Rorschach Inkblot Test

Rorschach inkblot cards have been in the public domain for decades now. There was much controversy around this psychological testing method when information about typical answers and the interpretive results of those answers were published. The inkblots were cloaked in secrecy for years while this was one of the most common psychological tests to perform. Secrecy, of course, breeds curiosity and people just want to see them more!

While many argue that publishing information about the Rorschach inkblot test damages the integrity of the test and invalidates the results, this test is not used in modern Psychology due to the subjective nature of the test. The Rorschach inkblots required the subject to give the examiner the first impression they had of the inkblot and we have only one chance for a first impression. The field of psychology has now emphasized more objective tests. These objective tests are not nearly entertaining and consist of questions with multiple choice answers on a "scantron" similar to most standardized test present within the education system and college entrance exams.

I have found the Rorschach inkblot cards similar to dream interpretation. Both allow you to explore the subconscious content of your mind and could be used as a helpful tool to gain personal insight and foster personal growth and development. In the past, the Rorschach was only interpreted by a professional attempting to provide an objective interpretation to a subjective test. Now that the test has been made public, it can be used as a tool of self-discovery for many. As in dream interpretation, you are the expert on YOU. Your own interpretations (with maybe some solicited feedback from others) may help you gain better understanding into yourself.

1. Grab a pen and paper or open up Notepad on your computer.
2. View each of the 10 inkblots one by one. Spaces were added to help you avoid viewing many inkblots at once.
3. Jot down your first impressions that come to mind when viewing the inkblot for the first time. Write down everything even if it doesn't make sense to you. Try not to dismiss your first impression since this is the most important. Write down any thoughts, impressions, and feelings the inkblot evokes and move on. This should only take a minute.
4. After you view each inkblot, read the section describing how to interpret your results.
5. ♥ Gain further insight into yourself ♥
6. Not sure how to interpret one of your answers? Write a comment or write me and I could give you some suggestions.

INTERPRETING YOUR RESULTS

Some interpretations reference Wikipedia and Wikipedia's references associated with related authors (Weiner & Greene 2007, pp. 390–39, Weiner 2003, pp. 102–109).

Don't see your answer? Write a comment and I will provide an interpretation for your unique answer.

Common responses include a bat, butterfly and moth.

Unfortunately, we lose a lot of information on this card when viewing it online. Usually, how we approach the first card, view it, and begin to share our impressions for the first time gives us a lot of insight into how we approach new tasks and stressful situations for the first time.

This card likely reflects us.

Bat: What is your impression of a bat? Bats may symbolize something demonic or unclean for some while symbolizing rebirth and navigating through the dark for others. Seeing a bat can be a healthy acknowledgement of your dark-side. If you are a comic fan- this also may relate to Batman's symbolism of the bat- he had a fear of bats and became a bat to address and use his fear for his own advancement. Batman was also a vigilante- perhaps you possess this trait too. If you specifically thought of a vampire bat, you may either feel drained and unbalanced.

Butterfly: What is your impression of a butterfly? Butterflies often symbolize transformation and transition, the ability to change, grow and overcome. Butterflies may also be associated with being a social person-- like a social butterfly.

Moth: What is your impression of a moth? This is usually a negative symbol for most people. Moths can be symbolic of feeling ugly, overlooked, a wallflower. They can also symbolize our irritants, what annoys us, and our weaknesses. Perhaps you have a tendency to view yourself negatively and highlight your flaws rather than focus on your strengths and positive characteristics.

Animal's face (elephant or rabbit typically): Symbols associated with faces and elephants-- especially in respect to this inkblot-- give us information about how we confront problems and what are initial reactions are when faced with challenges. If you have perceived an animal's face and were fearful for examples, this may show you that you experienced some fear and panic at the thought of looking into the face of your inner issues. An elephant may also represent the "elephant within the room" or the big issue we all ignore and are tiptoeing around.

Angel: What is your impression of an angel? As a symbol, angels typically represent protection, goodness, purity, and spirituality. Since this was in reaction to the first card, it is possible you turn to angels in times of stress or view yourself as someone striving to possess the traits of an angel.

This is often perceived as a sexual card. The red parts of the card are often perceived as blood. Your responses may reflect how you manage feelings of anger or physical harm.

Two People: What is your view of these two people? Depending upon your other feelings, this could relate to codependency, conflicted feelings about sex, a preoccupation with sex, or a current focus on relationships and bonding with others.

One Person Looking Into a Mirror: What is your view of one person looking into the mirror? You may be self-absorbed at times or you tend to self-reflect. How negative or positive this meaning is depends upon your feelings about this inkblot and how well you balance this trait.

Dog: What are your feelings about dogs? This could be a symbol of your "best friend", a loyal and affectionate friend you may find in your life or within yoruself. On the contrary, if you see a vicious dog or have a fear of dogs, you may need to face fears and give more acknowledgement to inner traits and feelings you associate with negativity and earthly drives.

