On the Validity of Hypotheses Derived from the Rorschach: I. The Relationship between Color and Affect

Abstract

Interpretation of response to color on the Rorschach rests on Rorschach's assertion that color has affective connotations. His assumption was based on the connection of color and affect in culture and as regards the differential response to color by patients he tested. This review focused on research which could lend support to Rorschach's empirically derived notion. Ignoring clinical studies of psychiatric patients (in the absence of any theory of affects unique to specific psychiatric groups), this review focuses primarily on psychological tests of the hypothesis. Affect does seem to be associated with colors but not so specifically as to be useful in interpreting the meaning of the response by any one person. Moreover, affect was seen to affect the many dimensions of the Rorschach stimuli. Interpretation of the response to color must take into account the unsystematic way in which factors that influence response to color on the Rorschach, e.g., saturation, context, area covered, etc., vary from card to card. These factors alone influence the response to color and make it impossible to draw conclusions using the plates as constructed. The interpretation of affect from response to color on the Rorschach was seriously questioned.