Skip to main content

Forensic Applications of Rorschach Assessment

  • Chapter

Part of the book series: Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development ((ARAD))

Abstract

This chapter discusses the forensic utility of Rorschach assessment of adolescents in the criminal justice system. There is a particular focus on the question of continuity and change from adolescence to adulthood and on Rorschach markers that can serve to detect risk factors for failure to develop responsible functioning. In addition, guidelines are delineated for effective presentation of Rorschach findings in forensic cases.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution.

Buying options

Chapter
USD   29.95
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
eBook
USD   69.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as EPUB and PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD   89.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info
Hardcover Book
USD   119.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Durable hardcover edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Learn about institutional subscriptions

References

  • Aron, L. (1996). A meeting of minds: Mutuality in psychoanalysis. New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., Brenneis, C. B., Schimek, J. G., & Glick, M. (1976). Normal development and psychopathological impairment of the concept of the object on the Rorschach. Journal of Abnormal Psychology, 85, 364–373.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Blatt, S. J., Tuber, S., & Auerbach, J. (1990). Representation of interpersonal interaction on the Rorschach and level of psychopathological impairment. Journal of Personality Assessment, 54, 711–728.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bornstein, R. F. (2002). A process dissociation approach to objective-projective test score interrelationships. Journal of Personality Assessment, 78, 47–68.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Bow, J. N., Quinnell, F. A., Zaroff, M., & Assemany, A. (2002). Assessment of sexual abuse allegations in child custody cases. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 566–575.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Budd, K. S., Felix, E. D., Poindexter, L. M., Naik-Polan, A. T., & Sloss, C. F. (2002). Clinical assessment of children in child protection cases: An empirical analysis. Professional Psychology: Research and Practice, 33, 3–12.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Clemence, A. J., & Handler, L. (2001). Psychological assessment on internship: A survey of training directors and their expectations for students. Journal of Personality Assessment, 76, 18–47.

    Google Scholar 

  • Cornell, D. G. (1990). Prior adjustment of violent juvenile offenders. Law and Human Behavior, 14, 569–577.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Daubert v. Merrell Dow Pharmaceuticals, Inc. 113 S. Ct. 2786. Federal rules of evidence. (1993). Boston: Little, Brown.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erard, R. E. (2005). What the Rorschach can contribute to child custody and parenting time evaluations. Journal of Child Custody, 2, 119–142.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Erard, R. E. (2007). Picking cherries with blinders on: A comment on Erickson et al. (2007) regarding the use of tests in family court. Family Court Review, 45, 175–184.

    Google Scholar 

  • Erdberg, P. (2007). Using the Rorschach with children. In S. Smith & L. Handler (Eds.), The clinical assessment of children and adolescents (pp. 139–147). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ewing, C. H. (1990). Psychological self-defense. Law and Human Behavior, 14, 579–594.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Exner, J. E., & Erdberg, P. (2005). The Rorschach: A comprehensive System (Interpretation 3rd ed., Vol. 2). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Exner, J. E., & Weiner, I. B. (1995). The Rorschach: A comprehensive system (Assessment of children and adolescents 2nd ed., Vol. 3). New York: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Frye vs. United States 293F 1013 (DC Cir 1923).

    Google Scholar 

  • Gacono, C. B., Evans, B. F., & Viglione, D. J. (2002). The Rorschach in forensic practice. Journal of Forensic Psychology Practice, 2, 1–10.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Gacono, C. B., & Meloy, J. R. (1994). The Rorschach assessment of a aggressive and psychopathic personalities. Hillsdale, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ganellen, R., Wasyliw, O., Haywood, T., & Grossman, L. (1996). Can psychosis be malingered on the Rorschach? An empirical study. Journal of Personality Assessment, 66, 65–80.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Gray B. T. & Acklin, M. W. (2008). The use of the Rorschach Inkblot Method in trial Competency evaluation. In C. B. Gacono & B. F. Evans (Eds.) The handbook of forensic Rorschach assessment (pp. 141–156). New York, NY: Taylor & Francis.

    Google Scholar 

  • Greco, C. M., & Cornell, D. G. (1992). Rorschach object relations of adolescents who committed homicide. Journal of Personality Assessment, 59, 574–583.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Heilbrun, K. (1992). The role of psychological testing in forensic assessment. Law and Human Behavior, 16, 257–272.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hilsenroth, M. J., & Stricker, G. (2004). A consideration of challenges to psychological assessment instruments used in forensic settings: Rorschach as exemplar. Journal of Personality Assessment, 83, 141–152.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Kwawer, J. S. (1980). Primitive interpersonal modes, borderline phenomena, and Rorschach content. In J. S. Kwawer, H. D. Lerner, P. M. Lerner, & A. Sugarman (Eds.), Borderline phenomena and the Rorschach test (pp. 89–106). New York, NY: International Universities Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Leichtman, M. B. (1996). The Rorschach: A developmental perspective. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Lerner, P. M. (1998). Psychoanalytic perspectives on the Rorschach. Hillsdale, NJ: Analytic Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levesque, J. R. (1996). Is there still a place for violent youth in juvenile justice? Aggression and Violent Behavior, 1, 69–79.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Levesque, J. R. (2002). Dangerous adolescents, model adolescents: Shaping the role and promise of education. New York: Kluwer Academic/Plenum Publishers.

