Creativity and Emotional Distress on the Rorschach Test

Abstract

While the relationship between creativity and emotional distress has been extensively reviewed, little research has been done on creativity as demonstrated in the Rorschach test. Forty participants were administered the Rorschach as well as the Remote Associates Test (RAT) of verbal creativity. A significant correlation was found between the RAT and the following Rorschach variables: FQminus, (H)+(Hd), M none, MOR, and DEPI. The present findings call for caution when attributing emotional distress on the basis of Rorschach measures, since these measures are also indicative of the individual’s creative strengths. These results concur with recent literature that found a connection between emotional distress and creativity.