ABSTRACT
In this study, measures were developed that compared conventional Form accuracy and the ratio of Special Scores on Cards VIII-X (Color Cards) with overall Rorschach scores. Two new measures, a Color Card Perception Difference (CCPD) score and a Special Score Difference (SSD) score were used for this purpose. CCPD and SSD scores were calculated by subtracting component X + % scores and weighted Special Score ratios found on the overall Rorschach from those unique to Cards VIII-X. CCPD scores were found to be highly effective in differentiating a previously diagnosed borderline from a schizophrenic group. CCPD and SSD scores were correlated with MMPI scales for profile characteristics.
Subject(s)
Borderline Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Psychometrics/methods , Rorschach Test , Schizophrenia/diagnosis , Adolescent , Adult , Analysis of Variance , Borderline Personality Disorder/physiopathology , Case-Control Studies , Female , Form Perception/physiology , Humans , Linear Models , MMPI , Male , Middle Aged , Rorschach Test/statistics & numerical data , Schizophrenia/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Sixteen Nuremberg war criminals' (NWC) Rorschach records were compared to those of Antisocial Personality Disordered (APD) incarcerated males procured by Gacono and Meloy (1988). The Meloy (1988) set of hypotheses for psychopathy was applied to the NWCs' Rorschachs. The NWCs did not match Meloy's hypotheses, and neither did the antisocial personality disordered inmates. However, individually and as a group, the NWC Rorschach variables indicated less psychopathy, according to the hypotheses, than those of the APD inmates. Unlike most previous studies, variance in type and degree of psychopathology precluded the application of a mental disorder, character structure, or trait to all, or to the majority, of NWCs. Nevertheless, common features, such as avoidance of responsibility, low self-esteem, and capacity for affection, were revealed.
Subject(s)
Personality Assessment/standards , Rorschach Test , War Crimes/psychology , Antisocial Personality Disorder/diagnosis , Criminal Psychology , Germany , Humans , Male , Predictive Value of Tests , Prisoners/psychology , Violence/psychologyABSTRACT
The relationship between thought process disturbance and the structure of internal object relations was investigated by comparing Rorschach Special Scorings and content variables that reflected developmental levels of object relations. Selected Special Scorings from the Comprehensive System (Exner, 1990) and composite (WSum6) scores were correlated with Urist's (1977) Mutuality of Autonomy Scale (MOA) on the Rorschach protocols of 35 borderlines, 15 schizophrenics, and 19 narcissists. Correlations between composite scores of severe thought process disturbance and severe imbalance in internalized object representations were highly significant, p < .0001. The hypothesis that there is a significant relationship between disturbance in internalized self/object differentiation and thought process disturbance was supported. Implications of this study are discussed as they relate to empirical validation of theoretical constructs concerning ego function deficit and self/object disturbance.
ABSTRACT
We examined a blind, actuarial analysis of the Rorschach data of the Nuremberg war criminals (NWC) using Exner's (1974) Comprehensive System in an attempt to prove the convergence of the NWC construct along dimensions of psychological (personality) functioning and to prove its discriminability from other appropriate psychiatric and nonpsychiatric comparison groups. The weaknesses of previous research methodologies are examined and discussed vis-à-vis the historical and theoretical developments of the concepts of authoritarianism, dogmatism, obedience to authority, and the development of the Rorschach Inkblot Technique.
