Psychosomatic Medicine 8:367-385 (1946)
© 1946 American Psychosomatic Society

Organ Function and Form Perception

Use of the Rorschach Method with Cases of Chronic Arthritis, Parkinsonism and Arterial Hypertension

The Rorschach records of two groups, each consisting of 60 patients, were compared. One group, designated as V group, was picked for the common feature of arterial hypertension. The other group, designated as L group, was composed of 30 cases of chronic arthritis and 30 cases of parkinsonism.

The two groups showed specific preferences for certain types of responses which made it possible to distinguish between an L type and a V type of response. The critical responses could be subsumed under 4 general categories. In all 120 patients the number of responses of their own type exceeded the number of responses of the other type in at least 2 categories. The 4 categories and the differences between the two groups are as follows:

1. Vertical axis--

(a) Location--Patients of the L group had a much greater tendency to center one-half or more than one-half of their responses in the axis than the V group.

(b) Form--Patients of the V group saw the axial part as an opening about 5 times more often than the L group.

(c) Content--Warm-blooded organisms and dynamic emphasis centered in the axis were observed more often in the L group than in the V group. The V group saw more anatomical structures, ritualistic objects, and water and fire than the L group.

2. Kinesthetic responses--Goal-directed activities were indicated more often by the L patients, while actions determined by convention or by efforts to maintain a certain position were indicated more often by the V patients.

3. Integration and disintegration--The tendency toward integration of the inkblots into a comprehensive interpretation was more pronounced in the L group, while the tendency toward disintegration was more pronounced in the V group.

4. Animals--Eagles and pigs were most frequently seen by the L group, while cows, sheep and beasts of prey were most frequently seen in the V group.

The psychological interpretation of the findings suggested that arthritic and parkinsonian patients are dominated by an urge for individualistic, independent action. Obstacles are liable to provoke aggressiveness in excess of the chances for success. Patients suffering from arterial hypertension have a tendency toward dependent relationships in form of identification with their social environment. Action is determined by material needs and by social standards. Obstacles easily provoke conflicts between dependent and aggressive impulses, resulting in restriction of the range of action and of perception.

Specific correlations between organ dominance, disease liability and form of perception were discussed. They gave added insight into the physiological basis of the Rorschach method, and of physiognomical understanding.

The discovery of two gestalt tendencies associated with individualistic and with collectivistic personality types suggested the possibility of making current personality and aptitude tests more reliable, and the possibility of further extending the use of the Rorschach method.

Note:
This investigation has been aided by a grant from the Josiah Macy, Jr., Foundation.

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