Rorschach Measures of Aggressive Drive Derivatives: A College Student Sample

• DOI: 10.1207/s15327752jpa8001_12
• Publication Date: 2004-01-14T15:16:05Z
• Authors: Joni L. Mihura; Elizabeth Nathan-...; Rebecca J. Alperin
• Keywords: Adult; Male; Self-Assessment; Adolescent; Personality Inventory; Universities; 4. Education; 05 social sciences; Middle Aged; Rorschach Test; United States; Aggression; Impulsive Behavior; Humans; Female; 0501 psychology and cognitive sciences; Students

This study investigated measures of aggressive drive derivatives on the Rorschach and Personality Assessment Inventory with 70 college students. As predicted, (a) self-reported physical aggression potential was related to Rorschach measures of identification with the aggressor and aggressive impulses, (b) suicidal ideation with impulsivity was related to a Rorschach measure of aggressive impulses turned toward the self, and (c) the borderline features scale was related to a Rorschach pathological object relations measure. Hierarchical regression analyses showed that a Rorschach measure of emotional impulsivity added unique variance to these Rorschach aggression variables in predicting self-reported physical aggression potential, suicidal ideation with impulsivity, and borderline features. Finally, caution is advised in applying our findings when there is motivation to suppress aggressive responses