The Rorschach Inkblot Test in Practice

With James P. Choca, PhD

Hosted by Kathleen T. Bechtold, PhD

Format: DVD [Closed Captioned]

Running Time: approximately 100 minutes

ORDER CODE: APA-4310968

Copyright: 2017

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is an iconic, well-known assessment tool consisting of 10 random patterns intended to elicit an interpretive response from the client. Many instruments assess for personality and intelligence, but no other tool measures a person's energy level, emotional control, and thought processes. For this reason, the Rorschach has been used for decades in clinical settings for such purposes as evaluating improvement, informing treatment direction, and for a better general understanding of the client.

In this video, James P. Choca provides a brief overview of the Rorschach and demonstrates administration of the instrument. In an interview with host Kathleen Bechtold, Dr. Choca uses illustrative examples from the demonstration to discuss the art of interpreting responses and other key elements for the best use of this instrument.

Approach
The Rorschach is a superb clinical instrument that may require a long time to learn, administer, score, and interpret. Those time demands, and the negative attitudes that have arisen about this test, have resulted in a decrease of the number of programs that train graduate students with the Rorschach, and a decrease in the Rorschach use in clinical settings. Adjustments are needed if the test is going to thrive in the 21st Century. Recently, Dr. Choca has argued for a reduction in the number of cards administered, for a reduction in the number of variables scored, and for a more interactive and less constrained administration.

About the Author 
Born in Havana, Cuba, Dr. James P. Choca obtained a PhD at Loyola University Chicago.

A distinguished instructor at Roosevelt University, Dr. Choca directed the university's first PsyD program, was the department chair for 13 years, and is currently dedicated to teaching assessment courses and doing research. His professional involvement has revolved around diagnostic work.

Dr. Choca has numerous publications on the Rorschach, the Millon Clinical Multiaxial Inventory, and the Halstead Category Test. He is also currently involved in developing a broad range questionnaire for the DSM-5.