Benevolence, Potency, and God: A Semantic Differential Study of the Rorschach

Abstract

Ss were asked to rank-order the 10 Rorschach cards to indicate the extent to which the cards symbolized God and to fill out two scales, Benevolence and Potency, derived from the Semantic Differential technique. The results supported the earlier finding by Larsen and Knapp that females view the Deity as Benevolent. But our findings indicate that in this study a lack of Potency was associated with God. There was a significant order effect, with Cards VII through X being rated as most like God. Thus, the conventional order in which the Rorschach blots are administered presents S first with relatively malevolent, potent images, and concludes with benevolent, impotent ones.

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