A Conceptual Validation Study of the Texture Response on the Rorschach

Abstract

This study addresses the Rorschach texture response (T). The authors proposed a developmental line incorporating tactile self-soothing functions and tactile aspects of interpersonal closeness and related it to T. It was hypothesized that T would be linearly related to one's reliance on tactile cues cognitively by categorizing objects according to texture and behaviorally by touching and stroking. Subjects were 81 women, between the ages of 18 and 30. The results confirm the notion that T is related to both cognitive and behavioral reliance on tactile cues. It was also hypothesized that high T subjects, more than others, would increase their use of tactile cues and touching when stressed, but this hypothesis was not supported. The results were considered to be consistent with, the proposed developmental line but not for differential regression along the line. They also supported T as being related to tactile mode of information processing.