    Google Scholar 

  • Levesque, R. J. R. (2008). Special introduction: The place of self-harm in adolescent development. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 39, 217–218.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Masling, J. M. (1997). The nature and utility of projective tests and objective tests. Journal of Personality Assessment, 69, 257–270.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McCann, J. F. (1998). Defending the Rorschach in court: An analysis of admissibility using legal and professional standards. Journal of Personality Assessment, 70, 125–144.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • McConville, D. W., & Cornell, D. G. (2003). Aggressive attitudes predict aggressive behavior in middle school students. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 11, 179–187.

    Google Scholar 

  • McGrath, R. E. (2008). Prediction combination in binary decision-making situations. Psychological Assessment, 209, 195–205.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Meloy, J. R. (2008). The authority of the Rorschach: An update. In C. B. Gacono & F. B. Evans (Eds.), The handbook of forensic Rorschach assessment (pp. 79–88). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Melton, G. B., Petrilla, J., Poythress, N. G., Slobogin, C., Lyons, P. M., Jr., & Otto, R. K. (2007). Psychological evaluations for the courts (3rd ed.). New York, NY: Guilford Press.

    Google Scholar 

  • Mihura, J. L., & Weinle, C. A. (2002). Rorschach training: Doctoral students’ experiences and preferences. Journal of Personality Assessment, 79, 39–52.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Mitchell, S. (1988). The intrapsychic and the interpersonal: Different theories, different domains, or historical artifacts. Psychoanalytic Inquiry, 8, 472–496.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Ogden, T. H. (1986). The matrix of the mind. Northvale, NJ: Jason Aronson.

    Google Scholar 

  • Piquero, A. R. (2011). James Joyce, Alice in Wonderland, the rolling stones, and criminal careers. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 40, 761–775.

    Google Scholar 

  • Ritzler, B., Erard, R., & Pettigrew, G. (2002). Protecting the integrity of Rorschach expert witnesses: A reply to Grove and Barden (1999) re: The admissibility of testimony under Daubert/Kumho analyses. Psychology, Public Policy, and Law, 8, 235–246.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Schafer, R. (1954). Psychoanalytic interpretation in Rorschach testing: Theory and application. New York: Grune & Stratton.

    Google Scholar 

  • Smith, A., Gacono, C. B., & Kaufman, L. (1997). A Rorschach comparison of psychopathic and nonpsychopathic conduct disordered adolescents. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 53, 289–300.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Stafford, K. P., & Sellbom, M. O. (2013). Assessment of competence to stand trial. In R.K. Otto (Ed.), Forensic psychology. Vol. 11 in I. B. Weiner (Ed.-in-Chief), Handbook of psychology (2nd ed., pp. 412–439). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Tibon-Czopp, S. (2012). Invited commentary: Applying psychodynamic developmental assessment to explore mental functioning in adolescents. Journal of Youth and Adolescence, 41, 1259–1266.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Tibon-Czopp, S., Appel, L., & Zeligman, R. (2014). Relational psychoanalytic perspective on the negotiation dialogue: Using the Rorschach Inkblot Method for assessing integrative complexity. Group Decision and Negotiation, 23, 1177–1189.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Viglione, D. J., Perry, W., & Meyer, G. J. (2003). Refinements in the Rorschach Ego Impairment Index incorporating the Human Representational Variable. Journal of Personality Assessment, 81, 149–156.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, I. B. (1999). Contemporary perspectives on Rorschach assessment. European Journal of Psychological Assessment, 15, 78–96.

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, I. B. (2003). Principles of Rorschach interpretation (2nd ed.). Mahwah, NJ: Lawrence Erlbaum Associates.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, I. B. (2013). The Rorschach Inkblot Method. In R. P. Archer & M. A. Wheeler (Eds.), Forensic uses of clinical assessment instruments (2nd ed., pp. 202–229). New York: Routledge.

    Google Scholar 

  • Weiner, I. B., Exner, J. E., & Sciara, A. (1996). Is the Rorschach welcome in the courtroom? Journal of Personality Assessment, 67, 422–424.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Winnicott, D. W. (1971). Playing and reality. New York: Basic books.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zapf, P. A., Golding, S. L., Roesch, R., & Pirelli, G. (2014). Assessing criminal responsibility. In I. B. Weiner & R. K. Otto (Eds.), Handbook of forensic psychology (4th ed., pp. 315–352). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

  • Zapf, P. A., Roesch, R., & Pirelli, G. (2014). Assessing competency to stand trial. In I. B. Weiner & R. K. Otto (Eds.), Handbook of forensic psychology (4th ed., pp. 281–314). Hoboken, NJ: Wiley.

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

Authors

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 2016 Springer Science+Business Media New York

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Tibon-Czopp, S., Weiner, I.B. (2016). Forensic Applications of Rorschach Assessment. In: Rorschach Assessment of Adolescents. Advancing Responsible Adolescent Development. Springer, New York, NY. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4939-3151-4_10

Download citation

Publish with us

Policies and ethics