Rorschach Inkblots revealed

Makes about as much sense as Adsense!

[tangor]

A doctor is under investigation for misconduct after publishing 10 inkblots used by psychologists to get insights about a subject's frame of mind.

James Heilman told told The New York Times he posted the Rorschach test images in an attempt to demystify the psychological profession. At least two psychologists didn't appreciate the gesture and have complained of unprofessional conduct to Heilman's local doctor organization, which says it's looking in to the matter.

Named for inventor and Swiss psychologist Hermann Rorschach, the test gauges a subject's personality by presenting a series of unclear images and asking him to interpret them. Psychologists have kept the test's inner workings secret for decades out of concern that the inkblots won't be as effective if they've been seen before. Some psychologists worry that detailed descriptions like the one included on Wikipedia could be a cheat sheet of sorts that will allow subjects to rehearse their responses.

Wikipedia involved, too. Surprise? :)

Reported at The Register
[theregister.co.uk...]

[jecasc]

Setting aside that any psychologist that still uses the Rorschach test should get his brain examined himself in my opinion - the Rorschach cards can be freely purchased and you can buy books with the cards and interpretation of the cards in every bookstore. Just do a quick search on amazon.com and you will find a variety of books on the subject.

You could get the impression from the article that the Rorschach inkblots are a secret set of cards, handed over from one psychologist to another. The cards have been in public domain for years, since Rorschach has died in 1922 already.

I guess the only ones really upset are the publishing companies who probably fear they can no longer charge unreasonable amounts of money for 10 public domain cards anymore, once every psychologist can print a set of cards on his own.

[edited by: jecasc at 12:18 pm (utc) on Aug. 25, 2009]

[Leosghost]

Isn't Dan Browns next book supposed to be about the hidden references to the turin shroud in the Rorschach blots ..or is that just a nasty smear ;)

[LifeinAsia]

nasty smear

Pun intended? ;)

[wyweb]

The Turin shround does have a sort of Rorschachy feel to it.

Tip to anyone who ever has to take this test: See bat wings in everything they put in front of you.

[edited by: wyweb at 6:10 pm (utc) on Aug. 25, 2009]

[Demaestro]

I wonder what Psychology says about a group of doctors who complain of unprofessional conduct when someone attempts to educate people?

My amateur and completely uneducated guess is some form of vanity or ego issues.

It reminds me of when a magician shows how a common magic trick is performed and other magicians get all upset because he is outing THEIR secrets. There are a million books that reveal the same secret.

The knowledge of man/woman belongs to all of us. It isn't there for a privileged few.