The main focus of this study was to explore how personal constructions, consisting of latent and conscious schema, and obtained from a culturally sensitive interpretation of the RCS, informed the transactional resilience of Black South African adolescents. This study was motivated in view of limited knowledge available about the (i) processes that are generic to the resilience-promoting transactions of Black South African adolescents and (ii) to potentiate insight into an adolescent’s construction of personal meaning of her conscious and unconscious experiences that may not always be easily recognised in her overt behaviour or by self-report measures often used in South African resilience research. Six Black South African adolescents aged 14 to 16 years volunteered to take part in this multiple case study. The participants were identified as resilient by an advisory panel consisting of learners and educators at an English-medium school in the Vaal Triangle area. In this essentially qualitative study, qualitative data obtained from an unstructured individual interview, unstructured observations, and a follow-up interview were integrated with the data obtained from a culturally sensitive, conceptual interpretation of these Black adolescents’ Rorschach protocols. The structural, quantitative data obtained from specific indicators in Exner’s Comprehensive System were interpreted in a culturally sensitive manner and integrated with the qualitative data obtained from the Rorschach protocols. A culturally sensitive, conceptual framework for interpreting Rorschach indicators associated with adolescents’ transactional resilience was provided. These findings indicated individual and ecological protective resources well known within South African resilience research. Findings that contributed new understanding of the transactional processes associated with Black South African adolescent resilience were also obtained. Four case-specific self-reflective strategies were identified, namely, emotional stoicism, frequent introspection, honouring the past, and adopting a new identity. These selfreflective strategies served as the participants’ unique ways of compensating for their adversity-informed schema as well as encouraging them to navigate towards the sustained support of specific significant others and resilience-promoting ecological resources. The participants indicated that attachment challenges brought about repressed feelings and specific security needs, which shaped their resilience-promoting navigation and enabled them to self-knit in a resilient way. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

The main focus of this study was to explore how personal constructions, consisting of latent and conscious schema, and obtained from a culturally sensitive interpretation of the RCS, informed the transactional resilience of Black South African adolescents. This study was motivated in view of limited knowledge available about the (i) processes that are generic to the resilience-promoting transactions of Black South African adolescents and (ii) to potentiate insight into an adolescent’s construction of personal meaning of her conscious and unconscious experiences that may not always be easily recognised in her overt behaviour or by self-report measures often used in South African resilience research. Six Black South African adolescents aged 14 to 16 years volunteered to take part in this multiple case study. The participants were identified as resilient by an advisory panel consisting of learners and educators at an English-medium school in the Vaal Triangle area. In this essentially qualitative study, qualitative data obtained from an unstructured individual interview, unstructured observations, and a follow-up interview were integrated with the data obtained from a culturally sensitive, conceptual interpretation of these Black adolescents’ Rorschach protocols. The structural, quantitative data obtained from specific indicators in Exner’s Comprehensive System were interpreted in a culturally sensitive manner and integrated with the qualitative data obtained from the Rorschach protocols. A culturally sensitive, conceptual framework for interpreting Rorschach indicators associated with adolescents’ transactional resilience was provided. These findings indicated individual and ecological protective resources well known within South African resilience research. Findings that contributed new understanding of the transactional processes associated with Black South African adolescent resilience were also obtained. Four case-specific self-reflective strategies were identified, namely, emotional stoicism, frequent introspection, honouring the past, and adopting a new identity. These selfreflective strategies served as the participants’ unique ways of compensating for their adversity-informed schema as well as encouraging them to navigate towards the sustained support of specific significant others and resilience-promoting ecological resources. The participants indicated that attachment challenges brought about repressed feelings and specific security needs, which shaped their resilience-promoting navigation and enabled them to self-knit in a resilient way. / Thesis (Ph.D. (Education))--North-West University, Vaal Triangle Campus, 2011

