjects” (Beck, 1937). You can mention if asked: “I want you to tell me what you see there, what it means to you. There is no right or wrong answer. It is simply a matter of what it means to you or what you see there. Some people see many things others a few. It is entirely up to you. Please place the card facing it down on the table if you cannot see any things more. I will give you next card and so on”.

Any question asked by the subject should be replied in non committable way for example:

Subject: Can I turn the card?

Examiner: As you like

If he does not answer for one minute you can repeat “What do you see”. Or “What does it mean to you”.

Even if he does not see any things tell him” well let’s try next card”.

Recording of Responses:

1. Write the Response on record sheet in verbatim.

2. Write Reaction Time on each card and total time taken during testing.

Inquiry:

Enquiry is the most important part of Rorschach testing. We have to consider each response separately for Location and Determinants:

Examiner: “Well you perceived ……….Would you show me exactly where you saw this on this card and describe the parts you can see”.

Examiner: “You said a…What makes it look like…What more…(Ensure what makes him/her to determine the Form, Movement if any, Color and Shading etc)

Example:

Card VIII:

Two Animals climbing up.

Examiner: Where you see two animals

Subject: The Shape, they have four legs, head and looks as climbing.

Examiner: What made it like climbing?

Subject: The movement here looks like.

Examiner: What else?

Subject: They might be Fox because hair on their body, it’s furry.

Scoring: D1 (Location) FM’ Fc’ (Determinants) A (Content) 2 (Form Level Rating) P (Popular)

(For details please see Klopfer et al (1954, page 49-239)

Testing the Limit:

“It is designed to elicit responses and also details in Location, Determinant, and Content etc that have been omitted, distorted and avoided. The examiner will formulate questions in such a way as to check why he is unable to respond:

Examiner: Now we come to the final part. You have not given any response to these cards. Most people see human beings in some of the cards, can you find where? The examiner gives all the details (legs, head…) and asks whether he can see it now.

Rejection:

If the subject is unable to see anything on the card, it is considered as “rejected”. A response such as ‘inkblot”, is not considered a response and treated as “rejection”. Rejection of images may be because of non cooperation, thought blockage and an inability to think properly. Try to make the Subject to hold the card for a minimum of two minutes before permitting rejection.

The Termination:

The testing can be terminated after thanking the subject for spending so much time and the purpose that the response given by the subject will help in the overall planning of treatment.

By and large all major systems of inkblots (Rorschach Inkblots, Holtzman Inkblots and Somatic Inkblots follow the above procedure with minor variation in presentation of Cards/images.

Procedures of Administration:

Almost similar in all three systems as described in the chapter “Administration”. However, some procedure which is different from each other is given below:

Instructions:

“What might this be? And nothing else!”

Attempted Rejections:

When the subject fails to perceive anything(s?) particularly on card I and II, it suggests that the examiner has failed to establish rapport with the subject. In such a situation the examiner should stop testing and try to understand the reason of rejection. The test can be started again with card I after consent of the subject.

Problems of Brief protocols:

If the subject has given less than 14 responses the examiner should not precede further with the inquiry. He should explain to the subject that he has not given enough responses, to get anything out of it. I want you to see them again and make sure to give more responses this time. You can include the responses you have already given, if you like so (Exner, 1978).

Problems of Lengthy Protocols:

Some subjects give endless number of responses on each cards and in such situation, you have to consider first five responses on each cards for the interpretation.

The Inquiry:

“I want to see the things that you saw and make sure that I see them like you do. We will do them one at a time. I will read what you said and then I want you to show me where it is in the blot and then tell me what is there, that makes it look like that to you, so that I can see it too. Just like you did” (Exner, 1978).

Testing Limits:

“Some time it may be important to determine if a person can easily see objects that are commonly reported by most of people, but have not been reported by the client. Usually these become an issue when a person has failed to give any popular answers. After the inquiry has been completed the examiner selects two or three blots (typically VIII, III, and V) to which the person has not given the popular responses (Exner, 1978)”.

Exner has suggested the following procedures of administration:

Instructions:

“What might this be? And nothing else!”

Attempted Rejections:

When the subject does not perceive anything particularly on card I and II, it suggests that examiner has failed to establish rapport with the subject. In such situation the examiner should stop testing. It can be started again with consent of the subject.

Problems of Brief protocols:

If the subject has given less than 14 Responses, the examiner should stop inquiry.

Problems of Lengthy Protocols:

Some subjects give endless number of responses on each cards and in such situation, examiner should consider first five responses on each cards for interpretation.

The Inquiry:

Similar to Klopfer and Beck.

Testing Limits:

After the inquiry, the examiner should select two or three blots (III, V and VIII) to which the subject has failed to perceive Popular.

Scoring Systems of Rorschach in India:

Klopfer’s Method

Beck’s Method:

Exner’s Method

Though different scoring systems are practiced in other countries, no effort has been made to develop an exclusive scoring system that may be applicable to the Indian population. Also, there is no consensus regarding the scoring system to be followed by the clinicians in India. Probably this reflected the philosophy of clinical training, where focus is more on the clinical application of the Rorschach test rather than its research utility.

