Rorschach simulation of mental illness and normality by psychotic and nonpsychotic legal offenders.

Résumé

The ability of subjects, within four diagnostic classifications, to alter Rorschach responses as a result of varied instructions was investigated. Forty-eight prison inmates at the Utah State Prison and the Forensic Unit at the Utah State Hospital were selected on the basis of their being in one of four diagnostic groups: (a) nonschizophrenic, (b) latent schizophrenic, (c) residual schizophrenic, (d) schizophrenic-psychotic. Subjects were administered the Rorschach twice, once with the instruction to respond as if they were normal and well-adjusted, and once with the instruction to respond as if they were seriously mentally ill or psychotic. A counter-balanced design was used. The variables and ratios ep, bl, P, IC, and dramatic responses were changed as a result of instructions. In addition, there were significant differences on 21 of 48 variables within the four diagnostic groups. An independent judge accurately differentiated protocols according to instructions and diagnostic groups. When subjects were simulating normality, more popular responses were given. When mental illness was simulated, there were more dramatic responses including the use of blood, mutilation, and hatred. Finally, it should be noted that the different diagnostic groups accounted for many more significant findings than did the varied instructions, reaffirming the discriminative ability of the Rorschach irrespective of instructions.