Apahe Age Groups

Abstract

Previous communications have indicated that interpretations of Rorschach protocols resultant from testing the Apaches of the Mescalero Indian Reservation produce information which conforms closely to that obtained by standard anthropological and psychoanalytic investigative techniques.Anthropologic and psychoanalytic observations demonstrate that the effects of acculturation are less disruptive to the personality organization of old-age than of middle-age and youngage Mescalero and Chiracahua Apaches. In the present communication, a comparison is made of Rorschach protocols derived from testing of those three-age groups. The interpretation of those protocols confirms the assumptions 'based on the anthropological and psychoanalytic observations.

Modal Errors in the Cross Cultural Use of the Rorschach

“…It seems to be an unavoidable phenomenon that Rorschach protocols first obtained from minority group cultures will be from persons with some level of pathology. For instance, Boyer's (Boyer et al, 1964) primary research technique on the Mescalero Apache Reservation consisted of conducting psychoanalytically oriented investigative interviews, usually in a psychotherapeutic situation. Subsequent norms, if they included a higher proportion of pathological samples than those in a general population, would be, to that extent, invalid.…”