Rorschach Reactions at High Altitudes

The influence of situational and interpersonal variables in projective testing.

“…Sodium amytal seemed to make 5s more willing to cooperate in taking the Rorschach (Wilkins & Adams, 1947) and subsequent responses seemed less bizarre, permitting more detailed descriptions of personality (Kelly, Levine, Pemberton, & Katz, 1941). When 5s, given oxygen through a mask, reached a simulated altitude of 16,000 ft., their Rorschachs showed the same basic pattern as tests given under standard conditions, except for a decrease in movement responses and an increase in color responses (Hertzman & Seitz, 1942). Movement and color responses showed striking changes when the 5 was under the influence of mescaline (Guttman, 1936).…”

The Development of the Group Rorschach.

“…(15) Hertzman and Seitz have had considerable success with the group method in high altitude studies in which changes in personality occur. Hertzman (11) has recently reported "In a current experiment the group Rorschach has been shown to be a sensitive indicator of changes in adjustment occurring under high altitude conditions. The experiment, which is one of a series, has indicated that the group test is at least as adequate an indicator of changes as the individual test had previously been found to be for similar conditions.…”

Use of the Rorschach in vocational selection.

“…These results are not to be taken as meaning that general personal maladjustment is a major differentiat-ing factor between tolerance of high altitude and lack of such tolerance. But they would indicate that these conditions represent special hazards to the maladjusted individual and that he is more likely to break down under them than the better adjusted person" (5).…”