Bien que le test de Rorschach soit l’outil d’évaluation de la personnalité le plus utilisé en France, peu d’études se sont consacrées à la validation ou l’analyse des propriétés psychométriques de cet instrument. C’est pourquoi, les objectifs de notre étude sont les suivants : Réétudier et vérifier la validité du test de Rorschach en Système Intégré pour le diagnostic de la dépression (1) évaluer l’indice de dépression (DEPI) (2) évaluer l’indice d’incompétence sociale (CDI) (3) réétudier les variables actif et passif (a:p) et (4) la validité des réponses reflets (Fr+ rF> 0)(5) comparer les résultats de notre étude avec ceux de Sultan et al. (2004).Pour opérationnaliser nos objectifs, deux échantillons d’adultes français (18- 70 ans), ont été recrutés : un échantillon normatif et un échantillon dépressif. Cinq outils ont été utilisés : Rorschach Système Intégré, GHQ.12, BDI, T.A.T, SFSC.Les résultats montrent (1) Qu’il n’y pas de différence significative sur l’indice dépression sauf lorsque DEPI=6 ; (2) Une différence significative est observée entre nos deux échantillons normatif et dépressif sur l’indice CDI; (3 et 4)Concernant l’échantillon normatif, il n’y a pas de corrélation entre le score obtenu au Rorschach sur la variable p>a+1 et le score des sujets au TAT, ni de corrélation entre le score S au SF-SC et le score des réponses reflètes ; (5) la comparaison entre l’échantillon normatif combiné et l’échantillon normatif d’Exner indique une différence significative sur les variables suivantes : SumSha, Fr+rF, X-%, WSum6, XA %. Enfin, les résultats montrent un intérêt clinique du Rorschach Système Intégré à savoir qu’un DEPI= 6 est à considérer comme une indication psychopathologique, et que l'indice CDI est très pertinent pour le diagnostic psychologique des troubles dépressifs. / Despite the fact that, the Rorschach test is the most used personality assessment tool in France; few studies have focused on the validation or analysis of the psychometric properties of this instrument. Therefore, the objectives of our study are the following: To re-examine and verify the validity of the Rorschach Comprehensive System for the diagnosis of depression (1) to evaluate the depression index (DEPI) (2). evaluate the social incompetence index (CDI) (3) re-study the active and passive variables (a: p) and (4) the validity of the reflective answers (Fr + rF> 0) (5) compare the results of our study with those of Sultan et al. (2004).To operationalize our objectives, two samples of French adults (18-70 years old) were recruited: a normative sample and a depressive sample. Five tools were used: Rorschach Comprehensive System, GHQ.12, BDI, T.A.T, SFSC.The results show (1) that there is no significant difference on the depression index except when DEPI = 6; (2) A significant difference is observed between our two normative and depressive samples on the CDI index; (3 and 4) Regarding the normative sample, there is no correlation between the Rorschach score on the p> a + 1 variable and the TAT subjects score, or the correlation between the S score and the SF score. -SC and the score of the reflective answers;(5) The comparison between the combined normative sample and the Exner normative sample indicates a significant difference on the following variables: SumSha, Fr + rF, X-%, WSum6, XA%. Finally, the results show a clinical interest of the Rorschach Comprehensive System namely that a DEPI = 6 is to be considered as a psychopathological indication, and that the CDI index is very relevant for the psychological diagnosis of depressive disorders.

Magister Educationis - MEd / The study focuses on the administration procedure of Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS) to learners from a previously disadvantaged school in the Western Cape. ARCS is the Rorschach administration procedure developed by Moletsane-Kekae (2004) in her research study. The aim of the study was to determine the response rate of learners from a previously disadvantaged school when they were exposed to the Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS). The objectives are to determine the possible factors that can lead to high and low response rate when administering Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS). The main assumption that guides the study was that the responses of the administration of Adjusted Rorschach Comprehensive System (ARCS) to the learners from a previously disadvantaged school in the Western Cape would yield more than 14 responses (R>14). The study adopted a qualitative approach, case study design, interpretivist paradigm. The Rorschach test, ARCS procedure, observation, interview, and Field notes were used as data collection techniques. The sample was made of six learners (3 girls and 3 boys) in Year 1 selected from a previously disadvantaged school in Cape Town. In order to analyze the data, the thematic analysis and interpretation procedures were used. The results revealed that the majority of the learners gave high responses, because the ARCS accommodated their cultures, believe and backgrounds. This study found out that language, seating arrangement, strategies using during the ARCS procedure were the factors that influenced the higher response rate. Furthermore, the study also found that the lack of previous exposure and experience of the psychological test was a factor that can lead to low response.

