Rorschachiana

Editorial.
This issue includes four articles. The first article is an empirical research study using the Rorschach Test to examine the effect of thought suppression on cigarette dependence. It is followed by the results of a survey on the use of the Rorschach and other projective methods with Swiss psychologists and by two case studies. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
The role of personality features and cognitive avoidance strategies in cigarette smoking behavior: A multimethod psychological assessment.
Health risk behaviors, such as cigarette smoking, may be triggered by failures in thought suppression, a cognitive avoidance strategy associated with rumination. To date, no study has examined the role of personality features in the performance of thought suppression in smokers and nonsmokers. To address this gap in the literature, we aimed to (1) examine whether some stable personality features might be related to thought suppression failure independent of smoking status and (2) investigate whether smokers have different personality traits compared with nonsmokers that might be related to cognitive avoidance strategies and difficulties in cognitive emotion regulation suggesting the presence of rumination/failures in suppressing mental content. We included 39 nonsmokers and 40 regular smokers in the study and implemented a multimethod psychological research design. Specifically, we administered a typical performance-based measure (i.e., Rorschach [R-PAS]) and a behavioral task (i.e., the thought suppression task). Our results indicate that failures in thought suppression are associated with stable aspects of personality related to the presence of thinking problems (e.g., Sum of Severe Cognitive Codes) and passive attitudes (e.g., Passive proportion). Moreover, failures in suppressing a mental content seem to be associated with difficulties in problem-solving strategies with a constant focus on one’s inner world. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
The use of the Rorschach Test in Switzerland 100 years after its publication: Results of a Swiss survey.
Our study was conducted between 2020 and 2021 with a sample of 499 Swiss professionals. The research focused on exploring the current use of the Rorschach Test in the clinical practice of Swiss psychologists/psychotherapists, focusing on (1) how often clinicians use this test, (2) understanding the differences in its use among the various regions of Switzerland, (3) understanding why the test is either used or not, (4) which type of interpretative analysis is most commonly used (quantitative vs. qualitative), (5) which scoring reference manuals are most often used, and (6) what are the clinicians’ opinions on the future of the Rorschach Test. Data showed that about half of Swiss French (47.3%) and Swiss Italian (53.6%) clinicians still use the Rorschach Test, whereas only 17.8% of Swiss German clinicians use it. However, the Rorschach Test remains among the top three personality tests used in Switzerland (drawing tests: 34.3%; Rorschach: 32.0%; Thematic Apperception Test: 30.3%). A lack of adequate training for this test and a general nonuse of projective tests appear to be the main reasons why some clinicians do not use it. Nevertheless, the test is widely used for the vast amount of information it offers and for its diagnostic validity. Swiss Italian and Swiss German clinicians used both qualitative and quantitative analysis, unlike Swiss French therapists, who seemed to prefer qualitative analysis. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
Sarah and the fear of growing up – A case study in school psychology, examined from a psychoanalytic perspective.
The field of school psychology has existed for 70 years in France. Although the goals of school psychologists are numerous, the main purpose is to help children be happy at school in their learning and socializing abilities. Either through a complete psychological assessment or simple interviews, the school psychologist will try to understand a child’s symptoms and how they express inner conflicts. Here, Sarah’s case, a young and bright 8-year-old schoolgirl, is examined here through a psychoanalytic perspective. Far from being bored at school, which is the reason why Sarah’s mother consulted the school psychologist, a different issue was revealed through projective tests (Rorschach and Children’s Apperception Test [CAT]). Behind creative and joyful answers, hides Sarah’s fear of growing up and this is narrowly linked with the anxiety of losing her parents, who are both in frail health with overweight problems. The discussion focuses on the value of projective and creative tools to understand the child’s inner conflicts and will highlight the link between creativity and anxiety. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)
When inkblot imitates life—A case study of Rorschach content analysis.
Content analysis is a storied and notorious supplement to Rorschach interpretation. This interpretive venture can prove fruitful in eliciting an interpreter’s experience-near subjectivity that otherwise escapes self-report or direct expression. Rorschach content analysis is particularly compelling when exploring the more frequent or recurring themes elicited through recurring content imagery. As Schafer (1954, p. 142) wrote, “it is the choice and patterning of these images that carry the patient’s individual stamp.” This paper aims to convey an individual stamp through a case study of a woman embedded in circumstances that appeared to decorate her percepts in imagery of captivity, immobility, seclusion, and feeling stuck. Supplementary to her summary of scores, a Rorschach content analysis was applied to refine the interpretation of her protocol, spark conversation, and help the patient feel more accurately understood. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2024 APA, all rights reserved)

Rorschachiana - Vol 45, Iss 2