Dr Manju Antil (Counselling Psychologist and Psychotherapist)

The inkblot techniques consist of inkblots as the stimulus material to which the subjects are to respond. Inkblot is, in general, prepared by pouring the ink or paper and then multiply folded from the middle and then unfolding of paper depicts and the unstructured image that is called an ‘inkblot’. Inkblot techniques are based on the concept of projection being first used by Freud (1896), defining it as a defence mechanism through which thoughts, wishes, desires, needs, hostile, aggressive, and sexual impulses are extracted. These inkblots serve as a lens of projection, and the elicited responses are considered to be representative of the unconscious (Rapport et al., 1968) and the deeper level of personality. Though the credit of origin of ‘Inkblot Technique’ is given to Herman Rorschach with the publication 'Psychodiagnostik' in 1921, many scholars (Binet & Henry, 1896; Bartlett 1916; Kirkpatrick, 1900; Parsons, 1917; Pyle, 1913; Whipple, 1910) Before, it made use of inkblots for the investigation of mental activities, By now, the following inkblot techniques are available for both research and clinical use: (1) Rorschach Inkblot Test; (2) Holtzman Inkblot Techniques ;( 3) Somatic Inkblot Series/ Cards and Video! (4) Somatic Inkblot Series-II Image and Video; (5) Somatic Inkblots Series- Living Image; and (6) Shukla's Colored Inkblot Technique.

It is not very easy to trace the history of inkblot techniques; inferences in this regard can be drawn from Rorschach's writings and three of his colleagues, namely, Emil Oberholtzer, Walter Morgenthaler, and George Roemer. Zubin et al. (1965) have reported that L D. Vinci and Botticelli used formless stimuli as inkblots for stimulation of imagination in the 5th century. Exner (1969) has mentioned that during the later part of the 19th and early 20^th century about the tremendous public interest in inkblots not as a test but as a game. During these periods, various inkblots were commonly used in a popular game called Blutto, The players in it were to associate an image to a design. Krugman (1942) evidenced the use of inkblots for indexing certain personality traits like imagination and other mental abilities by Binet and Henry (1895). Dearborn (1897) reported the potential and employability of inkblot techniques in experimental psychology. Tulchin has reported Dearborn's contributions in applying the inkblot techniques, and of undertaken the pre-Rorschach work's of Sharp, Kirkpatrick, Whipple, Pyle, Bartlett, and Persons undertaken between 1900 and 1917 concerned with the inkblot methods in England and the USA.

Zubin & Eron (1966) have summarized the historical antecedents of inkblot techniques in terms of three periods. First, paintings and artistic creations stimulating creative imaginations during the 19th century constitute the pre-experimental period. Binet and Henry (1895) used inkblot to index mental abilities, and visual imaginations comprise the experimental psychological period. (Second phase) Binet and Henry found a positive relationship between the number and types of inkblot responses and visual imagination. Some other inkblot researchers hypothesis that since ambiguous stimuli like inkblots slow down the conscious awareness, so these can be used for accessing the deep latent perceptual processes (Whipple, 1910). The third phase (Psychodiagnostik) began in 1911 with Rorschach’s innovative work with the interpretation of accidental forms; His deep interest in artistic forms and perception became apparent during his school days, so he was nicknamed Klex or inkblots by his schoolmates and peers ( Cassell, 1980). Roemer (1967) mentions that Rorschach was primarily interested in developing inkblots to investigate reflex hallucinations and to identify schizophrenic tendencies that discriminate them from other characteristics of normals and mental disorders. Ultimately, Rorschach published his set of 10 cards in 1921 along with a monograph named Psychodiagnostik. And its English version appeared in 1942. After the sudden demise of Rorschach, some of his colleagues proceeded with Rorschach's work resulted in the development of five systems of Rorschach. Holtzman (1961), observing the limitations and problems with Rorschach Inkblot Test, which is why he developed Holtzman Inkblot Techniques (HIT).

Similarly, Cassell (1965), diverging from the Rorschach procedure, began using inkblots to investigate body perceptions and somatic symptoms. Cassell (1980) developed the Somatic Inkblot Series (SIS) as an adjunct therapeutic aid and a diagnostic tool with which the clinician can hear the individual's 'inner cry.' Indian researchers have also used these inkblot techniques as Psychodiagnostik as well as a personality assessment instrument.