Chapter 10: Psychological Assessment

Overview of Lesson Plan: In this lesson, students learn more about Rorschach and other personality assessment tests in order to determine if they feel these tests are used appropriately in our society today. Suggested Time Allowance: 1 hour Objectives: Students will: 1. Take a look at a sample Rorschach inkblot, and theorize what psychologists may be looking for in analysing peoples' responses to them. 2. Find out why the Rorschach test is considered a controversial one by reading and discussing "What's in an Inkblot? Some Say Not Much." 3. Work with a partner to research the history of Rorschach and other psychological tests, and to form their own opinions as to when and where these tests should and should not be used. 4. Imagine that they are Dr. Hermann Rorschach and consider how he might feel about the way that the psychological test he created 80 years ago is being used today. Resources / Materials: -student journals -pens/pencils -paper -classroom blackboard -copies of "What's in an Inkblot? Some Say Not Much" (one per student) -reference materials with information about Rorschach and other psychological tests (computers with Internet access, encyclopaedias, textbooks, library references) Activities / Procedures: 1. WARM-UP/DO NOW: Prior to class, go to the Take a Rorschach Test web site (http://www.branson.k12.mo.us/langarts/cmflower/rorschac.htm) and print out one of the inkblots found there to share with students. (If possible, enlarge the image before posting it in the front of the room). After studying the image for a few moments, have students respond in their journals to the following prompt (written on the board prior to class): "What does this ink blot look like to you? What, if anything, do you think psychologists can learn about a person by analysing what an individual sees in it?" Then have students discuss their responses as a class. (Note that the emphasis of this discussion should be on what psychologists can learn from peoples' responses, not on what the inkblots look like to individual students in the room). 2. As a class, read and discuss "What's in an Inkblot? Some Say Not Much," focusing on the following questions: a. How long ago was the Rorschach test first created? b. How often is this test used today? www.nytimes.com Jackie Glasthal, The New York Times Learning Network

Chapter 10: Psychological Assessment c. Why is this test considered controversial? d. What is a "projective" test? In addition to Rorschach, what are some other examples of projective tests? e. To what purposes do some psychologists recommend these tests be limited? Why do other psychologists disagree? f. Where did Dr. Hermann Rorschach first get the idea for this inkblot test baring his name? g. What are some of the criteria that experts use to help them score Rorschach tests? h. Who developed systematic rules for scoring Rorschach tests that are still used today? About how long does it take to train a clinician in the use of these systematic rules? i. In what types of situations do some experts consider Rorschach tests to be most useful? j. In what situations are Rorschach tests used today that can dramatically affect peoples' lives? k. What does the term "overpathologize" mean, as it is used in this article? l. What does Dr. Weiner means when he says, "Tests don't 'overpathologize.' That's done by the person who interprets them"? m. How does Dr. Meyer compare psychological tests like the Rorschach with medical tests like ultrasounds and M.R.I.'s? 3. Working in pairs, have students use all available materials to research the answers to the following questions: -What exactly is a Rorschach test? -Who created the Rorschach test, and how was it originally used? -How has the use of the Rorschach test changed over time? -In what ways is the world a different place now than it was 80 years ago, when the test was first created? -What are some other examples of psychological tests that are used in our society today? -How, in general, do these tests work? -What are some arguments for and against the use of tests like these in our society today? Note that one good source of information for this activity is the web site Historical Development of Inkblot Technique (http://www.owt.com/sis/historical.html). Other common psychological tests students might research include the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS), Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory (MMPI), and the Thematic Apperception Test (TAT). 4. WRAP-UP/HOMEWORK: Students will imagine that they are Hermann Rorschach, and that they have been brought back to life to assess the use of the Rorschach tests in our society today. Students will describe how they imagine Rorschach would respond to the way his famous test is being used today using one of the following literary forms: a journal entry, newspaper editorial, letter to a friend, or speech to the Australian Psychological Society. Further Questions for Discussion: --Do you believe that any human- made test can accurately delve into the psyche of www.nytimes.com Jackie Glasthal, The New York Times Learning Network

Chapter 10: Psychological Assessment another person? Why or why not? --How easy or difficult do you think it would be for a person to abuse the results of this type of test? What makes you think so? --How would you feel about having decisions in your life be determined by a test like this? --In what way are Rorschach tests similar to I.Q. tests, SAT's, and polygraph tests? In what ways do they differ? Evaluation / Assessment: Students will be evaluated based on their written journal entries, participation in class discussions, how well they work with their partner, their research about various psychological tests, and the essay, artic le, or journal entry they write describing the point of view of Hermann Rorschach. Extension Activities: 1. Do additional research about Hermann Rorschach and create a timeline about his life and work, including any related events that took place in the field of psychology and psychiatry during his life. 2. Visit the Take a Rorschach Test web site (http://www.branson.k12.mo.us/langarts/cmflower/rorschac.htm), and add your perception of the Rorschach inkblots shown there. Then compare your responses to those of other people who have posted their impressions at the site. 3. After reading the book "Flowers for Algernon" by Daniel Keyes, imagine that you are the main character, Charlie Gordon. Describe what you saw in the inkblot pictures that you were given while hospitalized in the book. 4. Select one of the mental disorders or emotional problems that Rorschach tests are supposed to help diagnose (i.e. schizophrenia, depression, anxiety, or post-traumatic stress disorder). Create a chart showing how this problem is medically defined, symptoms associated with this problem, facts about how widespread it is, and commonly used treatments for it. 5. Select a book (fiction or non-fiction) about a person with a serious psychological problem (such as "Girl Interrupted," "The Bell Jar," "I Never Promised You a Rose Garden," or "Dibbs: In Search of Self"). Write a personal essay in which you give your own response to the person and the problem described. Explain whether or not you relate to the main character, and why you think that is. Can you ever imagine yourself, or someone that you know, struggling with similar psychological issues? How did the book make you feel? Interdisciplinary Connections: Civics- Research laws related to custody disputes. Find out what, in addition to Rorschach tests, is used to determine whether or not someone is a fit parent. Based on your research, write a script for a courtroom drama involving a custody battle. Try to make your script as realistic and life- like as possible. Then ask some classmates to help you act it out for the rest of the class. Fine Arts- Find out who Andy Warhol was, and compare the Rorschach paintings that www.nytimes.com Jackie Glasthal, The New York Times Learning Network

Chapter 10: Psychological Assessment he created in 1984 with the inkblots that Hermann Rorschach created and used in his famous test. One source for this information is Andy Warhol: Rorschach Paintings (http://www.owt.com/sis/historical.html). When you are done, create your own "inkblot art," with a chart of possible "response predictions" to the image that you created, and what you think each one might mean. Global History- Select a country, and compare the importance and use of psychological tests there with the importance and use of psychological tests in the United States. Write an essay comparing and contrasting the way mental illness is viewed and dealt with in both places. Media Studies- Research when, why, and how often pleas of legal insanity are actually used in courtrooms, and compare this with their use in TV dramas such as "Law and Order," "Allie McBeal," and "The Practice." Do these shows exaggerate the amount of times this defense is used? Write an essay explaining your findings. Other Information on the Web Rorschach Inkblot Test (http://www.rorschach.org) and Historical Development of Inkblot Technique (http://www.owt.com/sis/historical.html) provide basic information on the test. Copyright 2003 The New York Times Company

www.nytimes.com Jackie Glasthal, The New York Times Learning Network