An Investigation of the Color-Affect Hypothesis in Exner's Comprehensive System

Abstract

The color-affect hypothesis states that color responses on the Rorschach provide information regarding an individual's emotional life. The present study explored the several color-affect interpretive hypotheses in Exner's popular Comprehensive System by using a theory-relevant measure of affective modulation inferred from 32 undergraduates' behavior in an emotionally salient dyadic interaction. Subjects designated as high affective modulators ( n = 6) and low affective modulators ( n = 10) according to Exner's theory were not significantly different on a discrepancy score measure of affective modulation. It is suggested that Rorschach color scores may be insensitive to the more subtle forms of affective modulation present in less emotionally disordered individuals. Further research is suggested and caution is advised for clinicians assessing affective modulation styles in less severely disturbed patients based on traditional color-affect interpretive theory.