Search

This study investigated eye movements associated with the production of different Rorschach responses involving the use of the inkless (or 'white space') areas of the inkblots. More specifically, we examined whether Space Integration (SI) and Space Reversal (SR) responses associated with different test-taker's approaches to visually inspecting the Rorschach inkblots while completing the test. We retrieved archival data from 71 non-clinical volunteers who took the Rorschach test while their eye movements were being registered. The results of our analyses indicated that: (a) SI, but not SR, positively associated with the overall number of eye fixations recorded while scanning the Rorschach inkblots; (b) SR, but not SI, associated with a proportionally greater visual focus (i.e., greater number of fixations and longer duration of fixations) on white than non-white areas of inkblots. Taken together, these findings support Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) determination to interpret SI and SR responses differently., Author(s): Francesca Ales [sup.1] , Luciano Giromini [sup.1] , Jessica Bosi [sup.2] , Alessandro Zennaro [sup.1] Author Affiliations: (1) grid.7605.4, 0000 0001 2336 6580, Department of Psychology, University of Turin, [...]

It has been suggested that the Rorschach human movement (M) response could be associated with an embodied simulation mechanism mediated by the mirror neuron system (MNS). To date, evidence for this hypothesis comes from two electroencephalogram studies and one repetitive transcranial magnetic stimulation study. To provide additional data on this topic, the Rorschach was administered during fMRI to a sample of 26 healthy adult volunteers. Activity in MNS-related brain areas temporally associated with M responses was compared with such activity for other, non-M Rorschach responses. Data analyses focused on MNS regions of interest identified by Neurosynth, a web-based platform for large scale, automated meta-analysis of fMRI data. Consistent with the hypothesis that M responses involve embodied simulation and MNS activity, univariate region of interest analyses showed that production of M responses associated with significantly greater activity in MNS-related brain areas when compared with non-M Rorschach responses. This finding is consistent with the traditional interpretation of the M code.

Assessing the credibility of symptoms is critical to neuropsychological assessment in both clinical and forensic settings. To this end, the Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29) and its recently added memory module (Inventory of Problems-Memory; IOP-M) appear to be particularly useful, as they provide a rapid and cost-effective measure of both symptom and performance validity. While numerous studies have already supported the effectiveness of the IOP-29, research on its newly developed module, the IOP-M, is much sparser. To address this gap, we conducted a simulation study with a community sample (N = 307) from the United Kingdom. Participants were asked to either (a) respond honestly or (b) pretend to suffer from mTBI or (c) pretend to suffer from depression. Within each feigning group, half of the participants received a description of the symptoms of the disorder to be feigned, and the other half received both a description of the symptoms of the disorder to be feigned and a warning not to over-exaggerate their responses or their presentation would not be credible. Overall, the results confirmed the effectiveness of the two IOP components, both individually and in combination. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sometimes forensic psychologists are asked to determine whether the symptoms of PTSD presented by the plaintiff are genuine or feigned. To this end, they may use both symptom validity tests (SVTs) and performance validity tests (PVTs), but SVTs are used far more frequently in these assessments. Thus, we conducted a natural experiment and administered an SVT (i.e., the IOP-29) and a PVT (i.e., the IOP-M) to 76 individuals instructed to feign PTSD and to 34 controls who self-reported exposure to a devastating flood several months earlier. The results confirm the utility of both measures in detecting feigned PTSD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent research suggests that attributing human movement to ambiguous and static Rorschach stimuli (M responses) is associated with EEG mu suppression, and that disrupting the left inferior gyrus (LIFG; a putative area implicated in mirroring activity) decreases the tendency to see human movement when exposed to the Rorschach ambiguous stimuli. The current study aimed to test whether disrupting the LIFG via repetitive transcranial stimulation (rTMS) would decrease both the number of human movement attributions and EEG mu suppression. Each participant was exposed to the Rorschach stimuli twice, i.e., during a baseline condition (without rTMS but with EEG recording) and soon after rTMS (TMS condition with EEG recording). Experimental group (N = 15) was stimulated over the LIFG, while the control group (N = 13) was stimulated over the Vertex. As expected, disrupting the LIFG but not Vertex, decreased the number of M attributions provided by the participants exposed to the Rorschach stimuli, with a significant interaction effect. Unexpectedly, however, rTMS did not significantly influence EEG mu suppression.