The published research papers indicate that, Klopfer’s Method (Klopfer & Davidson, 1962) and Beck’s Method (Beck & Molish, 1967) are being used by the majority of clinicians and researchers in India (Banerjee et. al., 1998, Kumar & Patel 1990; Kohli & Kaur, 2002, Chaudhury, et al, 2001, 2007, Manickam et al, 2003, 2004, 2005). Some use Exner’s Method. Others use the specific signs like the Piotrowski’s organic signs of epilepsy (Chaudhury & Sundari, 1996, 1997, 1998, Vagrecha & Sen, 1974) or the Theisens’ Pattern on psychotic disorders (Chaudhury & Sundari (1996). Piotrowski’s alpha diagnostic formula is yet another area of clinical investigation (Prabhu, 1970).

The scoring system taught at National institute of Mental Health and Neuro Sciences (NIMHANS) is based on the Klopfer’s method. The institute has also developed a manual based on Klopfer’s system (De Vos, 1973). The students who use the test as a research tool got trained in one of the established scoring system for analysis of the research data and Klopfer's method was the preferred one (Kaur & Kapur, 1983; Pratap &d Kapur, 1984; Ramachandra, 1994).

The second major training centre of clinical psychology is The Central Institute of Psychiatry, Kanke, Ranchi where Exner’s method (1978, Exner, 1995; Exner, 2001) is followed. Earlier, this Institute was following Beck’s method (Beck 1945). The Clinical psychologists so trained only one’s in India are using this technique.

The third major training centre of clinical psychology is Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS), Kanke, Ranchi, where the Rorschach test and the Somatic Inkblot Series forms part of the curriculum. The Rorschach’s scoring method taught at this institute is based on Beck’s Method (Beck 1945). The scoring and interpretation of SIS is followed as per Manual by Cassell (1980) and Cassell & Dubey (2003, 2005). This projective procedure has been adopted as a major 21st century psychological tool by two major training centers: Ranchi Institute of Neuro Psychiatry and Allied Sciences (RINPAS), Kanke, Ranchi and Institute of Mental Health and Hospital, (IMHH), Agra (Kumar et al, 2001, 2003, 2004, 2005, 2007, 2008, Singh et al, 1996, 1997, 2001, 2002, 2007).

Pershad & Pareekh (2001) prepared a protocol manual for the Rorschach test. Though the authors specified that the objective of the manual was to popularize the test using the ‘made it easy manual’, the scoring approach it had taken, actually may have confused the students. It does not adhere to any particular scoring system nor had tried to develop a scoring system based on Indian experience. However, on the positive side, it has taken into consideration the diverse population of India in relation to some of the indices and content.

The Exner’s System and Holtzman Inkblot test have also attracted many academicians and Clinical Psychologists. The three scoring methods – Klopfer’s system (1954), Beck’s system (1937, 1949, and 1967) and Exner’s system (1974, 1995, and 2001) are given in brief. The Holtzman Inkblot Test has been elaborated in a separate chapter. The scoring categories and their explanation have been taken from the main source to avoid any discrepancy. We have also tried to note all scoring categories and their interpretation with few exceptions. Readers are invited to follow the basic books of a particular system for detailed explanation.

1. Klopfer’s Scoring System:

The scoring categories and their explanation have been taken from Klopfer et al (1954). We have tried to note all scoring categories and their interpretation but left a few which we consider less significant.

Explanation of main Scoring Symbols (at a glance):

W|||Whole Blot||

W Cut|||Use of whole blot but part or parts omitted or cut off||

W, S|||Whole blot and White space used (Score as Main W and additional S)||

DW|||Detail interpreted, with its meaning assigned to the whole blot without justification(confabulation)||

D|||Large Usual Detail||

D-W|||Detail interpreted and remainder of blot used as background or W tendency otherwise expressed (score as main D and additional W)||

D,S|||White space used in addition to D (score as main D and additional S)||

d (small d)|||Small Usual detail||

Dd|||Unusual Details ||

dd (both small d)|||Tiny details||

de(small de)|||Edge details||

di(small de)|||Inside detail||

dr|||Rare details||

S|||White Space||

M||Figure in Human like action(Human, Mythological or Animal)|||

FM||Animal in Animal like action|||

m||Abstract or inanimate Movement|||

mF||Inanimate motion with form indefinite|||

Fm||Definite form in inanimate motion|||

K||Shading as Three -Dimensional Expanse Projected on a two Dimensional Plane

( X-ray, topographical map)|||

K||form excluded from consideration|||

kF(small k Cap F)||form indefinite|||

Fk||Definite form with k|||

K||Shading as Diffusion (Smoke, Clouds)|||

K||form excluded from consideration|||

KF||form indefinite|||

FK||Shading as Three Dimensional or depth impressions is combined with definite F giving Vista or Perspective to a landscape. |||

