Further exploration of the Rorschach aggressive content (AgC) variable

Based on the recommendations of Baity and Hilsenroth (1999), this study fur ther investigated the reliability and validity of the Rorschach Aggressive Content (AgC) variable developed by Gacono and Meloy (1994). Eighty-five ag gressive objects identified by Gacono and Meloy, 19 potentially aggressive objects and 22 neutral (nonaggressive) objects were rated for aggressivenes s based on the definition of AgC. Two hundred seventy-six participants rate d objects on the Object Rating Scale (0-6), where a score of 0 indicates th at an object does not fit the definition of AgC. In addition, objects rated a 4 (moderately aggressive) or higher were then classified into 5 qualitat ive groupings (weapons, animal/part of animal, environmental danger, fictio nal creature, and other). Analysis of the results indicates that the AgC li st can be replicated and that objects rated as at least moderately aggressi ve (4) can be reliably classified into distinct categories. One-month test- retest reliability (r = .99) suggests that objects can be scored consistent ly using the definition of AgC and provides support for the utility of the AgC variable. Based on the results of this study, recommendations for the a ddition of the AgC variable to the list of content categories of Exner's (1 993) Comprehensive System are presented and discussed along with scoring ex amples.