Elephant: What are you feelings about elephants? This could be a symbol of your intelligence, memory and thoughtfulness yet it could also reflect your negative physical self-image.

Bear: What are you feelings about bears? Bears can symbolize many different traits- from independence & resurrection to aggression & competition. Sometimes bears symbolize a play-on-words meaning bare. If this is the meaning, you may either feel honest and genuine or vulnerable and unprotected.

Praying: Since this is often seen as a more sexual card, seeing someone praying may highlight your beliefs and ideas of sex within context of religion. Seeing blood associated with a religious symbol may mean you associate religion with physical pain and sacrifice. This may also mean you either have a tendency to rely on prayer when facing difficult emotions (anger, etc.) or have these feelings associated with religious practice.

This card typically relates to your comfort or discomfort with social interactions.

Two People: What activity are they participating in and how do you feel about it? This symbol will help you understand how you relate to others. If they are eating together, this means you are able to take in information and find your social life to nourish you. Seeing people washing their hands shows paranoid feelings, a sense of uncleanliness, and insecurity. If they are armwrestling, you view social relationships as competitive. Being overly focused on the breasts may indicate your need to be nurtured in social relationships and may be highlighting a tendency to be dependent upon others. If they are participating in a game such as chess, you may also view social relationships as competitive although on more of an intellectual level. Are you winning or losing? Are there winners and losers when it comes to frienship and social bonds?

One person looking into mirror: This symbol may show you that you are oblivious to others, that self-reflection can easily turn into self-absorption. Perhaps you are seeing yourself in others and not truly seeing them for who they are. You also could be a a temporary stage of much-needed self-evaluation and self-re-evaluation.

Ducks: Seeing ducks within this image may show that you have more comfort with animal interactions than you do with social interactions with other people. It also could mean you are flexible socially (ducks are able to fly, walk, swim). Yet is also could mean you have difficulty confronting others socially and have a tendency to duck away from or avoid social situations you find uncomfortable.

This card is often referred to the father card because it often relates to an individual's upbringing and their ideas and attitudes related to authority.

A large person looking down on a smaller person: How does this image make you feel? These feelings are associated with your feelings and attitudes towards your father (or father-figure) and authority. You may feel inferior towards others you perceive has having more power than you. How does this sense of inferiority influence you today? Do you crumble at the thought of confrontation or do you rebel against others?

A large creature/animal/monster/Satan: This interpretation is similar to the large person interpretation although there are also associations with exaggerated fears and negative feelings as well as not viewing your father or similar figure as human. Satan in particular may relate to your negative feelings towards religious leaders.

animal skin rug: You either have less of an emphasis on the problem with authority or inferiority complexes as the other interpretations or you have significant discomfort when facing the subject of your father and upbringing. What do you think of this animal skin rug? Perhaps you have conquered your fears or perhaps you are shielding yourself from getting in touch with your roots and grounding yourself. If you had trouble pinpointing what you thought this was, you may have some hesitancy associated with facing issues associated with your father.

Same as #1 although if there is a change in perception that is interesting. If you moved from a more negative to a more positive symbol or vice versa explore how your responses and impressions of #2-#4 have influenced you.

This card likely reflects us.

Bat: What is your impression of a bat? Bats may symbolize something demonic or unclean for some while symbolizing rebirth and navigating through the dark for others. Seeing a bat can be a healthy acknowledgement of your dark-side. If you are a comic fan- this also may relate to Batman's symbolism of the bat- he had a fear of bats and became a bat to address and use his fear for his own advancement. Batman was also a vigilante- perhaps you possess this trait too. If you specifically thought of a vampire bat, you may either feel drained and unbalanced.

Butterfly: What is your impression of a butterfly? Butterflies often symbolize transformation and transition, the ability to change, grow and overcome. Butterflies may also be associated with being a social person-- like a social butterfly.

Moth: What is your impression of a moth? This is usually a negative symbol for most people. Moths can be symbolic of feeling ugly, overlooked, a wallflower. They can also symbolize our irritants, what annoys us, and our weaknesses. Perhaps you have a tendency to view yourself negatively and highlight your flaws rather than focus on your strengths and positive characteristics.

This is also viewed as a sex card. It often symbolizes something associated with interpersonal closeness.

Two intimate beings: How do you feel about this card? These feelings are associated with your feelings related to interpersonal closeness and your comfort level with intimacy.

Animal skin: Since this a card associated with interpersonal closeness, you may be resistent to closeness, may be a loner at times, and may guard yourself or shield yourself which gives way to an emptiness quality.

This is often referred to as the mother card. It relates to femininity.

Heads of women: How do you feel about this card? These feelings are associated with your views of your mother which influence your views of women in general.

Heads of children: How do you feel about this card? These feelings are associated with your childhood and your need to nurture and tend to your inner child. Perhaps something associated with your relationship with your mother demands attention and healing.