F||Form Only, Not Enlivened Form more accurate than Popular|||

F+||form more accurate than popular|||

F||form on level of popular response|||

F-||form less accurate than popular|||

Fc ||Shading as Surface Appearance or Texture, Differentiated|||

c(Small c)||Shading gives impression of surface or texture(Undifferentiated)|||

cF(small c Cap F)||form indefinite|||

C’||Achromatic Surface Color|||

FC’||definite form with C’|||

C’F||Form indefinite|||

C’||form excluded from consideration|||

FC||Definite Form with Bright Color|||

F/C||Combination of F and C where the form is definite and the color used merely to distinguish area|||

CF||Bright Color with Indefinite Form|||

C/F||Combination of C and F where the color is used merely to distinguish areas and the form indefinite(indefinite anatomical chart, political map)|||

C||Color only|||

C||Concrete association to bright color; form and color text disregarded (blue: sky or water, red: fire or blood)|||

Cn||Color naming|||

Cdes||Color description|||

Csym||Color symbolism-abstract association to bright color (Spring, Fall, Gayety)|||

H|Human Figures||||

Hd|Parts of Human Figures, not Anatomical||||

A|Animal Figure||||

|||||

Ad|Parts of Living Animals||||

At|Human Anatomy (dissected parts, X-rays, anatomical charts)||||

A Obj|Fur Skins, Skulls and the like||||

Obj|All kinds of Man Made Objects|||||

Nat|Nature (landscapes, mountains, sunsets, rivers and other scenery)|||||

Topographic|Topographical and outline Maps and Geographical concepts like Islands, Gulfs, Channels, not seen in vista|||||

(H) (A)|Mythological Human or Animal|||||

Other Content Symbols|Other Symbols like Blood, Arch (Architecture), Food, PL (Plant), Geography, Art and Design, Emblem, Clouds, Fire, Mask, Abstract etc are self explanatory.|||||

4. POPULAR AND ORIGINAL||||||

P||||Only Ten Responses as Popular in Klopfer’s system (details given ahead)||

O||||Original Response is one that does not appear more than once in a hundred records.||

Form Level is rated on a scale ranging from - 2 through 0.0 to +5.0. There are two essential steps in ascertaining the Form Level Rating:

2. Adding a credit of 0.5 for each constructive specification or for a successful organization, and subtracting a credit of 0.5 for a specification or organization that weakens the match of concept or blot.||||||

F+||||+.5, +1.0, +1.5. +2.0, +2.5, +3, +3.5, +4.0, +4.5,+5.0

For detail Please see Klopfer(1954)||

F-||||-.5. -1.0, -1.5, -2.0

For detail Please see Klopfer (1954)||

Description of Main Scoring Categories:

1. Location:

W: Whole Responses is scored when all or nearly the whole blot is used.

DW: The individual tries to perceive whole blot on basis of one detail, though the concept is a bad match for the blot as a whole and the discrepancy does not bothers the subject.

D: Large usual details are scored when large parts which are marked off by the Gestalt qualities of the blot.

d: Small usual details (small d)are scored when smaller parts of the blot marked off by the Gestalt qualities of the blot.

Dd: Unusual details (cap d small d) are scored when the part of the blot used is not classifiable as a large or small detail.

dd tiny details (both small dd)are scored for responses like insular/peninsular, marked off by space, shading or color from rest of the blot.

de edge details (small d and small e) are scored for locations using only the edge of the blot.

di inside details (both small d and i) are scored when the inside shaded portion of the blot is used.

dr rare details (both small d and r) are scored where an unusual location is used which cannot be classified as dd, de, or di.

S: White space is scored when the white background becomes the figure and rest area as the background.

(For details of Location Scoring and Location Charts, please see Klopfer et al 1954, pages 49-94).

There are four main classes of determinants which are given below (Form, Movement, Shading and Color)

The concept is determined by the shape of the blot only and color and shading has no contribution.

Score F where there is no other main determinant.

(II) Movement Responses:

M: Figure in Human like action: (Human, Mythological):

Score M for human beings seeing in action even if described as caricatures, drawings, statues etc.

Score M for human beings seen in any live posture, unless it is qualified as a drawing, statue etc.

Score M for human like movement in animals such as fairy-tale creatures, Walt Disney animals but do not score M for movement in trained animals eg a trained dog, ape, seal etc.

Score M for movement controlled by an individual (such as person whirling with scarf, skirts blowing)

Score M for parts of human beings seeing in action, human face with an expression.

Score FM for animal in movement even if described as caricatures, drawings, statues etc.

Score FM for animal in a lifelike posture, provided it is not shown as a drawing, statue etc.

Score FM for parts of animals in animal like action.

Fm: Score Fm (cap F small m) if the object is in movement with definite Form eg. a spinning top, flying aircraft.

mF: Score mF (small m cap F) if the object is moving and has indefinite form eg leaping flame, swirling clouds.

m: Score m (small m) if there is no form and only movement.

