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Examining the Impact of Hostile and Communion Films on Self-Reported Experiences and the Rorschach’s Interpersonally Related Thematic Codes and Critical Content Codes

Hsiao, Wei-Cheng

Abstract Details

2015, Doctor of Philosophy, University of Toledo, Psychology - Clinical.
This study reviews methodological issues, theoretical framework issues, and appropriate criterion selection issues related to Rorschach research, as well as conclusions from debates about the Rorschach that have occurred during the past few decades. The results of this review provide guidelines to evaluate and potentially establish score validity. A process-focused model was applied as the main method to validate the Rorschach variables selected for use in this study. The Interpersonal Circumplex model was utilized as the theoretical framework for selecting the experimental conditions and the relevant Rorschach variables for validation in each experimental condition. For the appropriate experimental criterion selection, mood induction procedures were implemented by using two clips from the films 300 and Braveheart to elicit cognitive-affective mindsets on two overlapping emotional-interpersonal dimensions. One is an aggressive–hostile dimension, and the other is a communion–love dimension. Eleven Rorschach Thematic and Content Codes that were expected to be associated with the Interpersonal Circumplex model were selected as the major variables for validation. The supplemental predictor and criterion measurements for this study consisted of two self-report scales, the Interpersonal Questionnaire (IPQ; Trapnell & Broughton, 2006) and the Post-Film Questionnaire (PFQ; based on Hsiao, Meyer, & Mihura, 2012), and two indirect measurements, the Implicit Association Test (IAT; Greenwald, McGhee, & Schwartz, 1998) and the Conditional Reasoning Test of Aggression (CRT–A; James, 1998; James & McIntyre, 2000). A total sample of 216 participants was recruited and produced 207 valid protocols for final data analyses. There were 141 participants in the two experimental groups, the Aggression and Love conditions. They completed the IPQ and CRT-A at baseline before watching one of the short movie clips. Participants provided Response Phase communications to the 10 Rorschach inkblots immediately after watching one of the short movie clips. Participants then completed the PFQ and SC-IAT, which was then followed by the Clarification Phase of the Rorschach. Sixty six of the participants were recruited for the control group. They followed the same research procedure except they did not watch a short movie clip. Two main hypotheses and one supplemental hypothesis were generated to validate the PFQ and selected Rorschach variables. The initial data analyses supported the successful production of experimental effects in both conditions through self-report, but failed to find the expected effects on Rorschach codes and the SC-IAT. To determine if the act of completing the SC-IAT between the Rorschach Response Phase and Clarification Phase may have contributed to these negative results, additional data analyses were conducted to further explore the Rorschach codes’ validity in capturing the carryover effect from the films by limiting data analyses to communications made during the Response Phase. The results suggested that AGC and AGM were sensitive in capturing the carryover effect in the Aggression condition, while newly created codes, one dealing with receptivity to color in the inkblots (ColorLoc) and the other quantifying pleasant and colorful contents (PCC), were sensitive in capturing the carryover effect in the Love condition. In contrast to hypotheses, Aggression–Hostility and Communion–Love dimensions generated from the baseline IPQ and CRT-A did not contribute additive effects to the prediction of any of the results. However, gender was a major effect, as males responded more positively to the Aggression film than females, which led to a number of main effects and interaction effects on the self-report and Rorschach based criteria. For instance, AGC was most elevated for males in the Aggression condition and least elevated for females in the Love condition. Potential methodological issues were discussed and recommendations for future study were provided.
Gregory J. Meyer (Committee Chair)
Joni L. Mihura (Committee Member)
Stephen D. Christman (Committee Member)
Jason C. Levine (Committee Member)
Robert F. Bornstein (Committee Member)
Patricia R. Komuniecki (Other)
221 p.

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Citations

  • Hsiao, W.-C. (2015). Examining the Impact of Hostile and Communion Films on Self-Reported Experiences and the Rorschach’s Interpersonally Related Thematic Codes and Critical Content Codes [Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1438967261

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Hsiao, Wei-Cheng. Examining the Impact of Hostile and Communion Films on Self-Reported Experiences and the Rorschach’s Interpersonally Related Thematic Codes and Critical Content Codes. 2015. University of Toledo, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1438967261.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Hsiao, Wei-Cheng. "Examining the Impact of Hostile and Communion Films on Self-Reported Experiences and the Rorschach’s Interpersonally Related Thematic Codes and Critical Content Codes." Doctoral dissertation, University of Toledo, 2015. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=toledo1438967261

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)