The study was exploratory in nature, with 62 adult participants participating in this research. The aim of the study was to determine the level of ego impairment, if any, among a group of patients diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder. The data obtained from this sample was subjected to the Rorschach-based Ego Impairment Index-2 (EII-2). An in-depth analysis of the composite variables of this index was performed, allowing a comprehensive grasp of the implications of ego impairment in everyday functioning. The study was conducted in order to ascertain the nature of the psychological dynamics at play amongst this population group. The value of using the EII-2 is seen in its ability to establish various strengths and weaknesses in areas of ego functioning that are a core component of the personality, rather than behavioural manifestations that are sporadic and subject to change. Thus the results will reflect traits that are enduring and fundamental when considering the personality. In addition, the areas of psychological functioning that were determined were linked to the current conceptualisation of Bipolar Disorder, which, at present, is primarily conceived of as a biological disorder. The results of the EII-2 yielded from this sample indicated an overall moderate ego impairment falling within the moderate range, indicating that for this population, an impairment of ego was evident. Particularly, the domains of reality testing, cognitive functioning and object relatedness seemed to be most impaired. / Dissertation (MA)--University of Pretoria, 2010. / Psychology / Unrestricted

Exploring the cycloid temperament has been attempted throughout the ages by various pioneers in psychiatry, psychology and psychoanalysis. Contemporary psychiatric approaches have estimated that cycloid pathology, most evident as Bipolar Disorder, accounts for more than 1% of the population and is seen as the sixth leading cause of all illnesses. Despite the latter it is remains a desperately understudied area psychologically. Theoretically, BD is known for (1) its complex epidemiology, (2) costly treatment, (3) occupational impairment; (4) its negative interpersonal implications, (5) negative domestic effects, (6) forensic consequences, (7) death due to suicide and accidents, (8) cost in treatment, and finally, and most importantly from a humanistic perspective, (9) BD's diminished quality of life. Given the various realities faced by those suffering from Bipolar disorder the current study aimed at describing, through the use of the Rorschach Comprehensive system (CS), the self and object-representations, as well as the affect experiences of fifty, predominantly Bipolar I inpatients. The patients were selected through opportunity sampling at two provincial psychiatric hospitals in South Africa and included Caucasian, African and Colored respondents. All protocols were administered and scored by trained CS clinicians and re-scored by both the author and supervisor. Fifteen protocols were thereafter randomly assigned to three inter-raters and a high level of inter-rater reliability seemed evident. Given various inherent limitations of the study, that is, (a) a study of limited scope, (b) the heterogeneous nature of the sample and the reliance on opportunity sampling, (c) the small sample size, (d) lack of a control group, and (d) the focus of the study as exploratory-descriptive in nature, basic descriptive statistic were relied upon. Despite the various limitations, the results obtained seemed to hint at the possibility of a Neglected Self, characterised by difficulties in modulating affect in moderation, lack of self-esteem and positive self-regard, difficulties in introspection and self-inspecting behaviour, a general lack of interpersonal comfort and feelings of threat, as well as affectional and representational constriction. The presence of impaired self-regulation and reflection, possible perceptual differences in sensory-affective reactivity and processing, as well as difficulties in representational elaboration and differentiation needs further research and comparison to other psychiatric disorders. Basic therapeutic inferences were also discussed that may support those who treat cycloid patients. / Thesis (PhD)--University of Pretoria, 2012. / Psychology / unrestricted

