Scoring of the Rorschach-1

Location & Developmental Quality

The location of the responses refers to the area of the inkblot that
is used.
Exner also specifies coding for Developmental Quality, which is
determined by evaluating each location score in relation to its
degree of integration.
Symbol

Definition

Example

Synthesized
Two birds sitting on a fence,
Response (separate Two clouds are building up, like
but related)
expanding, and coming together,

Ordinary Response

Two birds

Synthesized
Response

Two clouds coming together

Vague

Clouds in the sky

V/+
V

Determinant & Form Quality

Determinant coding often seems to be the most complex feature of
scoring to the beginning Rorschacher. The examiner must consider
all of the possibilities that contribute to why an object that is
reported, actually looks like that to the subject.
The subject would generate some potential answers to an inkblot
area. After many potential answers are discarded, another selection
process occurred. The final selection process is influenced very
markedly by the habits or personality traits of the subjects, plus the
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psychological state of the individual at the time of taking the test.

Needs, attitudes, conflicts, styles, etc. all become involved as
features important in the final selection of the answers that are
delivered.
In the most favorable circumstances, the subject gives the critical
data directly, as in It has that general shape or Its colored like
they are or The different shades here give that impression. But
sometimes, even the cooperative subject does not express the
critical information that precisely.
There are 7 broad categories of determinants, each of which
represents a way in which the stimulus field may be translated by
the subject. The 7 categories include 24 symbols for coding
determinants.
1. Form

The determinant is common to

almost all responses, either as the
only determinant, or combined with
other determinants.

2. Movement

This categories has three subcategories, (1) Human Movement, (2)

Animal Movement, (3) Inanimate
Movement. All movement answers
are also codes as Active or Passive
(the verb talking is probably the best
benchmark).

3. Chromatic Color

Includes 3 symbols the choice of

which depends on the extent to
which form is involved in the
answer.

4. Achromatic Color

Includes 3 symbols the choice of

which depends on the extent to
which form is involved in the
answer.

5. Shading

This categories has three subcategories, each with 3 symbols, to

account for different use of shading,
(1)
Texture,
(2)
Depth
or
Dimensionality, and (3) Diffuse.

6.Form Dimension

One symbol is used for responses in

which
the
impression
of
dimensionality is based on size or
contour.

7. Pairs & Reflections

Will always involve some use of

form and are based on the symmetry
of the blots.

In approximately 20% of all responses, more than one determinant

to be used to make a single response. These are referred to as
blends and are designed by indicating the two (or more)
determinants and placing a full stop (.) between them. The most
important determinant is placed in front of the other determinant(s)
and is considered as the primary determinant.(
Ma.CFo)

1.

Form
(1) Shape Form
(,..)
(2)
Form Further inquiry of a rain cloud, it may
be its all black like a rain cloud or Its all irregular & more
narrow at the top like a rain cloud.
(3) M & m Form

2.

Movement
(4)M (Human movement):
(active)
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(passive)

(sensory experiences; That just reminds me of gloom or

It looks love to me) M(but with no form quality)
(5)FM(Animal movement):

(6) m (Inanimate movement): a cloud

rising, a flag flying in the breeze, Flames leaping up.
(static)(unnatural tension state)
m
(7)Active-Passive superscript: (talking)
Active or Passive
active & passive
Ma-p()
active & passive
Ma.

3.

Chromatic Color ()

(1) FC, CF, or Pure C

Response

Inquiry

A
pretty S:
beautiful flower
(CF)
S:
E:
S: (FC)

(2) Pure C
CF

Response

Inquiry

Blood

That red looks like blood running down.

(3) The step-down principle: Pure C response

CF

Pure C

4.

Achromatic Color ()

(1) chromatic color symbol

Achromatic color response
(key word)black,
white, grayThe bat is black, like most bats
(2) light and dark
achromatic color or the use of shading .
shading

5.

Shading

(1) Texture: The texture response symbols are used to code

responses in which the shading features are employed to create a
tactile impression, as in, soft, rough, smooth, furry, wet, etc.

(2) Vista:
When the shading features have been used to
create the impression of depth or dimensionality. As in, Its
down in, Its behind, Its rounded at the edgesetc.
(3) Diffuse: Any shading responses that is not texture or vista is
codes as diffuse shading.

6.

FD(Form Dimension)

(1) These are answers that involve impressions of depth, distance,

or dimension that are not based on shading features.
(2) Usually size differentiation is the contributing elements, such
as, the feet are so much bigger than the head, he must be lying
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down, or It looks like its in perspective, like Im looking up

at him
(3) Some responses like U can only see the leg and part of the
arm, so it must be behind this also code Form Dimension.

7.

Pair (2) / Fr+rF

(1) Pair
(
) Pair
(2) Pair .
(3) Fr + rF
Pair