Journal of Projective Psychology and Mental Health: Volume 3, Number 1, Jan 1996 Editorial |
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| 1. Editorial: Newer Trends in Inkblot Techniques, S.K.Verma, pages 1-2. Inkblot techniques have now been in use for nearly a century. Starting as indirect techniques overcoming limitations of transparency in items used in questionnaires and rating scales and therefore subject to motivational distortions these inkblot techniques have brought a new and fresh approach to study human behavior – both normal as well as abnormal. In this connection, it is also important to remember that it all started with the experimental use of inkblots as a test of imagination (A. Binet). Psychologists and psychiatrists thereafter used their creative imaginations to shift emphasis from content only to form and organizational qualities, good and poor qualities, good and poor match to inkblot location and from qualitative use of inkblots to both qualitative as well as quantitative indices with psychiatric patients mainly (Rorschach). Experimental uses, diagnostic and prognostic formulations and the therapeutic implications of inkblot responses resulted from their original, constructive and creative imaginations. Variations in inkblots, in their administration and scoring methods, as well as in their interpretative use, which followed, all added to the richness of this important product of human imagination. Recently – that is – in the last couple of decades, almost a silent, though significant revolution seems to be taking place with the advent of Somatic Inkblot Series (W.A.Cassell) in this area. Human ingenuity has added many more dimensions to it for the first time. Already there are a number of such series available – for general as well as for specific uses, with greater emphasis on their therapeutic applications. Parallel forms are available in cards, booklets and video form for more stimulating and effective uses of these inkblots. Even sound has added in between and pleasant colorful visuals with soothing music introduced to reduce any anxiety at the beginning, in between the exposures of inkblots, as well as at the end – so that little, if any unpleasant feelings or impressions are left and carried home, to add to their already existing overwhelming distress. The patient’s†inner cry†has to be seen and heard, understood and respected for what it stands for, and cared for, and merely used or exploited for diagnosing an interesting case or for a research publication. It may be a feeble cry for some but a lot depends upon the therapists’ sensitivity, intention and competence. Needless to say, this is an endless, ongoing process with newer, better, more specific techniques adding to, supplementing and if need be, replacing the older ones which in the normal course of events, have to go. There is and remains always a vast scope for improving any technique. The emergence of Somatic Inkblot Society and SIS Journal are welcome steps in this direction. Views are bound to differ and controversies are likely to occur, but knowledge has to grow with the advent of any new technique. In future, perhaps greater variations of inkblot techniques and/or with greater freedom of expressions of responses to the existing inkblot techniques, as well as more imaginative use of these responses, may occur. Till then – even changeling addition is to be welcomed and hopefully – will be for the best of all concerned. S.K. Verma Ph.D. Addl. Professor, PGI, Chandigarh – 160 012 (India) 2. The Use of the Rorschach and Somatic Inkblot Series in Releasing Somatic Grief, Wilfred A. Cassell and B.L. Dubey, pages 3-32. The SIS (SIS-I and SIS Video) and the Rorschach test was administered to a 42 years female patient. This SIS and the Rorschach were able to bring out her inner cry and depressive contents related to her father’s death due to cancer and her own recovery after cancer. SIS images have been found to be a powerful media to take the person back in time and create hypnotic-like effects helping the person in catharsis and finally proving to be an effective therapeutic tool. Responses given by the patient on the Rorschach and the SIS-I and SIS-Video are interpreted using content analysis and psychoanalytic interpretations. 3. A Comprehensive Profile of Personality Characteristics of Male Drug Addicts, Anjana Mukhopadhuay, Shabhra Bannerjee & Gopa Mttra, pages 33-41. The study aimed to measure the depression level of the addicts and explore the role of diagnostic indices for them. A card form of SIS-I and Back Depression Inventory were administered on a sample of 50 drug addicts, divided into three subcategories, namely, Heroin (N=22), Brown Sugar (N=16) and Tidigesic abuse (N=12). Objective measure of depression was analyzed with the help of projective measures in terms of pathology and qualitative response indices to predict a comprehensive personality pattern of drug addicts. Results revealed covert depressive trait among narcotic drug addicts. Besides a clinical pathology, their attempt to follow a normative pattern points to the possibility of overcoming the helpless practices of drug dependence. 4. A Comparative Study of Male and Female on Somatic Inkblot Series-I, S.P. Rathee & A. Singh, pages43-49. The Somatic Inkblot Series-I was administered to 75 Normal Army Subjects (35 Male and 40 Female), individually, following standard procedures (Cassell, 1980). The results indicated that female subjects gave more responses and male subjects rejected more cards. Female subjects gave more of Animal responses and male subjects gave more sexual responses. Results are discussed in detail. 5. Interdependence of SIS Variable with Personality Traits in Psychiatric Cases, S.K. Verma, D. Pershad, K. Bhagat & R. Kaur, pages 51-58. PEN and SIS-II were administered on 32 psychiatric patients, in order to find dependence of SIS variables on certain personality dimensions. The result shows that (a) the number of “Most Popular†responses depend upon the education of the subject (b) Psychotics scores tended to influence Atypical and pathological responses, (c) Neuroticism scores influence number of Typical responses, (d) The lie score was found inversely related to perception of Human, Movement and Pathological response (e) Extraversion was not related to any of the SIS variables. 6. Projective Techniques with Particular Reference To Inkblot Test, N.L. Dosajh, pages 59-68. For assessment of human personality, there are a number of difficulties. Firstly it is rather difficult for human beings to assess human beings. The person trying to assess the other human being gets automatically involved emotionally and thus becomes a member of the in group and so his assessment becomes colored and biased. An attempt is made to deal with some of these problems in the paper. 7. Thiesens Pattern in Rorschach of Adolescents with Schizophrenia, S. Chaudhury and G.S. Sundari, paper 69-75. Analysis of Thiesens Patterns in Rorschach response of 44 adolescent schizophrenics and an equal number of age and sex matched normal adolescents was undertaken. Only three of the five Thiesen’s patterns associated with schizophrenia, namely patterns A, C and D occurred significantly more frequently in the Rorschach records of adolescent schizophrenics as compared to the normal controls. 8. Efficacy of a New Inkblot Technique in Differentiating Manics, Alcohol, Dependents and Normal, Amool R. Singh, K. S. Sengar, Habib Ahmed, K. R. Banerjee and T.R. Shukla, pages 77-83. In the present study, 10 new inkblot cards were administered on M.D.P.-M, Alcohol Dependent and Normal group’s of subjects. The final analysis revealed that all three groups under study were significantly different on most of the three major inkblot variables that were selected in the index study. |
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