Differentiated Shading Responses:

Fc: Score Fc(Cap F small c) where surface or texture effect is either itself highly differentiated or having definite form eg a fur rug on card VI-W or a Teddy bear-it looks soft and fuzzy (Card-VII).

FK: Score FK (Both Cap F and K) where three dimensional or depth impression is combined with definite Form perception, giving vista or perspective to a landscape (A piece of coral rock looking straight down through the water at it W on Card VIII or a canyon with different shape and entrance in the center- W on Card VII).

Fk: Score Fk (Cap F small k) where the shading gives the impression of a three dimensional expanse projected on a two dimensional plane involving definite shape (Such as X-Ray chest with ribs, or topographical map of India on Card I).

(III b): Undifferentiated Shading Responses:

KF: Score KF (both cap) where some form enters into the depth or diffusion impression, but with formlessness in the concept (Smoke rising in spirals from a Chimney -card VII).

K: Score K (Cap K) where the response implies depth or diffusion with no form (fog, mist, smoke, cloud).

kF: Score kF (small k cap F) where three dimensional expanse is projected in a two dimensional plane on an object having no shape (Coast of a big piece of land- looks irregular with jagged edges and little inlets-Card I or X-Ray without specific body part on card I).

k: Score k (small k) where the three dimensional expanse is projected on a two dimensional plane in a way that implies no form at all. Such responses are very rare.

cF: Score cF (small c cap F) where the object has a vague or indefinite form with focus on the surface (A bear rug with a hole due to gun shot during hunting, it also looks furry, on card II).

c: Score c (small c)where the subject focuses interest only on the surface or texture effect without emphasis on Form, eg animal skin and the texture makes me to see it skin.

(IV a) Color Responses: Achromatic Color Responses (FC’, CF’, C’):

FC’: Score FC’ where the object has definite form with use of achromatic color such as black, white, or gray (eg as Canadian goose migrating- looks like wings and color like goose black and gray on Card V).

C’: Score C’ where object is perceived due to achromatic color only without any form (eg black smoke- its black smoke: the blot gives impression of smoke on Card VII).

C’F: Score C’F where an object of vague form is designated due to the impression of achromatic color- black, white, or gray (A fur rug, the shape is indefinite, but it looks like furry as the skin of a brown bear-Card VI).

(IV b) Color Responses: Chromatic Color Responses (C, FC, CF):

(I) The object (person, animal, plant) must be of definite form.

(II) The color must be used in the concept.

(III) The color used must be the natural color of the creature in its natural state.

(A butterfly in the center-on Card III, the shape and the color, it is flying, wings are spread)

(I) The object (cloud, explosions, fire, flames blood) must be of definite form.

(II) The color must be used in the concept.

(III) The color used must be the natural color of the object.

(A flower–whole thing, color and shape on card IX, or Some beautiful strawberry ice cream with orange water ice on card VIII).

(IV c) Pure Color Response (C):

Score C when the emphasis is given on Color without any implication of form, even indefinite form. There are four categories of color responses:

(I) C : Crude color, for use of color with no form (Blood on Card II).

(II) Cn : Color naming ( red, green yellow but what they are I don’t know card-X).

(III) Cdes : Color description (Pretty pastel colors on card VIII).

H: Living Human figures (whole / almost whole).

(H): Human figures portrayed as drawings, sculpture or mythological human figures eg Satan, witches, Vaital (Jinn) etc.

HD: Parts of living Human figures.

(Hd): Parts of human figures portrayed in drawings, sculpture, or parts of mythological human figures.

H Obj: Parts of human body such as false teeth.

At: Parts of human body (internal organ) or human body in anatomical sense eg dissected parts, operations, liver, kidney, anatomical charts, X-Rays, etc.

Sex: Sexual organs, sexual activity, sensuous parts of body giving sexual feelings such as exposed breast, pelvis, lower part of the bodyetc.

A: Animal figure (whole/ almost whole).

(A) A mythological animal, such as a monster with animal characteristics, a caricatures, a fairy tale or Shesh Nag (Serpentile God) and the like.

Ad: Parts of a living animal (head, tail or paw).

(Ad): Part of a mythological animal Tail of Hanuman Jee (on d1- Card IV).

A Obj: Object connected with the body of an animal, such as fur, decorated skin of deer, horn of deer etc.

A.At: Animal anatomy includes dissections, X-ray and internal parts of living animal etc.

Food: Objects prepared as food for eating such as fried eggs, fruit salad, mix vegetables, Ice-cream, etc.

N: Nature concept /scenery such as aerial views, sunsets, rivers, lakes, landscape etc.

Geo: Geographical concepts such as maps, islands, gulfs, lakes, rivers, not seen in vista or as a part of landscape.

Pl: Plants or part of plants such as flowers, trees, fruit, vegetables, leaf, petal, stamen.

Bot: Plants seen as botanical specimens or botanical chart.

Obj: All kinds of manmade objects such as airplane, fan, chair, toys etc.

Arch: Architectural concepts such as house, bridge, temple etc.

Art: Concept like design, drawing and art. A painting of a human figure is scored (H) and painting of landscape is scored as N.

