Rorschach form level and the process-reactive dimension in schizophrenia

Abstract

The Rorschachs of 15 process and 15 reactive schizophrenics were scored for form level toexamine differences on the cards between these groups. Cards X and IX proved most difficult for both groups to integrate. Process schizophrenics performed less well than did reactives on Card II, and reactives performed less well than did process on Card VII. The first result was interpreted in relation to the saliency ofhuman figures in Card III. The results on Card VII were interpreted as contradicting that the card represented a parental theme. Further discussion centered upon the need for more analysis of Rorschach indices across individual cards.

New Directions in Rorschach Research: I. The Process-Reactive Differentiation

“…Considering form level as a measure o' f ability to integrate the aspects of the blot successfully (Klopfer & Kelley, 1942), Weiss and Katz (1977) examined the performance of process and reactive schizophrenics on Cards 111, VII, IX, and X. Weiss and Katz hypothesized that the schizophrenic process per se would interfere with the integration of these Rorschach cards (IX and X ) which were more difficult to organize, so that the process and reactive schizophrenic would have equal difficulty organizing Cards IX and X. They also hypothesized that since the reactive schizophrenic seems to reflect psychological problems of a more psychodynamic nature, they should reflect greater difficulty (lower form level) on Card VII (the so-called "mother card") and that since process schizophrenics manifest more psychological problems of an interpersonal kind, they should have greater difficulty (lower form level responses) on Card 111 (the so-called "people card").…”