Rorschach Inkblot Test and Calhoun's Overcrowding Study
This paper examines two landmark studies that significantly shaped the field of psychology and broader society: Hermann Rorschach's inkblot perception test and John B. Calhoun's 1962 research on the effects of population density and overcrowding. The paper explains how each study was conducted, evaluates its scientific strengths and limitations, and traces its real-world influence — from forensic psychology and personality assessment to urban planning and building design. Together, these studies illustrate how psychological research, even when methodologically controversial, can profoundly alter public understanding of human behavior.
- Introduction: Two landmark studies that shaped psychology
- The Rorschach Inkblot Test: How the inkblot test was designed and administered
- Criticisms of the Rorschach Test: Subjectivity and validity concerns about Rorschach scoring
- Calhoun's Population Density Study: Rat overcrowding experiment and its societal reception
- Evaluating Calhoun's Findings: Limits of applying rat behavior to human populations
- Broader Impact on Psychology and Society: Legacy of both studies on research and urban design
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What makes this paper effective
- Pairs two well-chosen studies to demonstrate contrasting approaches to understanding human behavior — one perceptual and one environmental — giving the paper a clear comparative structure.
- Balances summary with critical evaluation: the author does not simply describe each study but also identifies methodological limitations, such as the subjectivity of Rorschach scoring and the cross-species inference problem in Calhoun's work.
- Connects academic findings to real-world consequences (urban design, forensic psychology), showing the student understands the applied significance of research.
Key academic technique demonstrated
The paper demonstrates comparative analysis by placing two historically significant studies side by side, identifying what each contributed and where each falls short. The author uses direct quotation from primary sources (Rorschach, 1951) to ground claims in evidence, then layers in critical commentary — a foundational technique in undergraduate psychology writing.
Structure breakdown
The paper opens with a brief introduction naming both studies and their significance. It then devotes one body section each to explaining the Rorschach test and the Calhoun study, followed by a critical evaluation of each. A concluding section synthesizes their collective influence on psychology and on society. The references follow APA format and include two primary or near-primary sources.
Introduction
The science of psychology has evolved over time, and certain studies have been instrumental in that evolution. Two of the more famous studies that revolutionized the field were the Rorschach inkblot test, first systematically published in 1921 and widely administered through the mid-twentieth century, and J. B. Calhoun's 1962 study on the effects of overcrowding. These two scientific studies changed the field of psychology and our understanding of human behavior.
The Rorschach Inkblot Test
The Rorschach inkblot test is one of the most famous studies in the history of psychology. As stated in the published study, "the experiment consists in the interpretation of accidental forms, that is, of non-specific forms" (Rorschach, 1951, p. 15). Inkblots are created by dripping ink onto a piece of paper and then folding it. The researchers maintain that it is important for the resulting inkblot to fulfill certain requirements, but most importantly the inkblot must be symmetrical. The inkblots are then shown to the subject, who is asked "what might this be?" (Rorschach, 1951, p. 17). The subject's answers are recorded, and their perception of the inkblot is analyzed. It is important to note that what is analyzed is not the subject's interpretation of the inkblot per se, but their perception of it.
Criticisms of the Rorschach Test
When it was introduced, the Rorschach test became one of the basic assessments performed by psychologists, and it was widely believed that a person's personality traits could be interpreted through its application. To this day the test is still considered a valid form of evaluation, especially among correctional psychologists, forensic psychologists, and child psychologists. However, critics argue that the test's evaluation of a subject's responses is highly subjective. In other words, the subject must interpret the inkblot, while the researcher must then interpret the subject's response in light of what the researcher has already interpreted the inkblot to represent. This layered subjectivity is why, if this study were presented today, many psychologists would reject it as lacking measurable, objective results.
Calhoun's Population Density Study
Another scientific study that has had a great impact on the field of psychology was J. B. Calhoun's 1962 study on the effect of overcrowding on society. In this study, Calhoun examined the effects of allowing populations of rats to reproduce as much as they could within a confined space and with a limited amount of resources. The study demonstrated that when the density of rats reached a certain point, there was a complete breakdown of normal social behavior (Calhoun, 1962). Simply put, when the rats became overpopulated, they began to behave in anti-social and unnatural ways.
When this study was released in 1962, it had an extraordinary effect on society as a whole. It led people to believe they understood the reasons why crowded urban areas were filled with crime, riots, and other anti-social behaviors ("Letting the Rat out of the Bag," 2009). The study became the impetus for the redesign of buildings, offices, and entire urban areas.
References
Calhoun, J. B. (1962). Population density and social pathology. Scientific American, 206, 139–148.
"Letting the rat out of the bag: The cultural influence of John B. Calhoun's rodent experiments." (2009). London School of Economics and Political Science. Retrieved from
Rorschach, Hermann. (1951). Psychodiagnostics: A diagnostic test based on perception (2nd ed.). Retrieved from http://www.archive.org/stream/psychodiagnostic011205mbp#page/n7/mode/2up
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