RORSCHACH QUICK REFERENCE

SPECIAL SCORES
Definition
Deviant Verbalization

DV2
Deviant Response

DR1

DR2

Incongruous Combinations

Example/Criterion

Symbol
DV1

INCOM1
INCOM2

DETERMINANTS

Spiders trying to squish each other. (Neologism)

A tiny little bird. (Redundancy)
A woman with a disrethal air about her. (Neologism)
The two twin lips of a vagina. (Redundancy)
(Inappropriate Phrases)
It could be oysters but I guess theyre out of season.
(Circumstantial Responses)
Maybe two snakes, I always hated snakes, my brother used
to tease me about it something awful.
(Inappropriate Phrases)
Its some kind of bug that no one has ever seen.
(Circumstantial Responses)
Its like a map of Ireland, maybe not Ireland, maybe someplace
else, but it could be Ireland. I dont know much about Ireland
but I know about Mexico.

FABCOM1
FABCOM2

Two chickens holding basketballs.

Two women attacking a submarine.

Contamination

CONTAM

No doubt a butterflower.
It looks like blood, and an island, it must be a bloody island.

ALOG

It must be the north pole because it is at the top of the card.

PSV

Within Card Perseveration - responses are consecutive

answers in which the same location, DQ, determinant(s), FQ,
content, and same Z score, if one has been assigned, appear
in both answers.
Content Perseveration - usually does not occur within the
same card. The subject identifies the card as the same one
seen previously.
Mechanical Perseveration - the person mechanistically
reports the same object over and over.

Perseveration

Abstract Content

AB

A state flag with the forests and rivers represented.

A mask that represents evil.

Aggressive Movement

AG

The face of a man, hes furious about something.

Two insects are trying to knock down this post.

Cooperative Movement

COP

Two men lifting something up.

A bird feeding her young.

Morbid Content

MOR

Identification of the object as dead, destroyed, ruined, spoiled,

damaged, injured, or broken. Ex: a broken mirror, a dead dog.
Attribution to an object of clearly dysphoric feeling or
characteristic. Ex: a gloomy house, an unhappy person.

GHR/PHR

Answers which meet any of the following three criteria:

1. Responses that contain any Human Content Coding [H,
(H), Hd, (Hd), Hx].
2. Responses which contain the determinant M.
3. FM responses that have COP or AG special scores.

Human Representaional
Responses **

Criterion

Form answers. Used for responses based exclusively on the form features of
the blot.

Movement

Human movement response. Used for responses involving the kinesthetic

activity of a human, or of an animal or fictional character in human-like activity.

FM

Animal movement response. Used for responses involving the kinesthetic

activity of an animal. The movement perceived must be congruent to the species
identified in the content. Animals reported in movement not common to their
species should be coded as M.

Inanimate movement response. Used for responses involving the movement

of inanimate, inorganic, or insensate objects.

Pure color response. Used for answers based exclusively on the chromatic
color features of the blot. No form is involved.

CF

Color-from response. Used for answers that are formulated primarily because
of the chromatic color features of the blot. Form features are used, but are of
secondary importance.

FC

Form-color response. Used for answers that are created mainly because of
form features. Chromatic color is used, but is of secondary importance.

Cn

Color naming response. Used when the colors of the blot are identified by
name, and with the intention of giving a response.

Pure achromatic color response. Used when the response is based exclusively
on the grey, black or white features of the blot, when they are clearly used as
color. No form is involved.

CF

Achromatic color-form response. Used for responses that are created mainly
because of the black, white, or gray features, clearly used as color. Form features
are used, but are of secondary importance.

FC

Form-achromatic color response. Used for answers that are based mainly on
the form features. The achromatic features, clearly used as color, are also
included, but are of secondary importance.

Pure texture response. Used for answers in which the shading components of
the blot are translated to represent a tactual phenomenon, with no consideration
to the form features.

TF

Texture-form response. To be used for responses in which the shading features

of the blot are interpreted as tactual, and form is used secondarily, for purposes
of elaboration and/or clarification.