In this study the original Rorschach test was administered to ten black South African adolescents, all fourteen years of age. Originally, the Rorschach’s test norms have been determined for an American sample. Using a qualitative research design in this study, the standard Rorschach test was administered in two phases, namely the pre-test and the post-test. Ten case studies were used as a format for research. During the pre-test the standard RCS procedures were strictly adhered to. The participants were never exposed to psychological tests before and reacted differently when presented with the Rorschach Inkblot cards for the first time. For instance, some of them were uncertain, nervous and reacted with shock. According to Exner&Weiner (1995:33) when less than 14 answers are given in response to the Rorschach test, the results cannot be interpreted. The participants were therefore required to give 14 or more answers. During the pre-test phase five out of 10 gave 14 and more responses whereas five gave less than 14 responses. The total responses of the 10 participants were 127 with an average of 12,7. The factors that inhibited the participants from giving 14 or more responses were identified and analysed. Adjusted or modified RCS procedures were then designed with the explicit aim of accommodating the participants’ culture, beliefs and background. The participants were re-tested with the adjusted RCS (ARCS) during the post-test phase. In this phase, eight participants gave 14 or more responses and only two participants gave less than 14 responses. The number of responses increased when the ARCS was administered. The total responses of the 10 participants were 161 with an average of 16,1. The results indicate an increase of 34 responses with an average increase of 3,4 responses for each participant. The research findings indicate that the ARCS was a more appropriate and effective administering test procedure when testing black South African adolescents as compared to the standard RCS. It is recommended that when administering the Rorschach Comprehensive System among non-western participants, that the factors that could prevent them from giving sufficient responses should be identified and analysed in order to modify the test procedures. The examiners could in this way minimise biases when administering psychological tests. / Thesis (PhD (Educational Psychology))--University of Pretoria, 2005. / Educational Psychology / unrestricted

En dépit de ses qualités, le Rorschach en Système Intégré présente des problèmes psychométriques substantiels que le nouveau système Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS) ne permet pas de résoudre. Aussi, l’objectif principal de la thèse que nous défendons est de développer une approche psychométrique du Rorschach qui soit satisfaisante sur les plans statistique et clinique. Une Analyse Parallèle et Une Analyse en Composantes Principales réalisée sur un échantillon normatif de 695 participants Belges, Français et Finlandais permet de définir un modèle du Rorschach en 12 Composantes. Si ces dimensions sont cohérentes avec les principes de cotation et les connaissances empiriques sur le Rorschach, elles font également apparaître certaines difficultés de cotation, des aspects du Rorschach qui ont été négligés dans la recherche, de même qu’elles remettent en question certains indices du Système Intégré. Ce modèle est appliqué à deux problèmes empiriques : l’expression de particularités culturelles au Rorschach et la capacité du test à identifier des stratégies de résolution de problème (qui est un aspect central du Système Intégré). Les normes américaines du Système Intégré ainsi que les normes internationales du R-PAS ne peuvent s’appliquer de manière universelle et il faut donc recourir à des valeurs de références nationales. De plus, le Rorschach ne permet pas d’identifier des stratégies de résolution de problème de manière fiable. Ces études montrent que certains principes fondamentaux du Système Intégré et du R-PAS sont à remettre en question et qu’il est nécessaire de développer un nouveau système d’interprétation du Rorschach selon une approche psychométrique. / In spite of its quailties, the Rorschach Comprehensive System (RCS) presents substantial psychometric issues which are not solved by the new Rorschach Performance Assessment System (R-PAS). Thus, the main objective of this dissertation is to develop a satisfying psychometrical approach of the Rorschach test. A Parallel Analysis and a Principal Component Analysis performed on a normative sample of 695 Belgian, French and Fins participants define a 12 Components model of the Rorschach. If these dimensions are coherent with scoring principles and empirical evidences for the Rorschach they also reveal some scoring issues, neglected aspects of the Rorschach in the research field as well as they question the validity of some indices of the RCS. This model was applied to two empirical problems : the cross-cultural study of the Rorschach and its ability to assess problem solving strategies (which is a key feature of the RCS). The american norms of the RCS and the international reference values of the R-PAS cannot be used universally and it is necessary to use national norms. Moreover, the Rorschach does not assess problem solving strategies in a satisfying manner. These studies demonstrate that some fondamental principles of the RCS and the R-PAS must be questionned and the necessity to develop a new interpretation system for the Rorschach based on a psychometrical approach.