Citation

Hilsenroth MJ, Hibbard SR, Nash MR, Handler L. J. Pers. Assess. 1993; 60(2): 346-361.

Affiliation

Department of Psychology, University of Tennessee, Knoxville 37996-0900.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1993, Society for Personality Assessment, Publisher Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

8473970

Abstract

We examined the differences between narcissism, mode of defense, and level of aggression on the Rorschach. We also investigated differences in borderline, narcissistic, and Cluster C personality disorders by examining responses to Rorschach content variables. The Lerner Defense Scale (P. Lerner & H. Lerner, 1980), the aggressive content section of the Holt (1977) method for assessing primary process manifestations, a modified version of Exner's (1986a) Egocentricity Index, Wagner's (1965) exhibitionistic M score, and grandiosity were scored on the Rorschach protocols of 17 borderline, 17 narcissistic, and 17 Cluster C personality disorders. Borderlines were found to employ primitive defensive structures to a greater degree and severity, show more intense and overall aggression as well as more responses on the three forms of aggression in the Holt method, and have higher levels of grandiosity. Narcissists evinced significantly higher levels of egocentricity than borderlines and higher levels of idealization than the Cluster C group. Convergent validity was found on the measures of defense and aggression, which showed a strong relationship between primitive aggression and primitive defense.

Language: en