Abs: Score abstract when there is no specific content (eg, ‘power”,”force” etc).

Fire, Blood, Cloud, Smoke, Mask, Emblem, Crown, etc are scored separately.

Many responses are neither common enough to be scored as “Popular” nor unusual enough to be scored as “Original”. However, Klopfer et al (1954) has assigned the following ten responses to be scored as Popular.

Popular Response:

1. Card I: (W or Cut-off W) any creature with the body in the center D and wings at the side (Bat or Butterfly).

2. Card II: (Black area cut off W with or without D2 and d1) any animal such as dog, bear, rabbit, bull or rhinoceros. (If the upper red D2 and lower red D1 are included).

3. Card III: (Entire black area D8) Two persons in a bending position (dancing, lifting pitcher or something). Score P if the figure is in action with side bottom (D5) is seen as legs. Human figure seen upside down cannot be scored as P.

4. Card III: (Center Red D1) “Bow tie” “hair ribbon” or “butterfly”. Score P for shape alone or shape with color.

5. Card V: (W or W cut) any winged creature with the body in the center D and wings either side. P can be scored even if the card is held upside down with body in the center and wings either side.

6. Card VI: (with or without top D2) Skin of an animal. P can be scored if shading for impression of furriness or markings on the inside of the skin (Fc or cF) is used.

7. Card VIII: (Side D1): Any kind of four legged animal in motion. If the animal is not in action score it a tendency towards P.

8. Card X: (Outer blue D1): Any many legged animal such as Crab, spider or octopus.

9. Card X: (Center green D2): (without the light green D between the darker green areas) any greenish animal such as a caterpillar, garden snake etc. The use of Color is must to be scored as P.

10. Card X: (Light green D7): The head of an animal with long ears or horns such as a rabbit or a goat.

Additional Popular:

Give an additional P score under the following condition:

1. Where a popular response is not given until the enquiry.

2. Where a Popular response is given in the performance proper, but later rejected.

3. Where the response does not quite fulfill the requirements for a popular score, either in location, or determinants, or content, but a tendency to Popular seems best to represent the response.

Original Response:

Original Response is one that does not appear more than once in a hundred records. The scoring of Original should not be undertaken by beginners. Usually it should be scored by the examiners who have broad experience with variety of patients and have extensive reading of published protocols/norms.

Additional Original:

Give an additional Original score under the following condition:

1. Where an Original response is not given until the enquiry.

2. Where an original response is given in the performance proper, but later rejected.

3. Where the response is not sufficiently uncommon for Original score contains some original element that would not be encountered more frequently than once in a hundred cases.

There are three considerations to determine Form Level Rating: Accuracy, Specification and Organization:

Accuracy:

Specification:

The accuracy of the response may be improved or spoiled by the elaboration or specifications offered by the subject to the detailed structure of the blot area used. Specifications may be classified as (1) those that are constructive, (2) those that are irrelevant and (3) those that weaken the form level.

● Form Specification: It specify detailed match of the concept of the outline of the blot area (whiskers on a cat, ears on a dog, facial features or details of clothing of hman figure).

2. Irrelevant Specifications: Irrelevant specifications are verbalizations of the subject which neither improve nor detract from the accuracy of the match of the concept to blot.They may increase or decrese the rating by +.5 or -.5 or even more.

3. Organization: Any procedure used by the subject to organize various parts of the blots into a meaningful concept will increase the Form Level Rating.

The Rating Scale:

Form Level is rated on a scale ranging from -2 through 0.0 to +5.0. There are two essential steps in ascertaining the FLR:

● Assigning a basal rating or basal minus rating.

● Adding a credit of 0.5 for each constructive specification or organization and substracting a credit of 0.5 for specification or organization that weakens the concept.

The response that fulfils the minimum requirements of a “definite” basic accuracy of fit with the blot area is given a rating of 1.0. There are three kinds of response assigned a basal rating of 1.0.

● Give basal rating 1.0 to all popular responses.

Butterfly: Lower red (D1- card II).

Pitcher: Lower center (D4- card III).

Boots: Lower outer D3- card IV.

Woman’s Leg: Lower Side (d1- Card V).

A butterfly: Top (D2- card VI).

Human’s head: lower side Pink (D4- card IX).

Two bugs: Upper center gray D in Card X.

Deer: outer gray brown (D6- card X).

● Concept that requires little imagination or organizational capacity to make the blot area a good fit is also given a rating of 1.0.

A basal rating of 1.5 is given to the concepts above the minimum requirements of “definiteness”.

The rating 0.0 is given to the concept which is completely indefinite in form, usually determine by C, Cdes, Cn, c, C’, K, k, and m. Such rating is very rare.

Minus Rating:

The rating - 0.5 is given to the concept when the specification has lowered down the accuracy without destroying it.

The rating – 1.0 is given to a response where the subject has made some effort to indicate the parts but the specifications destroy the basic accuracy of the concept. The confabulatory combination is the example of this rating.

