The use of the Rorschach in brief clinical evaluation

An adaptation of the Rorschach is described that can be used as part of a brief clinical evaluation. Some case illustrations are provided to demonstrate the method.     

Comparisons of the Shamans and Pseudoshamans of the Apaches of the Mescalero Indian Reservation: A Rorschach Study

Psychoanalytical oriented interviews and quantitative Rorschach findings were used to investigate personality structure of the Mescalero Indian Reservation Apache. From 250 Rorschachs, 72 protocols were divided into three groups: (1) a control group of 52 Apaches, 50 years and over; (2) 12 shamans, defined as native medicine men arrogating to themselves supernatural powers and accorded shamanistic status by their culture mates; and (3) 7 pseudoshamans, claiming to possess power but not believed by societal co-members or accorded the position of shaman but denying power-possession. The shamans possessed more hysterical features than the pseudoshamans, were mentally able to approach ambiguous material similarly to the control group, showed a high degree of reality testing potential, keener awareness of peculiarities, more theoretical interest, and the capacity to regress in the ego's service. The pseudoshamans possessed neither the prominent shaman characteristics nor hysterical features; they appeared to be impoverished personalities floating between the shaman and Apache norm groups.     

The Metamorphosis of Projective Methods

Early approaches to projective methods emphasized the use of unstructured materials as stimuli designed to elicit symbolic material within a psychoanalytic framework. Current theorizing concerning projective methods emphasizes the multi-level nature of test behavior and the unique role that projective methods play in the assessment armamentarium.     

Apparent reversals of a rotating mask: A new demonstration of cognition in perception

A mask of a face rotated about its vertical axis of symmetry can appear to oscillate rather than rotate. Do stimulus features (e.g., shape) or cognitive factors (e.g., differential familiarity with convex and concave views of faces) explain this new illusion? In Experiment 1, differential familiarity was varied across stimuli by using familiar and unfamiliar objects rotating at 4 rpm and within stimuli by showing the objects upright and inverted. True motion was seen more with unfamiliar objects than with familiar objects and more with an inverted mask than with an upright mask. The results of Experiment 2, which was done with static views, suggest that the upright and inverted masks present similar structure to the visual system. In Experiment 3, the objects were shown rotating at 8 rpm; the results are similar to those of Experiment 1. These experiments favor a differential familiarity account of this illusory motion. Cognitive constraints on perceived motion and perceived rigidity are discussed.