Kissing: Focusing on the idea that the heads appear to be about to kiss may indicate that you have a need for affection and maternal re-connection. This may show you had an intimate and close relationship with your mother that you continue to yearn for and seek in social/romantic relationships.

Something nonhuman: This may reflect your discomfort and resistance associated with your mother and confronting issues associated with her that affect your current life.

Are you uncomfortable with this card and change in pace? You may also have difficulty processing emotional stimuli and complex situations.

Animal: What are your feelings about this animal and what specific animal(s) are you seeing? How does this animal relate to your approaches to change and your ability to express your emotions?

Brain Scan: What are you feelings about a brain scan? This perception could reflect your current test taking to analyze yourself or allow others to analyze you. The brain shows you that you emphasize intellect and may have difficulty with emotional content. Dramatic people and emotionally charged situations may confuse you.

Volcano: This may indicate you, now or at one time, had difficulty controlling your emotions and had/have a tendency to erupt. The eruption comes with a price and risks destroying all that you perceive around the volcano. It is typical for you to perceive what is precious to you around the volcano (babies, animals, etc.) which may represent precious and vulnerable aspects of who you are and your life.

This is a vague and unstructured card that allows you to explore how well you handle vagueness and lack of structure.

Human: How do you feel about this person or this image? How do these feelings relate to your approaches to unstructured time or not being able to get enough information about the future?

Evil: What does evil mean to you and how do you feel about it? Seeing evil may reflect christian spiritual views a fear/negative attitude towards the unknown or foreign both within you as well as within the world. Seeing evil on this particular card could mean that you do not tolerate vagueness well and need a lot of structure in your life in order to feel comfortable.

If you didn't like this card, which many perceive as pretty or pleasant, you may have difficulty dealing with synchronous/similar/coincidental stimuli.

crab: What are your feelings about this crab? Perhaps you feel crabby. Depending upon our feelings, a crab could either be associated with perserverance or a tendency to cling onto others or things.

lobster: What are your feelings associated with lobster? Lobster typically have positive connotations although some may fear them which changes the meaning. Lobster could mean perseverance, strength, and the ability to overcome small problems. If lobsters are feared, it is possible you have a fear of being harmed or harming yourself.

spider: What are you feelings about the spider? Spiders can be associated with fears- arachnophobia is one of the most common of all fears. This may also be associated with telling lies or being entangled or trapped in an uncomfortable situation in some way. Spiders are also often associated with feminine power and could also be associated with an overbearing mother.

rabbit head: What do you feel about this rabbit head? Rabbits can mean many things. Rabbit typically are associated with good luck and fertility. Perhaps sex is on your mind or you have a positive outlook on life.

catepillars: What do you feel about the catepillars? Since you see them at the end of the test, it likely relates to your recognition that you have room for more growth and that you are continually evolving and re-inventing yourself.

snakes: How do you feel about snakes? This symbol may be a phallic symbol and relate to sex (forbidden or unacceptable). It may also relate to feeling deceived or lied to. Snakes are also associated with danger and fear of the unknown.

Effel Tower with Fireworks: How do you feel about the Effel Tower and fireworks? This perception could mean a celebration of ultimate structure especially considering this card shows you how you handle dealing with repeated events and patterns. This perception may also show you that you have some level of discomfort relating to people and may prefer less emotional contact and more impersonal interactions via computers and other related devices.

Carnival: Seeing a carnival usually indicates deception and an idea that things are not what they really appear. To see this image now may show you feel tricked or manipulated by the test or by repetition in your life (ie. deja vu, having to redo something, someone repeating themselves, etc.).

If you find you do not have an initial response to a card or you are unable to describe one, this may indicate that you have a block in the area the card is representing. Perhaps it relates to a subject you would rather not confront today. There are many cards. If you feel one or two do not give you any type of impression and you feel blank, your unconscious may be setting a pace and focusing on the others that you have responded to. Perhaps you need to tackle those areas first before moving on to the others.

Our reactions to colors can tell us a lot about our unconscious emotions and thoughts. Here is a brief list. Dreaming of Colors may show more information on this subject.

Red:

• Positive Meanings: raw energy, passion
• Negative Meanings: danger, anger, rage, shame,physical/sexual impulses

Pink: (can have the same meanings as red plus:)

• Positive Meanings: love, healing, innocence,
• Negative Meanings: breast cancer, dependency on parents

Orange:

• Positive Meanings: socialibility, kindness, self-respect
• Negative Meanings: pride, difficulty interacting with others, destructive attitudes

Yellow:

• Positive Meanings: happiness, energy, wisdom, warmth, mentality
• Negative Meanings: cowardice, sick, disgrace, betrayal

Green:

• Positive Meanings: change, balance, good luck, fertility
• Negative Meanings: greed, deceit, difficulty sharing

Blue:

• Positive Meanings: Heaven, truth, wisdom, openness, vocalizing feelings
• Negative Meanings: Depression, immaturity, sadness, melancholy