Clinical Psychology

System of scoring is the most frequently used (Exner,
1974, 1993). Although the specifics of this scoring
system are beyond the scope of this chapter (a total
of 54 indices are calculated in Exner’s Structural
Summary), a number of resources are available that
provide details on the Comprehensive System
(including Exner, 1991, 1993).
The actual scoring of the Rorschach involves
such things as compiling the number of determi-
nants, computing their percentages based on the
total number of responses, and computing the ratio
of one set of responses to another set (e.g., comput-
ing the total number of movement responses divided
by the number of color responses). Indeed, the

layperson is often surprised to learn that orthodox

scoring of the Rorschach is much more concerned

with the formal determinants than with the actual

content of the responses. However, many contem-

porary clinicians do not bother with formal scoring

at all, preferring to rely on the informal notation of

determinants. Furthermore, these clinicians tend to

make heavy use of content in their interpretations.

Case illustrations 1 and 2 may help provide an idea

of what is involved in the administration and scoring

of a Rorschach.

As we observed earlier, Rorschach interpretation

can be a complex process. For example, a patient’s

overuse of form may suggest conformity. Poor form,

Rorschach Case Illustration 1

The examinee is an 18-year-old“normal”male college student.

Response Inquiry Scoring

Card I Looks like a crab or a

sea animal of some kind

Claws make it look like

a crab.

DF A (large detail, good

form, animal object)

Card VIII A flower of some kind.

Possibly an iris.

The petals have that shape.

And the colors of it, I guess.

W FC Pl (whole card, form

predominant over color, plant)

Rorschach Case Illustration 2

The following unscored set of responses was provided by a

42-year-old woman who was diagnosed by a psychiatrist

as“anxiety reaction, chronic, severe”following a trau-

matic accident in her home. It is important to note that this

diagnosis was arrived at by an examination of all the data

available and not by use of the Rorschach alone.

Card I Bat. (Anything else?) It’s on a web.

Card II A couple of bears.

Card III I don’t know. (See anything at all?) A

couple of little birds.

Card IV Looks like a bearskin of some kind,

stretched out.

Card V A butterfly.

Card VI The middle looks like a lampstand or a

pipestand.

Card VII Looks like an island. (Anything else?)

A ship in port. A vessel of some kind.

Card VIII A couple bears climbing a tree.

(Anything else?) No.

Card IX I don’t know what that looks like.

Card X Looks like something I’ve seen in the

bottom of the ocean. A crawfish.

An excerpt from the clinician’s report observed:

“On the Rorschach, the patient’s performance was

constricted and conforming. Her responses seemed to

be influenced by anxiety factors. There was a notice-

able tendency for her to avoid the threatening aspects

of the test (lack of structure) by giving only a few

responses and then making them into popular or con-

forming ones. Her tendency to respond to the test in

terms of animals or inanimate objects suggests some

disturbance in social relationships or else a potential

for withdrawal.”

PERSONALITY ASSESSMENT 239