Alcoholism and the Rorschach test.

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Abstract
Rorschach Test studies of alcoholics were reviewed. Such research has assumed that alcoholics share common psychodynamics, the uniqueness of which are tapped by the Rorschach. Utilization of Rorschach findings was impeded by nonstandardization of its scoring. The test was used as a clinical tool and research instrument. In research, Rorschach data sometimes served as independent variables with which dependent variables were compared; the Rorschach was regarded as having face validity. Studies of effects of experimental intoxication on alcoholics and nonalcoholics have not yielded clear-cut results. The rationale for experimental intoxication was that it might represent a miniaturization of a drinking bout with concomitant changes in Rorschach performance. The environmental setting of such experiments was usually quite artificial, and all people cannot be expected to respond similarly to the subjective experience of intoxication. There were mixed findings regarding the effect of alcohol upon specific Rorschach determinants such as W% [percentage of total number of responses to the cards which are responses to the whole card], F% [proportion of good form responses in relation to the total number of form responses], M [movement response] and C [color response]. Interest in the possibility of a characteristic alcoholic or prealcoholic personality type was recurrent. It was assumed that this would be reflected in perceptual style as tapped by the Rorschach. Scoring the test by a more differentiated genetic maturity system, and attempts at finer classification of alcoholics, were noteworthy research developments in attempts to use the Rorschach in this manner. A major issue in Rorschach content research with alcoholics was that certain content categories were taken as signs of hypothetical psychodynamics of alcoholism, which themselves did not have established validity. While psychodynamic needs and values influence perceptual style as reflected in Rorschach content, perception was multidetermined. The evidence was strong that alcoholism is multidetermined. Such etiological heterogeneity would probably not be reflected in the homogeneous content of Rorschach responses of alcoholics.

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