Mentalization and the Rorschach

Abstract

The concept of mentalization – the ability to think about mental states (e.g., feelings, intentions, motivations) of self and others – has become increasingly influential in psychoanalysis ( Bateman & Fonagy, 2004 ; Fischer-Kern et al., 2010 ; Fonagy, 1991 ). Unfortunately, the clinical application and further exploration of the construct has been limited by the time-consuming and highly specialized methods used to assess it ( Choi-Kain & Gunderson, 2008 ; Meehan, Levy, Reynoso, Hill, & Clarkin, 2009 ). In that mentalization operates predominantly outside of conscious awareness and involves the assessment of mental representations of self and other, projective measures such as the Rorschach are possibly the most efficient to evaluate and further explore this construct. In this paper we present a conceptual framework for how texture responses (T) as they relate to the ability to form attachments, and human and human movement responses (M+/M–, GHR:PHR) as they relate to empathy, social understanding, and boundary formation, may be utilized in the assessment of mentalization.

The Value of the Rorschach Method in Clinical Assessment of Migraine Patients

“…Porcelli and Kleiger (2016, p. 124) evidenced the link between M responses and mentalization and concluded that: "M is related to the effective use of the mentalization function." Moreover, a protocol including three or more human movement responses is considered to present adequate mentalization capacities (Conklin et al, 2012).…”

The Therapeutic Process in Psychodynamic Therapy with Children with Different Capacities for Mentalizing

“…Although not directly aimed at assessing reflective functioning, the Rorschach method was suggested as an instrument capable of clinically researching and evaluating many psychological processes involving implicit mentalization (Berant & Zim, 2013;Conklin, Malone, & Fowler, 2012;Pineda, Giromini, Porcelli, Parolin, & Viglione, 2011;Porcelli & Kleiger, 2015). Conklin et al (2012), based on an extensive literature review, conceptually proposed that texture variables (T) could reflect an individual's ability to establish attachment bonds with others; human movement responses (M) would be related to empathic ability; and the quality of the human response (GHR vs. PHR) would be related to the accuracy of perceptions about other people. The authors proposed profiles based on these Rorschach variables that describe different levels of the ability to mentalize, according to specific combinations of these variables.…”

“…The Rorschach method was used as an instrument capable of researching and clinically evaluating many psychological processes involving mentalization (Berant & Zim, 2013;Conklin et al, 2012;Zevalkink, 2008). Conklin et al (2012) have defined a set of Rorschach variables, according to the Comprehensive System developed by Exner (2003), which have been investigated in some empirical studies, and that are hypothesized to assess aspects of psychological functioning that are crucial to mentalization.…”

“…The Rorschach method was used as an instrument capable of researching and clinically evaluating many psychological processes involving mentalization (Berant & Zim, 2013;Conklin et al, 2012;Zevalkink, 2008). Conklin et al (2012) have defined a set of Rorschach variables, according to the Comprehensive System developed by Exner (2003), which have been investigated in some empirical studies, and that are hypothesized to assess aspects of psychological functioning that are crucial to mentalization. The authors proposed that texture variables (T) could reflect the individual's ability to establish attachment bonds with others; human movement responses (M and M-) would be related to empathic ability and social cognition; and the quality of the human response (GHR vs. PHR) would be related to the accuracy of perception of self and others as well as boundary disturbances, which relates to the mentalizing construct.…”

“…According to the authors, based on empirical research, taken together, these variables can provide an image of a person's ability to mentalize. Conklin et al (2012) proposed three profiles describing different levels of mentalizing ability, based on specific combinations of Rorschach variables results. Profile 1 (T = 1, M+  3 (M+ is the sum of M+, Mo and Mu), M- 1, GHR -PHR  1 and H  3) describes a person with adequate mentalizing ability.…”