Object-Representations and Object-Relationships in Rorschach Responses

Abstract

This paper presents an object-relational view of Rorschach content. The existence within the self of images of others is a pre-condition of social development. The availability of a repertoire of personal imagery, the range and emotional quality of one's representations of others, the degree of fusion which tends to occur between self and others, the characterization of self and others, and the kinds of expectancies one carries into each encounter with the people and things of his world — all are facets of a person's relationship potential which, it is suggested, may be inferred from the content of a Rorschach protocol. Patients' general level of psychopathology and some more specific attributes of their psychopathology inferred from Rorschach content proved to be highly effective indicators of the psychopathology revealed in extensive psychiatric, psychological and social work interviews.