Hermann Rorschach
Encyclopedia
Hermann Rorschach (ˌhɛʁman ˈʁoːʁʃax or ˈʁoːɐ̯ʃax; 8 November 1884 – 1 April 1922) was a Swiss
Freudian psychiatrist
and psychoanalyst, best known for developing a projective test
known as the Rorschach inkblot test
. This test was reportedly designed to reflect unconscious parts of the personality that "project" onto the stimuli. Individuals were shown 10 inkblots, one at a time, and asked to report what objects or figures they saw in each of them.
Rorschach was born in Zürich
and spent his childhood and youth in Schaffhausen
. He became known to his high school friends as Klecks, or "inkblot" since, like many other young people in his native country, he enjoyed Klecksography, the making of fanciful inkblot "pictures." Unlike his classmates, however, Rorschach would go on to make inkblots his life's work.
Like his father, an art teacher, Rorschach engaged in painting and drawing conventional pictures. When it was time for him to graduate from high school, he could not decide between a career in art and one in science. He wrote a letter to the famous German
biologist Ernst Haeckel
asking his advice. The scientist suggested science, and Rorschach enrolled in medical school at the University of Zurich
. Rorschach began learning Russian, and in 1906, while studying in Berlin, he went for a holiday in Russia. Rorschach graduated in medicine at Zurich in 1909 and at the same time became engaged to Olga Stempelin, a girl from Kazan
in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
. At the end of 1913, after graduation, he married Stempelin,and the couple moved to live in Russia. A son was born in 1917, and a daughter in 1919.
Rorschach studied under the eminent psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler
, who had taught Carl Jung
. The excitement in intellectual circles over psychoanalysis constantly reminded Rorschach of his childhood inkblots. Wondering why different people often saw entirely different things in the same inkblots he began, while still a medical student, showing inkblots to schoolchildren and analyzing their responses.
In 1857, German doctor Justinus Kerner
had published a popular book of poems, each of which was inspired by an accidental inkblot and it has been speculated that the book was known to Rorschach. French psychologist Alfred Binet
had also experimented with inkblots as a creativity test.
By July 1914, Rorschach had returned to Switzerland, where he served as an assistant director at the regional psychiatric hospital at Herisau
. and in 1921 he wrote his book Psychodiagnostik
, which was to form the basis of the inkblot test.
Only one year after writing his book, however, Rorschach died of peritonitis
, probably brought on by a ruptured appendix
. He was associate director of the Herisau Hospital when he died at the age of 37, on 1 April 1922.
Switzerland
Switzerland name of one of the Swiss cantons. ; ; ; or ), in its full name the Swiss Confederation , is a federal republic consisting of 26 cantons, with Bern as the seat of the federal authorities. The country is situated in Western Europe,Or Central Europe depending on the definition....
Freudian psychiatrist
Psychiatrist
A psychiatrist is a physician who specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of mental disorders. All psychiatrists are trained in diagnostic evaluation and in psychotherapy...
and psychoanalyst, best known for developing a projective test
Projective test
In psychology, a projective test is a personality test designed to let a person respond to ambiguous stimuli, presumably revealing hidden emotions and internal conflicts. This is different from an "objective test" in which responses are analyzed according to a universal standard...
known as the Rorschach inkblot test
Rorschach inkblot test
The Rorschach test is a psychological test in which subjects' perceptions of inkblots are recorded and then analyzed using psychological interpretation, complex algorithms, or both. Some psychologists use this test to examine a person's personality characteristics and emotional functioning...
. This test was reportedly designed to reflect unconscious parts of the personality that "project" onto the stimuli. Individuals were shown 10 inkblots, one at a time, and asked to report what objects or figures they saw in each of them.
Rorschach was born in Zürich
Zürich
Zurich is the largest city in Switzerland and the capital of the canton of Zurich. It is located in central Switzerland at the northwestern tip of Lake Zurich...
and spent his childhood and youth in Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen
Schaffhausen is a city in northern Switzerland and the capital of the canton of the same name; it has an estimated population of 34,587 ....
. He became known to his high school friends as Klecks, or "inkblot" since, like many other young people in his native country, he enjoyed Klecksography, the making of fanciful inkblot "pictures." Unlike his classmates, however, Rorschach would go on to make inkblots his life's work.