The rating – 1.5 is given to confabulatory responses, scored by DW location. Such response is a generalization from one clearly seen detail to the whole blot, when it is impossible to reconcile the concept.

The rating – 2.0 is given to responses in which the concept does not match the blot area and there is no effort to reconcile the shape of the blot. Such responses are usually perseverations and contamination.

(For details of scoring please see “Developments in the Rorschach Technique, Vol 1, Klopfer, B., Ainsworth, M.D., Klopfer, W.G. and Holt, R.R. 1954, Harcourt, Brace & World, Inc, New York.)

Beck’s, instruction is given in the beginning of this chapter. The preparations of subject, administration of cards, noting the responses and enquiry, rejection of cards, testing the limits and scoring symbols (Location, Determinants, Content and P/O) are almost common in Klopfer and Beck’s system. However, the deviations from Klopfer’s system are given below:

Deviations from Standard Procedure:

The seating arrangement may be different in elderly person in senile deterioration, elderly persons, depressed patients and young children. "There is no point to strict through the instructions. If the child is very young, the usual setting arrangement can be dispensed with. The procedure is to make him to feel more comfortable. So any kind of deviations in formal procedure will depend on the clinical situation and the examiner should decide how to proceed further.

Age Factor:

A person who can see and talk, can take the test. Normally it can be administered to 5 years and older 5 to any age.

About Text Format:

Record the verbatim response and note down the position of the card, ∧ orientation is always implied when no other is indicated.

The D and most Dd are identified by their appropriate numerals. Since the figures are symmetric, there are two each of nearly all D and Dd. The text does not state whether the D in question is that on the right or on the left.

Scoring and Interpretation:

Location:

● W (whole response) is scored when the whole blot instigates the response. It has a direct relationship with intellectual ability and capacity to organize things in a meaningful way.

● D response (major detail) is scored when the response is based upon the usual detail or part of the blot. It may indicate ability to perceive and react to usual, distinct characteristics of the world.

● Dd response (unusual details) is scored when unusual detail responses are based on smallest details of the blot.

● S response (white space details) is scored when the white space area is used as the basis of response. It may indicate negativism or oppositional features.

Determinants:

Determinants refer to the features of the blot which have produced the particular response.

● Form determinant (F) is symbolized by the capital letter F is meant for the response which has occurred purely because of the form or shape of the blot. F has been divided into F+ and F- which indicates good and poor form level respectively. It indicates a person’s reality contact and his thinking and reasoning. Beck has argued for another method of comparing pure form responses with non pure form responses. His method provides for the Lambda index. One advantage of the lambda index over F% is that it avoids the problems involved in interpreting the percentages especially when R varies. When the Lambda index exceeds 1 it indicates excessive affective constraint and when it falls below .50 it indicates affective instability.

● Movement determinants (M) scored only for human movement. It indicates awareness towards the external world and reflects some conflicts or emotions which do not get obvious expression in the world of reality.

● Color determinants (C, CF, FC) C is scored for pure color responses and indicates lack of control over emotional responsiveness. CF is scored for the response where color features of the blot are primary and form features are secondary. FC is scored when form dominates and the subject also makes a secondary reference to the color for the purpose of elaboration.

Beck has given the concept of Affective ratio (Affr). The Affr below 0.55 indicates withdrawal or passivity towards affective stimulation and Affr above 0.75 indicates that the person has an uncontrolled tendency to be caught up by affective stimulation.

Shading determinant (Texture, vista and general diffuse):

Beck suggests that texture response (T) indicates painful affective experience which is usually related to infantile needs particularly the erotic needs of the infantile period. The vista response (V, VF & FV) are the shading response based upon dimensionality. It suggests a painful feeling tone in which depression of affect and inferiority feelings are involved. The diffuse shading response (Y, YF, FY) indicate anxiety and withdrawal from the environment or passivity. It also indicates a general withdrawal tendency. Y and YF indicate the experience of an extreme form of withdrawal from the environment leading to a complete inability to respond whereas FY indicates the experience is mild form of passivity.

Content:

Higher number of animal responses indicates intellectual constriction and stereotypical thinking. A high number of human responses indicate better cognitive development and potential for good human relations. A low number of human responses indicate disturbed human relations. Anatomy responses indicate excess preoccupation with bodily concerns without any physiological illness. Sex and blood responses tend to indicate sexual or aggressive acts. Nature, cloud and botany contents indicate emotional deprivation. Responses like fire, landscape, household, art, clothing etc tend to indicate various kinds of preoccupations causing interference in affective adjustment.

