A Psychoanalytic Conceptualization of Human Movement in the Rorschach: A Case Study of Trauma

Since the publication of Psychodiagnostics (Rorschach. 1921), human movement (M) responses have received special attention in Rorschach empirical, theoretical, and clinical literature, eliciting diverse interpretations and controversies. M. responses are associated with the capacity for planning, imagination, flexibility, and empathy. The role of M. responses is of particular interest in cases of trauma, especially ones marked by dissociative mechanisms, as elevation of M is one of the consistent findings in Rorschach protocols of traumatized individuals. The following paper offers an application of Sandor Ferenczi's understanding of trauma, and specifically the concept of identification with the aggressor (Ferenczi, 1988), to the elevation of M. responses found in Rorschach records of traumatized people demonstrating dissociative symptoms. A case study of a young woman with a history of trauma is presented along with recent meta-analytical and neuropsychological findings to demonstrate the applicability of Ferenczi's theoretical approach to the understanding of Rorschach M. responses and overall the contribution of psychoanalytic theory to personality assessment.