Like his father, an art teacher, Rorschach engaged in painting and drawing conventional pictures. When it was time for him to graduate from high school, he could not decide between a career in art and one in science. He wrote a letter to the famous German
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
biologist Ernst Haeckel
Ernst Haeckel
The "European War" became known as "The Great War", and it was not until 1920, in the book "The First World War 1914-1918" by Charles à Court Repington, that the term "First World War" was used as the official name for the conflict.-Research:...
asking his advice. The scientist suggested science, and Rorschach enrolled in medical school at the University of Zurich
University of Zurich
The University of Zurich , located in the city of Zurich, is the largest university in Switzerland, with over 25,000 students. It was founded in 1833 from the existing colleges of theology, law, medicine and a new faculty of philosophy....
. Rorschach began learning Russian, and in 1906, while studying in Berlin, he went for a holiday in Russia. Rorschach graduated in medicine at Zurich in 1909 and at the same time became engaged to Olga Stempelin, a girl from Kazan
Kazan
Kazan is the capital and largest city of the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia. With a population of 1,143,546 , it is the eighth most populous city in Russia. Kazan lies at the confluence of the Volga and Kazanka Rivers in European Russia. In April 2009, the Russian Patent Office granted Kazan the...
in the Republic of Tatarstan, Russia
Russia
Russia or , officially known as both Russia and the Russian Federation , is a country in northern Eurasia. It is a federal semi-presidential republic, comprising 83 federal subjects...
. At the end of 1913, after graduation, he married Stempelin,and the couple moved to live in Russia. A son was born in 1917, and a daughter in 1919.
Rorschach studied under the eminent psychiatrist Eugen Bleuler
Eugen Bleuler
Paul Eugen Bleuler was a Swiss psychiatrist most notable for his contributions to the understanding of mental illness and for coining the term "schizophrenia."-Biography:...
, who had taught Carl Jung
Carl Jung
Carl Gustav Jung was a Swiss psychiatrist and the founder of Analytical Psychology. Jung is considered the first modern psychiatrist to view the human psyche as "by nature religious" and make it the focus of exploration. Jung is one of the best known researchers in the field of dream analysis and...
. The excitement in intellectual circles over psychoanalysis constantly reminded Rorschach of his childhood inkblots. Wondering why different people often saw entirely different things in the same inkblots he began, while still a medical student, showing inkblots to schoolchildren and analyzing their responses.
In 1857, German doctor Justinus Kerner
Justinus Kerner
Justinus Andreas Christian Kerner was a German poet and medical writer.-Life:He was born at Ludwigsburg in Württemberg...
had published a popular book of poems, each of which was inspired by an accidental inkblot and it has been speculated that the book was known to Rorschach. French psychologist Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet
Alfred Binet was a French psychologist who was the inventor of the first usable intelligence test, known at that time as the Binet test and today referred to as the IQ test. His principal goal was to identify students who needed special help in coping with the school curriculum...
had also experimented with inkblots as a creativity test.
By July 1914, Rorschach had returned to Switzerland, where he served as an assistant director at the regional psychiatric hospital at Herisau
Herisau
Herisau is a municipality of the canton of Appenzell Ausserrhoden in Switzerland. It is the seat of the canton's government and parliament; the judicial authorities are situated in Trogen....
. and in 1921 he wrote his book Psychodiagnostik
Psychodiagnostik
Psychodiagnostik is a 174-page monograph written by Hermann Rorschach in 1921 containing the results of his studies on mental patients, and 10 cards that became the foundation of the Rorschach test....
, which was to form the basis of the inkblot test.
Only one year after writing his book, however, Rorschach died of peritonitis
Peritonitis
Peritonitis is an inflammation of the peritoneum, the serous membrane that lines part of the abdominal cavity and viscera. Peritonitis may be localised or generalised, and may result from infection or from a non-infectious process.-Abdominal pain and tenderness:The main manifestations of...
, probably brought on by a ruptured appendix
Appendicitis
Appendicitis is a condition characterized by inflammation of the appendix. It is classified as a medical emergency and many cases require removal of the inflamed appendix, either by laparotomy or laparoscopy. Untreated, mortality is high, mainly because of the risk of rupture leading to...
. He was associate director of the Herisau Hospital when he died at the age of 37, on 1 April 1922.
External links
- Biography from WhoNamedIt.com
- The Hermann Rorschach Archives and Museum, organized by the International Rorschach Society and the publishing company Hans Huber
- Swiss Info bio