Beck‘s popular Indian Response:

Card I:

Bat or butterfly or Moth (W)

Human form (D3 &D4) D3 is usually seen as a women

Card II:

Two human figures (W)

Dog or bear (D1)

Butterfly or moth (D3)

Card III:

Two humans and representations of humans eg dolls, statues, caricatures (D1)

Card IV:

Animal skin (W)

Animals which is massive, furry (W)

Human foot or shoe (D2)

Human leg or boot (D6)

Card V:

Bat, Butterfly, Moth (W)

Any human leg and many animal legs (D1)

Chicken leg (D1)

Card VI:

W or D1 as Animal hide, pelt, skin or rug (W or D1)

Card VII:

Human heads or faces of women (D1)

Card VIII:

Bears, Mice, rat, Beavers (D1)

Skeletal form (D3)

Tree/ bush (D4)

Figure IX

Civil war veterans, clown, dwarf, fireman, ghost, Santa Claus, witch (D3)

Figure X

Crab, lobster, spider (D1)

Dog (D2)

Rabbit’s head (D3)

3. Scoring of Exner’s System:

The main features, scoring categories and their significance are given below. Readers interested in detailed information about Exner’s system should consult Exner (1974, 2003).

Location:

Exner has given four type of Location W, D, Dd and S which are almost similar to Klopfer’s system.

D: Common Detail Response (Frequently identified area of the blot).

Dd: Detail Response (Infrequently identified area of the blot).

S: Space Responses (Area with white space).

Developmental Quality:

It refers to the quality of processing involved in perceiving the response.

Symbols and Criteria Used for Developmental Quality:

Symbol:

(+): Synthesized Response: Two or more objects though described separately but connected in some way. (Card VIII: A Fox is going towards forest).

● : Ordinary Response: The blot area having features that create a natural Form (Bat on Card V).

V/+: Synthesized Response: Two or more objects though described separately but connected in some way, though none with a specific Form demand (Clouds with mist around on card-IX).

V: Vague: An object without specific form demands but uses a specific form demand for the response objects (the colored sky during sunset on Card IX).

Determinants:

Exner’s Determinants are almost similar to Klopfer and Beck with little difference on a few described below:

1 Form (F):

2 Movements: M, FM and m are similar to Klopfer’s system.

(1) Human Movement (M): It is scored for all types of human activity (Active Movement such as running, jumping, lifting, and Passive Movement such as thinking, sleeping, looking.etc). M is also scored for human like figures or animals or inanimate objects in human activity such as “Two bears talking on Card II).

(2) Animal Movement (FM)

(3) Inanimate Movement (m).

The movement responses are further coded as Active or Passive.

These categories are similar to Klopfer’s system: (C, CF, and FC).

4 Achromatic Color: (black, white, or grey).

These categories are similar to Klopfer’s system except variation in coding of symbols: (C!, C!F, FC!).

5 Shading:

These categories are different than Klopfer’s system. It has three sub categories, each with 3 symbols of shading, (1) Texture (T, TF, FT) (2) Depth (V, VF, FV) and (3) Diffuse (Y, YF, FY,).

Shading-Texture: The Texture (T, TF, and FT) is scored when the shading features are used to create tactile impression (such as furry, soft, rough, smooth etc).

Shading-Vista: The vista symbols (V, VF, and FV) are scored when the shading features are used to create the impression of depth or dimensionality (eg its aerial view, round shape etc). (Similar to Beck).

Shading-Diffuse: The vista symbols ((Y, YF, FY,) is scored when the shading response is neither texture nor vista (eg as light, dark). (Similar to Beck).

The FD is scored when impression of depth, distance, or dimension is not based on shading features (eg a lady is lying down on Card V-D).This is newer concept of Exner.

7. Pairs and Reflection: The rF or Fr is scored where the person has used the symmetry of the blot to perceive two identical objects (eg a Fox is seeing image in lake water on card VIII D1). This is newer concept of Exner.

Multiple Determinants –The Blend:

It is scored when the percept has more than one determinant.

Form Quality:

The FQ is scored when the area of the blot is used to conform to the form requirements of the object. This is similar to F level rating of Klopfer.

Contents:

The scoring of content categories is very simple and except a few categories it is similar to Klopfer’s system.

H: Human

A: Animal

Bl: Blood

Cg: Clothing

Cl: Clouds

Ex: Explosion

Fi: Fire

Fd: Food

Hh: Household

Ls: Landscape

Sx: Sex

Xy: X-Ray

Popular Responses:

The popular responses vary from culture to culture. However a study on large sample will help in establishing popular Indian responses. The following Popular responses have been reported on Indian sample.

Organizational Activity:

This is newer concept of Exner. The organizational activity is scored by Z and provides information to the extent the person tends to organize the response. AZ score is assigned to any response that includes form, and meets at least one of the following criteria:

Z W: Score ZW to a Whole response with coding of +, o, or v/+.

Z A: (adjacent detail) is scored when two or more separate objects identified in adjacent detail areas of the blot in a meaningful relation.

ZD: (distant detail) is scored when two or more separate objects identified in non-adjacent detail of the blot in a meaningful relation.

ZS: is scored when response with white space is integrated with other areas.

Special Scores:

This is a newer concept of Exner. The Special scores have lots of clinical significance and serves as diagnostic indicators. He has assigned 15 special scores as follows:

Unusual Verbalization (6),

Perseveration (1),

Special Features of Content (4),

Differentiate Human Representation (2),

Personalized Answers (1) and

Special Color Phenomenon (1).

