We often project into the world what is going on inside. This was why Herman Rorschach (1884-1922) invented his iconic test. Rorschach was a visual artist, from a family of artists, interested in perception and inspired by the work of the psychiatrists Sigmund Freud and Carl Jung who believed that interpreting visual symbols could provide insight into a person's unconscious.
Writers and artists for centuries have employed a form of projection, using recurring themes and imagery to reveal their characters' inner worlds and drive narratives. By examining recurring themes in our creative endeavors or even in our daily lives, we can begin a journey of self-discovery, much like interpreting a Rorschach inkblot, reading a work of literature, studying a piece of modern abstract art, or mindfully watching films.
Rorschach’s test was a way to probe the mind by presenting participants with a series of ambiguous inkblots and asking them to describe what they saw. His original test consists of ten inkblots, five in black and white and five in color, which are presented one at a time to the participant.
Rorschach believed that the way individuals interpreted the inkblots could reveal underlying personality traits, emotions, and thought processes. His test was originally intended to be a tool for diagnosing a mental illness like schizophrenia and assessing personality, as well as for gaining insight into an individual's unconscious. The test was a kind of mirror that could be interpreted subjectively, with a grain of salt.
By becoming detectives of our own inner world, we can creatively unlock valuable insights and begin transformative journeys of self-discovery. This process isn't limited to traditional art forms like inkblots or photography. Narrative therapy, for instance, uses stories – not just the client's own story, but also popular fiction – to help people explore themes, develop coping mechanisms, and find meaning in their experiences. Movies can be powerful tools within this approach. Similar to inkblots or photographs, films can be open to various interpretations, prompting viewers to connect with the characters' experiences, unearth their own emotions and thought processes.
Of course, a participant could simply make up a random response to the test in an attempt to deceive. But think about it. What a person invents, even a deception, also has something to do with their subjective view of the world. So, if a person takes the test, there’s a data set of responses that can be analyzed. A pattern emerges. This process reminds me of the quotation attributed to William Blake, "The fool who persists in his folly will become wise."
The point of the test isn’t necessarily to know exactly what’s going on under the hood. It’s more like listening to the engine to figure out generally what might be happening. Just as a seasoned mechanic can diagnose engine problems based on the specific sounds the engine makes, a mindful therapist uses the Rorschach test to gain insight into a person's thought processes. The test has been a controversial tool, and became a humorous cliché, with some rightly questioning its effectiveness in diagnosing a specific mental illness. However, when used by a qualified therapist, it is a helpful starting point for conversation and exploration of a person's inner world, NOT a device to pinpoint the organic cause of a psychiatric disorder.
I haven’t taken the test since grad school. However, I had done a unique version of it myself. Years ago, I was in the habit of taking a digital camera on my daily morning walks, particularly after 9/11. As you can imagine, I took hundreds of photos and had a large data set to work with. Like the ambiguous inkblots, the photos I took soon revealed hidden aspects of myself. I noticed a particular pattern in my subject choices. I was frequently drawn to capturing the image of flowers. One of my early favorite images was of a vibrant purple iris sparkling with dewdrops. At the time, I lived in a comfortable neighborhood where many houses had front gardens. Some had fences surrounding the yards and I found myself photographing a series of flowers behind fences.
I could easily have stuck the camera through openings in the fences but unwittingly chose not to, often enough, so that it caused a particular pattern. In reviewing a series of images, I wondered: Why was I so interested in taking pictures of flowers behind fences?
The answer seems obvious now it’s embarrassing. I was identifying with the flowers, feeling confined behind barriers in my life, perhaps some of my own making.
I then learned to trust my eye well enough to follow it, to allow it to lead me, and to learn something about myself that I was not yet conscious of.
One favorite photograph was of an old pickup truck, likely stolen, left in the middle of nowhere I accidentally came upon in my wanderings of the edges of a local park woodland.
The image spoke directly to my soul. I couldn’t name what it was at first, for it had no name. It was an amorphous emotion that I was familiar with but had not necessarily identified as mine. Yet. That truck was the crystallized embodiment of abandonment, and I knew that feeling all too well. That led me to explore my own experience of abandonment which eventually led to the discovery that I was not who I thought I was. A DNA test years later confirmed that the man who I thought was my father was not, which uncovered more secrets. A part of me had already known, while another part of me didn’t.
Rorschach’s test, while controversial, highlights the value of exploring themes in our lives, like grief, loss, love, or redemption, not just for entertainment or artistic appreciation, but for a deeper understanding of our common humanity. This is a skill of both competent psychotherapists and mindful readers. Therapists help us identify recurring patterns in our thoughts and behaviors, while skilled readers explore underlying themes of stories. By becoming detectives of our inner world, we can creatively unlock valuable insights and begin transformative journeys of self-discovery.
I’d love to hear from you! What themes have you noticed in your own story and where have they led you? What books, art, or movies have resonated with you? If you're interested in learning more about narrative therapy or using films for self-exploration, there is a wealth of resources available online and in libraries.
Resources:
Man’s Search for Meaning, Viktor Frankl
It Didn’t Start with You, Mark Wolynn
The Drama of the Gifted Child, Alice Miller
The True Drama of the Gifted Child, Martin Miller
They Shoot Pictures Don’t They
You might like to read my own journey of self discovery in my memoir: My Mother’s Ghosts
I find this pattern spotting in my art process, especially when I paint largely intuitively. The recurring symbols & colors generally speak to something within me. Sometimes it takes me a while to figure out the meaning, but that’s just part of the process I think!
Great to read about Rorschach’s test. I’ve found that working with recurring patterns of reaction helps me hone in on the underlying mechanisms that might be at work. It’s a fascinating process.