Rorschach cards IV and VII revisited

Using 67 emotionally disturbed children and adolescents in residential treatment, the "father-mother" hypothesis of Cards IV and VII of the Rorschach technique was investigated. While Cards X and IV were selected significantly often, it was only Card IV which was selected as the "father" card significantly more often than chance, as well as significantly less often selected as the "mother" card. Conversely, Card VII was selected as the "mother" card significantly more often than chance and selected as the "father" card significantly less often. The more dysfunctional a child or adolescent's relationship is with his/her parents, the more likely the child/adolescent selects Card IV as the "father" or Card VII as the "mother" card. Implications are discussed.