Unusual Verbalizations:

Unusual verbalizations are important in the assessment of cognitive activity, particularly while assessing cognitive dysfunction. This is also called as cognitive slippage and is indicated in the following three ways:

(1) (Two) Deviant Verbalizations (DV, DR): Use of Inappropriate word (Neologism and Redundancy).

(2) (Three) Inappropriate Combinations (INCOM, FABCOM, and CONTAM): A-: When the subject perceives unreal feature such as “A man with head of a cow”. Sometime such responses are also considered mythological and perceived by people in Indian culture eg “GOKARN” story in Bhagawat Maha Puran in India.

(3) (One) Inappropriate Logic (ALOG).

(4) (One) Perseveration: The Perseveration (PSV) is scored when almost identical response is given to too many cards.

(5) (Four) Special Features of Content: (This is a newer concept and different from Klopfer and Beck).

The responses indicate cognitive features or project the image of self. These are identified by four special scores:

A. Abstract Content (Ab): Responses with clear symbolic representation (indicating human emotion, such as loving heart).

B. Aggressive Movement (AG): Responses with aggressive symbols eg two fighting bulls.

D. Morbid Content (MOR). The MOR is scored when an object is identified by two different characteristics: Identification of the object as dead, destroyed or broken, and another identified by the characteristic such as an unhappy person or a depressed person.

(6) (Two) Differentiate Human Representation: (This is a newer concept and different from Klopfer and Beck):

(II) Poor Human Response (PHR)

(7) (One) Personalized Answers: (This is a newer concept and different from Klopfer and Beck).

Responses indicated in personalized manner such as “I, me, or we” such as “I see them all the time in the backyard”.

(8) (One) Special Color Phenomena: (This is a newer concept and different from Klopfer and Beck).

Color Projection (CP): is scored when the subject identifies achromatic blot area as colored blot. .

Structural summary:

After the scoring of responses for Location, Determinants, Content, Popular and Special Scores, arrange these into quantitative formulas and categorized into Core Section: Ideation Section, Affect Section, Mediation, Processing, Interpersonal, Self Perception and Special Indices.

Core section: (Mixed like Klopfer and Beck’s signs)

1: Lambda (L):

F (All responses having only pure F determinants)

R-F (total R minus pure Form response)

2: Experience balance (EB): Relationship between Human Movement and weighted sum C:

EB: W sum C = (0.5) x FC+ (1.0) x CF +(1.5) Xc

3: Experience Actual (EA): Sum of human movement + weighted sum chromatic color

4: Experience Base (eb): The ratio compares (FM+ m) with sum of shading and achromatic color.

eb: sum FM +m : Sum C’ + Sum T+Sum Y + Sum V

5: Experiences stimulation (es): is scored by adding two side of the Experience Base ratio.

es: sum FM +m + Sum C’ + Sum T+Sum Y + Sum V

6: D Scores (D): Scored by subtracting es from EA ( EA—es).

7: adjusted es (Adj/D): All but 1 m and 1 Y are subtracted from es:

8: Adjusted D scores (Adj/D): is calculated by subtracting Adj es from EA (EA—Adj es).

The Ideation section: (Newer Concept different from Klopfer and Beck):

1: active: passive ratio (a:p): is calculated by adding the total number of active movement and comparing with total number of passive movement.

Ma + FMa +ma: Mp + FMp + mp

2: M active: passive ratio: Ratio of active or passive movement to Human Movement.

3: The intellectualization index: is calculated by multiplying the total number of abstract (AB) responses by 2 and adding the sum of Art and Ay responses (2AB+ (Art+Ay).

The Affect Section: (similar to Klopfer)):

1: Form-Color Ratio: FC: CF+C

2: Affective ratio: (Afr):

Total number of R to card VIII+IX+X

Total R in card I+II+III+IV+V+VI+VII

Mediation Section: (Newer Concept different from Klopfer and Beck):

1: From appropriate extended (XA+ %)

Sum of responses that have FQ coding of +, o, u

R

2: From appropriate-Common areas: (WDA %)

Sum of responses that have FQ coding of +, o, u

Sum of W+D

3: Distorted form quality(X- %):

Sum of FQ

X- %: ----------------------------

R

4: Conventional form (F+ %):

Sum FQx +o

F+%: ------------------------

R

The Processing Section: (Newer Concept different from Klopfer and Beck, except Aspirational Ratio W: M):

2: Aspirational Ratio: W: M

3: Processing Efficiency (Zd): (Zd): Z sum-Zest

The Interpersonal Section: (Newer Concept different from Klopfer and Beck):

1: Interpersonal Interest (H): H+ (H) + Hd + (Hd)

2: Isolation Index:

Bt + 2Cl + Ge + Ls + 2Na

Isolation Index: ------------------------------------------------------

R

The Self Perception Section: (Newer Concept different from Klopfer and Beck):

This section includes: 1: sum of Fr+Rf

3x (Fr+Rf) + sum (2 pair responses)

R