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Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing
Inkblots: Hermann Rorschach, His Iconic Test, and the Power of Seeing | Damion Searls
15 posts | 8 read | 48 to read
The captivating untold story of Hermann Rorschach and his famous inkblot test, which has shaped our view of human personality and become a fixture in popular culture In 1917, working alone in a remote Swiss asylum, psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach devised an experiment to probe the human mind. For years he had grappled with the theories of Freud and Jung while also absorbing the aesthetic of a new generation of modern artists. He had come to believe that who we are is less a matter of what we say, as Freud thought, than what we see. Rorschach himself was a visual artist, and his test, a set of ten carefully designed inkblots, quickly made its way to America, where it took on a life of its own. Co-opted by the military after Pearl Harbor, it was a fixture at the Nuremberg trials and in the jungles of Vietnam. It became an advertising staple, a cliche in Hollywood and journalism, and an inspiration to everyone from Andy Warhol to Jay Z. The test was also given to millions of defendants, job applicants, parents in custody battles, workers applying for jobs, and people suffering from mental illness or simply trying to understand themselves better. And it is still used today. Damion Searls draws on unpublished letters and diaries as well as a cache of previously unknown interviews with Rorschach s family, friends, and colleagues to tell the unlikely story of the test s creation, its controversial reinvention, and its remarkable endurance and what it all reveals about the power of perception. Elegant and original, The Inkblots shines a light on the twentieth century s most visionary synthesis of art and science."
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RowReads1
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“It‘s a tree”? “It‘s a giant”? “It‘s a giant sitting on a tree”? “Is that a dick”? “Am I right?” #ithinkimparanoid #FierceFeb

Zelma On an extremely shallow note, he was a looker. 😍 6y
Cinfhen Hahaha @Zelma my first thought too🙄😬😉 6y
batsy Well played 😂 6y
41 likes3 stack adds3 comments
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RusskayaChica
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Listening to this on audiobook. Lots of odd parallels between him and me. He even named his daughter Elizabeth but called her Lisa, which is exactly what my parents did (never met anyone else with that combo). If you are interested in psychology, history of science, or turn-of-the-last century Europe, this (so far) is a goodie :)

4 likes1 stack add
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TheBookkeepersApprentice
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My current read 🤗

5 likes1 stack add
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WanderingBookaneer
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Belatedly reading this #NetGalley #ARC

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BookishMarginalia
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Pickpick

Excellent overview of Rorschach's life and work, the history of psychological testing, and the evolution of the Rorschach ink blots and their usage.

RealBooks4ever Oh, cool! I was wondering if this was a good read. Stacked! 😄 7y
143 likes14 stack adds1 comment
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BookishMarginalia
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Enjoying this mix of biography, history, and science. 👍🏼

kiminreverse This sounds right in my wheelhouse! 7y
EKonrad Loved this book! 😊 7y
142 likes16 stack adds2 comments
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EKonrad
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Pickpick

Anyone interested in psychology will love this detailed look at Rorschach's development of the ink blot test and the many ways it influenced both mental health practices and our culture. With references from Andy Warhol to the Nazi Nuremberg Trials, this test had a crazy big impact on the world, and this nonfiction read was anything but dry. ⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️

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Moonglotexas
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Pickpick

An understanding and passion for psychology is essential. Too detailed and rather long-winded in parts a balanced and intelligent approach. The history of the last century, as seen from the perspective of the Rorschach test, reframes major happenings such as World War 1 and 2, the Great Depression and the medical enlightenment of the 1950s and 1960s. It also tracks the development of anthropology, sociology, psychology and psychiatry.

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Heather_Reads
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Also, Hermann Rorschach looks like Brad Pitt.

23 likes1 comment
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Heather_Reads
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I came home to some more surprise bookmail today. Many thanks to past me for preordering 'The Inkblots' about a month ago and then completely forgetting about it. Present me is very happy.
I'm slowly building a little collection of sciencey non-fiction books. If anyone has any recommendations they'd be greatly appreciated 😬

22 likes1 stack add4 comments
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irregularreader
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Pickpick

New #bookreview at www.theirregularreaderblog.wordpress.com! Learn all about the history of the Rorschach Test I Inkblots by Damion Searls!

13 likes1 stack add
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Kkhalifeh
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Inkblots is so fascinating!! I rarely e-read except for advanced copies and SOMETIMES they are so good my DRC's make it to the dinner table. Chardonnay pairs very well with Koala btw.

BookishMarginalia I have that one in my #NetGalley TBR too! 7y
20 likes1 stack add1 comment