FT

Form-texture response. Used for responses that are based mainly on the form
features. Shading features of the blot are translated as tactual, but are of
secondary importance.

Pure vista response. Used for answers in which the shading features are
interpreted as depth or dimensionality. No form is involved.

Category

Chromatic Color

A bat, here are the wings, body and these are his hands.
A woman with the head of a chicken.

Fabulized Combination

Inappropriate Logic

Symbol

Form

Achromatic Color

Texture

Shading-Dimension

Personal

PER

Any response in which the subject refers to personal

knowledge or experience as part of the basis for justifying
and/or clarifying a response. Ex: We had one like that once.

VF

Vista-form response. Used for responses in which the shading features are
interpreted as depth or dimensionality. Form features are included, but are of
secondary importance.

Color Projection

CP

Any response in which a subject identifies an achromatic blot

or blot area as being chromatically colored.

FV

Form-vista response. Used for answers that are based mainly on the form
features of the blot. Shading features are also interpreted to note depth and/or
dimensionality, but are of secondary importance to the formulation of the
answer.

Pure shading response. Used for responses that are based exclusively on the
light-dark features of the blot that are completely formless and do not involve
reference to either texture or dimension.

YF

Shading form response. Used for responses based primarily on the light-dark
features of the blot. Form features are included, but are of secondary
importance.

FY

Form-shading response. Used for responses that are based mainly on the form
features of the blot. The light-dark features of the blot are included as
elaboration and/or clarification and are secondary to the use of form.

Form-Dimension

FD

Form based dimensional response. Used for answers in which the impression
of depth, distance, or dimensionality is created by using the elements of size
and/or shape of contours. No use of shading is involved in creating this
impression.

Pairs & Reflections

(2)

The pair response. Used for answers in which two identical objects are reported,
based on the symmetry of the blot. The objects must be equivalent in all
respects, but must not be identified as being reflected or as mirror images.

rF

Reflection-form response. Used for answers in which the blot or blot area is
reported as a reflection or mirror image, because of the symmetry of the blot.
The object or content reported has no specific form requirement, as in clouds,
landscape, shadows, etc.

Fr

Form-reflection response. Used for answers in which the blot or blot area is
identified as reflected or a mirror image, based on the symmetry of the blot.
The substance of the response is based on form features, and the object reported
has a specific form demand.

Exclusionary Rules for Special Scores:

1. If CONTAM, never include DV, DR, INCOM, FABCOM, or ALOG, even if in the response.
2. If DV, DR, INCOM, FABCOM, or ALOG:
a. The verbiage meeting criterion for each of these scores must be completely separate from the others.
b. When criteria overlap, code only one special score and use a step-up rule: pick the score with the
highest weighted value from Wsum6. [Weighted values: ALOG (5), FABCOM (4, 7), DR (3,6),
INCOM (2, 4), DV (1, 2)].

Shading-Diffuse

** Steps used to assign GHR or PHR designations.

1. Score GHR for answers containing a Pure H coding that also have all of the following:
(a) Form Quality of FQ+, FQo or FQu
(b) No cognitive special scores except DV
(c) No special scores of AG or MOR
2. Score PHR for answers that have either:
(a) FQ minus or FQnone (No Form), or
(b) FQ+, FQo or FQu and have an ALOG, CONTAM, or any Level 3 cognitive special score
3. Score GHR for any remaining human representational answers that have the special score COP, but do
not have the special score AG
4. Score PHR for any remaining human representational answers that have either:
(a) The special scores FABCOM or MOR
(b) The content score An
5. Score GHR for any remaining human representational answers to Cards III, IV, VII, and IX that are
coded Popular
6. Score PHR for any remaining human representational answers that have any of the following:
(a) The special scores AG, INCOM, or DR
(b) An Hd coding [not (Hd) coding]
7. Score GHR for all remaining human representational answers

RORSCHACH QUICK REFERENCE

CONTENTS

CONTENTS CONTINUED

Symbol

Criterion

Whole Human

Involving the percept of a whole human form. If the percept

involves a real historical figure, such as Napoleon, Joan of Arc,
etc., the content code Ay should be added as a secondary code.

