Rorschach Inkblots What do you see in the ink?

1. Rorschach InkblotsWhat do you see in the ink?

2. In “Flowers for Algernon” the main character, Charlie Gordon, had to take a Rorschach Test. This test is often referred to as the inkblot test. It was originally developed by Swiss psychologist, Hermann Rorschach in the 1920s. During the 1960s, when “Flowers for Algernon” takes place, the Rorschach was the most widely used projective test, which allowed the person taking the test to respond to ambiguous stimuli in order to reveal hidden emotions and internal conflicts about himself or herself. The general goal of the test is to provide data about cognition and personality and examine a person’s emotional functioning. Look at the following 6 inkblots and decide what each one looks like to you. Write down your interpretations, and then compare what you see with those of your classmates.

3. #1

4. #2

5. #3

6. #4

7. #5

8. #6

9. Now that you’ve analyzed the inkblots, have any similarities or patterns emerged among your responses and those of your classmates? What about differences? How do you feel knowing that your answers could be linked to your emotions and personality characteristics through a psychological evaluated? How do you think Charlie would feel knowing this?