The emotional responses of psychotherapists to their patients, known as countertransference, can yield valuable insights into the patient's psychological functioning. Albeit from a different perspective, the Rorschach test also provides information about the patient's psychological processes. In particular, the Rorschach human movement response (M) has been shown to be a useful measure of higher-level psychological functioning. In an attempt to bridge these two largely different perspectives, the aim of this study was to explore the association between M responses in the Rorschach protocols of psychotherapy patients and emotional responses exhibited by their therapists. To this end, a convenience sample of 149 outpatients were administered the Rorschach according to the Comprehensive System, and their therapists completed the Therapist Response Questionnaire. Through a series of regression models, controlling for response style, response complexity, and degree of psychopathology, M demonstrated a significant association with the therapists' emotional responses. A lower number of M responses was associated with the therapists' feelings of disengagement, and a higher number of M responses was associated with the therapists' feelings of being more involved with the patient. Taken together, these results suggest a potential relationship between the number of M responses the respondent gives in the Rorschach and the subsequent development of the therapeutic alliance between the respondent and their therapist. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

It has been proposed that seeing human movement or activity (M), while trying to say what the static Rorschach inkblot design look like, is accompanied by Mirror Neuron System (MNS)-like mirroring activity in the brain. The present study aimed to investigate whether the Rorschach cards eliciting M responses could affect the excitability of the motor cortex by recording motor evoked potentials (MEPs) elicited by single-pulse TMS over the primary motor cortex (M1). We hypothesized that Rorschach inkblot stimuli triggering the viewer's experience of human movement would increase corticospinal excitability. Twenty-one healthy volunteers (15 women) participated in the preliminary experiment, while another different sample of twenty-two healthy participants (11 women) ranging in age from 21 to 41 years was enrolled in the main experiment. Our results showed that the Rorschach cards known to be associated with a high number of M responses elicited human movement both as automatic internal sensations and as verbal production of responses involving human movement. However, contrary to our hypothesis, the reported internal feeling of human movement had no corresponding physiological counterpart, as the amplitude of MEPs did not increase. Possible and innovative explanations for the involvement of bottom-up and top-down processes were provided. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Some people choose to follow a certain dietary habit because they are guided by strong beliefs, but also to pursue a healthy lifestyle. Food tribes are defined as social groups sharing common values and beliefs that underlie food and lifestyle choices. The current study aimed to investigate potential differences in emotion regulation between specific food tribes, and when comparing food tribes to people who conversely do not follow a dietary habit. Specifically, we examined the presence of rumination, psychological inflexibility, and emotional contagion as components of emotion dysregulation. A Google form was developed to obtain all the information needed to respond to our research questions and goals, and investigate the following food groups: Veganism, Fruitarianism, Raw Food Diet, Paleodiet, Blood Type group, Breatharianism, Macrobiotic Diet, and Other. The final sample consisted of 378 healthy subjects (117 males, 258 females, 3 other) ranging in age from 18 to 70 years. The first part of Google form consisted of general questions about the participant's dietary habits while the second part included specific questionnaires assessing the psychological constructs we investigated. Vegan people were less conditioned by others in their food choices when compared to the other food tribes. The Paleodiet group associated its food choice with health reasons as well as the Blood Type group. Differences were found in the presence of cognitive inflexibility and rumination, reflective thinking, emotional dysregulation, emotional contagion and also in the representation of their real and ideal (food) communities. Clinical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Personality traits play a role in prosocial behavior in relation to containment measures intended to tackle the COVID‐19 pandemic. Empirical findings indicated that individuals high in socially aversive traits such as callousness are less compliant with containment measures. This study aimed to add cross‐cultural data on the relationship between antisocial traits and adherence to COVID‐19 containment measures. The sample consisted of 4,538 adults recruited by convenience in nine countries (Australia, Brazil, England, Iraq, Iran, Italy, Jordan, Saudi Arabia, and the United States). Statistical analyses indicated two latent profiles from our sample, empathic and antisocial, and six COVID‐19 containment‐measure‐related factors using measures covering antisocial traits (PID‐5), empathy (ACME), global personality pathology (LPFS‐BF), and COVID‐19 behaviors and beliefs. Through MANCOVA, the antisocial profile consistently showed less compliance and concern about the COVID‐19 containment measures, even when controlling for demographics and local pandemic covariables. The network analysis indicated a lack of empathy and callousness as crucial traits of the predisposition to non‐compliant behavior. In elaborating on prosocial campaigns in community emergencies, our cross‐cultural findings would need to consider personality traits that focus on antisociality, anticipating similar associations and potential impacts in future disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examined the effectiveness of the negative distortion measures from the Personality Assessment Inventory (PAI) and Inventory of Problems-29 (IOP-29), by investigating data from a community and a forensic sample, across three different symptom presentations (i.e., feigned depression, posttraumatic stress disorder [PTSD], and schizophrenia). The final sample consisted of 513 community-based individuals and 288 inmates (total N = 801); all were administered the PAI and the IOP-29 in an honest or feigning conditions. Statistical analyses compared the average scores of each measure by symptom presentation and data source (i.e., community vs. forensic sample) and evaluated diagnostic efficiency statistics. Results suggest that the PAI Negative Impression Management scale and the IOP-29 are the most effective measures across all symptom presentations, whereas the PAI Malingering Index and Rogers Discriminant Function generated less optimal results, especially when considering feigned PTSD. Practical implications are discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]