Multiple Choice Rorschach Test, MCRT

The Rorschach Inkblot Test is perhaps the oldest and most famous projective psychological tool. First introduced in 1921 by Swiss psychiatrist Hermann Rorschach, it is still used today to explore personality and mental functioning. The test presents ten inkblots, one by one, asking the respondent, “What might this be?” with each blot serving as a trigger for free associations, images, or ideas.

Although the validity and reliability of the Rorschach remain debated, in the hands of an experienced clinician it can provide preliminary insights into psychological disturbances – findings that must later be verified through other clinical methods. A key limitation is that the test relies heavily on the skill of the administrator and is not well suited to automation or mass screening.

To overcome this, researchers by the mid-20th century attempted to create a standardized, group-administered version. One such attempt was the Harrower-Erickson Multiple Choice Rorschach Test (MCRT), developed in 1945. For a time, it was even used as a screening tool by the US military. The idea was simple: each inkblot was accompanied by a fixed list of possible answers – some of which were statistically more common among individuals with psychological disorders. A person who selected too many of these “poor” answers would be flagged for further evaluation.

Like all similar efforts, this approach ultimately proved ineffective. Its accuracy was unacceptably low, leading to too many false positives and false negatives, and the test was abandoned for practical use.

Here, purely for entertainment and as a historical curiosity, you can try an online version.

Test is provided for educational and entertainment use only. It is not intended to be a psychological advice of any kind, and come without any guarantee of accuracy or validity. Assesment is free and anonymous. You can save the direct link to your results.