Whole Human,
Fictional or
Mythological

(H)

Involving the percept of a whole human form that is fictional

or mythological, such as clowns, fairies, giants, witches, fairy
tale characters, angels, dwarfs, devils, ghosts, science fiction
creatures that are humanoid, human-like monsters, silhouettes
of human figures.

Human Detail

Hd

Human Detail
Fictional or
Mythological

(Hd)

Category

Human Experience

Hx

Symbol

Criterion

Science

Sc

Involving percepts that are associated with, or are the direct or

indirect products of science or science fiction, such as airplanes,
buildings, bridges, cars, light bulb, microscope, motorcycles,
motors, musical instrument, radar station, rocket ships, ships,
space ships, trains, telescope, TV aerial, weapons, etc.

Sex

Sx

Involving the percept of an incomplete human form, such as an

arm, leg, fingers, feet, the lower part of a person, a person
without a head.

Involving percepts of sex organs or activity of a sexual nature,

such as penis, vagina, buttocks, breasts (except when used to
identify the sex of a human figure), testes, menstruation,
abortion, intercourse. Sx is usually scored as a secondary
content. Primary contents are typically H, Hd, or An.

X-ray

Xy

Involving the percept of an incomplete human form that is

fictional or mythological such as, the head of the devil, the arm
of a witch, the eyes of an angel, parts of science fiction creatures
that are humanoid, a jack-o-lantern, and all masks.

Used specifically for the content of x-ray and may include either
skeletal or organs. When xy is coded, An is not included as a
secondary code.

Unusual
Contents

Id

Some responses will include contents that do not seem to fit

into one of the standard content catagories. When that occurs,
the unique content should be written out and entered under
idiographic contents (Id) on the Structural Summary Blank.
However, it is important to make sure that the item does not fit
into one of the standard content categories before deciding to
enter it idiographically.

Hx is scored as a primary content for percepts involving the

human emotion or sensory experience such as love, hate,
depression, happiness, sound, smell, fear, etc. These answers
will also include the use of AB as a special score. Hx also is
often scored as a secondary content in answers that are not
abstract but clearly involve the attribution of a human emotion
or sensory experience, such as two people who are deeply in
love looking at each other, a cat that is very sad, people who
are angry at each other, a woman smelling something nasty,
two people who are very happy, a man who is very excited.
Involving the percept of a whole animal form.

Whole Animal

Whole Animal
Fictional or
Mythological

(A)

Involving the percept of a whole animal that is fictional or

mythological, such as a unicorn, dragon, magic frog, flying
horse, Black Beauty, Jonathan Livingston Seagull.

Animal Detail

Ad

Involving the percept of an incomplete animal form, such as

the hoof of a horse, claw of a lobster, head of a dog, animal
skin.

(Ad)

Involving the percept of an incomplete animal form that is

fictional or mythological such as, the wing of Pegasus, the head
of Peter Rabbit, the legs of Pooh Bear.

Anatomy

An

Used for responses in which the content is skeletal, muscular,

or of internal anatomy such as bone structure, skull, rib cage,
heart, lungs, stomach, liver, muscle fiber, vertebrae, brain. If
the response involves a tissue slide, the code Art should be added
as secondary.

Art

Art

Involving percepts of paintings, drawings, or illustrations, either

abstract or definitive, art objects, such as statues, jewelry,
chandelier, candelabra, crests, badges, seals, and decorations.
A feather seen as worn by an indian would also be coded as
Art, however, a feather seen as worn by children, such as on
Card VII would more appropriately be coded as Ad. In many
responses coded for Art a second content will also be coded,
such as a painting of two dogs would be Art, A or a sculpture of
two witches would be Art, (H).

Animal Detail
Fictional or
Mythological

Anthropology

Ay

Involving percepts that have a specific cultural or historical

connotation such as totem, Roman helmet, Magna Carta, Santa
Maria, Napoleons hat, Cleopatras crown, arrowhead,
prehistoric axe, an indian war bonnet.

Blood

Bl

Involving the percept of blood, either human or animal.

