Radio Times: Review by:; Tom Goulding

What can an inkblot say about you? Dying only a year after the publication of his seminal book Psychodiagnostik, Hermann Rorschach could never have imagined the impact his black-and-white patterns would have on the world of psychology. In this illuminating documentary, Jo Fidgen traces the history of the Rorschach personality test from its origins under the shadow of Freud, through its introduction to 1930s Britain, its booming appeal in the USA, and its subsequent rejection among new thinkers in the 70s. She talks to practising psychologists who believe the inkblot is still relevant today — that it’s an essential window into understanding the irregularities of the human mind.

About this programme

Jo Fidgen explores the story of Hermann Rorschach, the Swiss psychiatrist who devised the inkblot test, a popular but controversial personality assessment used by psychologists around the world. She traces the origins, refinement and application of the procedure, and puts herself forward as a subject.