The misperception of psychopathology: Problems with the norms of the Comprehensive System for the Rorschach

The norms of the Comprehensive System (CS) for the Rorschach have been prai sed for their scientific and clinical value. However, recent findings by Sh affer, Erdberg, and Haroian suggest that the CS norms are inaccurate. We ex amined 14 CS variables in 32 studies of nonpatient adults. The participants in these studies exhibited statistically and clinically significant differ ences from CS nonpatient norms for all 14 variables. Overall, nonpatient ad ults tended to appear pathological when compared with the CS norms. The imp lications of these findings for misdiagnosis and the misperception of psych opathology are discussed. Use of the CS norms in clinical or forensic setti ngs is inadvisable. Commonly held beliefs about the validity of CS variable s are likely to be false and in need of revision.