An Empirical Validation of the Relation between Rorschach White-Space and Oppositionality

Abstract

Although the Rorschach white-space response (S) has been traditionally interpreted in terms of oppositional tendencies, attempts to validate this relationship have been hampered by the lack of a criterion-specific measure of oppositionality. As part of a broader investigation of the relationship between handedness and personality styles, a rating-scale measure of oppositionality was designed. Oppositionality ratings were obtained for 40 male Navy enlisted men and correlated with white-space scores earned by each S on the Rorschach test. Significant positive correlations between degree of rated oppositionality and amount of white-space perception were obtained. High levels of white-space response were found to be most effective in prediction of degree of rated oppositionality.

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