An examination of personality characteristics of child custody litigants on the Rorschach

Child custody litigants are a relatively select group comprised of those 10% of individuals who are unable to independently resolve custody disputes, and consequently are court-ordered for psychological evaluations (Jackson & Donovan, 1990; Kunin, Ebbsen, & Konecni, 1992). In 1997, Ackerman and Ackerman reported that the Rorschach was ranked as the second most used test, after the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory-2 (MMPI-2). A review of the literature reveals very little about the personality characteristics of this population. This study examined variables on the Rorschach in order to assist in identifying characteristics specific to child custody litigants. This study analyzed the Rorschach protocols of a sample of 780 child custody litigants for variables conceptually related to defensiveness, situational stress, disordered thinking and interpersonal relationships. Specifically, the variables thought to be related to defensiveness on the Rorschach were Lambda (L) and F%. The variables related to situational stress were Inanimate Movement (m) and Diffuse Shading (Y). The variables related to disordered thinking and conventionality were X+% and WSUM6. Lastly, the variables related to interpersonal relationships are the Coping Deficit Index (CDI), Cooperative (COP) and Aggressive (AG) Movements. The custody litigants were compared to various nonpatient and patient samples on these selected variables. As was hypothesized, the custody litigants were significantly different from Exner's nonpatient sample and a sample of college students on the variables Y, m, AG, COP, WSUM6, and X+%. The hypotheses predicting that the litigants would look similar to the character disordered group on the variables WSUM6, X+%, COP, and AG were not supported. On the selected variables Y, m, L F% and the CDI, when the litigants were compared to mixed psychiatric groups and a forensic sample they were significantly different. Overall, this sample of litigants demonstrate limited coping abilities in interpersonal relationships; problems with thinking, perceiving and conforming to social norms.