No abstract

This study sought to investigate the sensitivity of a Rorschach form-color percentage (FC+%) on affective dysfunction and reality testing via a decrease in form quality. The mean FC+%s of 46 psychiatric patients representing borderline, manic-depressive, schizo-affective, and schizophrenic groups were compared with those of 12 nonpatients. Data analysis revealed that the mean FC+%s of all the clinical groups were significantly lower than the mean FC+% of the nonpatient group. The results support the FC+% as an index of affective dysfunction and as a viable supplement to Exner's comprehensive Rorschach system.

No abstract

Biological and Mental ChangesLATEB PERIODS of life are chiefly marked by a decline in most constituents and traits of the person. The onset and fate of deterioration varies, however, from one organic system to another, from one person to another, and from one culture to another. The sequence depends upon many factors, especially hereditary endowment and specffic past experiences, such as illnesses and injuries. The process of aging is closely related to personal and social adjustment during the years of adulthood. Satisfactory adjustment in adulthood promotes the integration and maturity which aid in maintaining health and the characteristics of middle age.The time of onset of old age is difficult to define. Some persons reveal decided tiaits as early as forty; others appear still "young" at seventy. Just as no single criterion can be employed to delineate adolescence and adulthood, no decisive criterion can be given for the onset of old age. Individual variation is great indeed within each community and nation. Generally the mentally deficient, those with borderline deficiency, and physicaUy handicapped individuals deteriorate early, and often at a fast rate. At the age of thirty or even earlier, defectives begin to exhibit signs of old age. "Their life expectancy is very low. On the other hand, many well-endowed persons seem to be capable of resisting the oncoming process of decline up to sixty and seventy. Although the spry old person is in a much better physical condition than most persons who are several years younger, he is not so strong of vigorous as he was earlier, though he still manages to maintain a youthful attitude. The average person takes the middle ground. He begins to deteriorate earlier than the well-endowed person, yet his rate of decline is moderate. Ulti-291

Middle and Late Adult YearsTHE MIDDLE STAGE of life commcuces when a person attains his peak in performing most obligations and activities in which he is participating. It implies completion of the upward development as well as an increase in the forthflowing integration among motivational tendencies, abilities, and skills. Most types of education and tiaining are finished before one enters this stage. Moreover, vocational, marital, and other experiences are accumulated, and the pattem of life is largely set. In accordance with the present-day pattem of experience, it is estimated that women enter this phase of lffe at the completion of thirty years of lffe, while men follow suit at thirty-five. The middle period of life encompasses approximately fifteen of the most productive years of life. It gradually shades into the phase of late adulthood when declines are not fully compensated by a continual growth of diverse human potentialities. Because such decUnes are relatively gradual and do not normally impair the functioning of the individual to a great extent, both the middle years and those prior to old age wUl be considered in this chapter.During the middle adult years, most individuals progress in extensive self-realization in vocational, marital, civic, and socioeconomic areas of living. Consolidation of previous gains also occurs at this stage. The intensity of experiencing life declines as compared to the adolescent and early adult stages of development. Since one's children are becoming adults, marrying, and moving away, responsibiUties associated with chUd and adolescent guidance and education decline and, perhaps, terminate. With the increase of life expectancy, some extension of the middle-age span is observed. This extension and shorter working hours offer increased opportunity for seff-chosen activities and personality growth.