Botany

Bt

Involving the percept of any plant life such as bushes, flowers,

seaweed, trees, or parts of plant life, such as leaves, petals, tree
trunk, root, birds nest.

Clothing

Cg

Involving the percept of any article of clothing such as hat,

boots, belt, necktie, jacket, trousers, scarf.

Clouds

Cl

Used specifically for the content cloud. Variations of this

category, such as fog or mist are coded Na.

Category

DEVELOPMENTAL QUALITY
Symbol

Definition

Criterion

Synthesized Response

Two or more objects are described as separate but related. At

least one of the objects involved must have a specific form
demand, or be described in a manner that creates a specific
form demand (ex. a dog walking among some bushes, a man
with a funny hat on, an airplane flying through some clouds,
the head of a little girl, she has a hair ribbon).

Ordinary Response

An area of the blot is identified as a single object which has

features that create a natural form demand or the description
of the object is such as to create a specific form demand (ex.
a fir tree, a cat, a totem pole, a maple leaf, a bat, a flag).

v/+

Synthesized Response

Two or more objects are described as separate but related.

None of the objects involved have a specific form demand
and the articulation does not introduce a form demand
for any of the objects (ex. clouds coming together, some
sort of bay with the vegetation on the shore, a rock and some
dirt around it).

Vague

An object is reported which has no specific from demand,

and the articulation does not introduce a specific form
demand for the object (ex. a cloud, the sky, the colors of sunset,
some ice).

(Z) SCORES
Type of Organizational Activity

CARD

W
(DQ; +, v/+, o)

Adjacent
Detail

Distant
Detail

White Space
Integration

1.0

4.0

6.0

3.5

II

4.5

3.0

5.5

4.5

III

5.5

3.0

4.0

4.5

IV

2.0

4.0

3.5

5.0

1.0

2.5

5.0

4.0

VI

2.5

2.5

6.0

6.5

Ex

Involving percepts of a blast or explosion, including fireworks.

Fire

Fi

Involving percepts of fire or smoke.

VII

2.5

1.0

3.0

4.0

Food

Fd

Used for any edible common for humans, such as fried chicken,
ice cream, fried shrimp, vegetables, cotton candy, chewing gum,
steak, a filet of fish, or for animals eating a food that is natural
for their species, such as a bird eating a worm or insect.

VIII

4.5

3.0

3.0

4.0

IX

5.5

2.5

4.5

5.0

5.5

4.0

4.5

6.0

Explosion

Geography

Ge

Involving the percept of a map, specified or unspecified.

Household

Hh

Involving percepts of household items, such as bed, carving

knife, chair, cooking utensil, cup, garden hose, glass, lamp,
lawnchair, plate, rug (animal skin rug should be coded Ad and
Hh used as a secondary content), silverware. Some items coded
Hh will also be coded as Art, such as candelabra, chandelier, or
artistically created pieces such as a centerpiece bowl.

Landscape

Nature

Ls

Na

Involving percepts of landscape, such as mountain, mountain

range, hill, island, cave, rocks, desert, swamp, or seascapes,
such as coral reef or underwater scene.
Used for a broad variety of contents from the natural
environment that are not coded as Bt or Ls, such as sun, moon,
planet, sky, water, ocean, river, ice, snow, rain, fog, mist,
rainbow, storm, tornado, night, raindrop.

A Z score is assigned to any response that includes form, and meets at least one of the
following criteria:
1. ZW. Is a Whole response that has a DQ coding of +, v/+, or o, (answers that have
a DQ coding of v are never assigned a Z score).
2. ZA. Is a response in which two or more separate objects, perceived in adjacent
detail areas of the blot (areas that touch), are reported in a meaningful relation.
3. ZD. Is a response in which two or more separate objects, perceived in non-adjacent
(distant) detail areas of the blot (areas that do not touch), are reported in a
meaningful relationship.
4. ZS. Is a response in which white space is integrated with other areas of the blot in
forming a response.
Designed by Carolyn OKeefe 1/25/2003
(E-WB, 5th ed.)