Bender Visual Motor GestaltBender Visual Motor Gestalt

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Interpretive FactorsInterpretive Factors

SequenceSequence– Expected order: left to right, top to bottomExpected order: left to right, top to bottom– Deviations such asDeviations such as

Shifts in expected progression (Cards A and 1 are Shifts in expected progression (Cards A and 1 are left to right, card 2 is below card one, card 3 is next left to right, card 2 is below card one, card 3 is next to card 1)to card 1)

– ““Normal” – methodical sequenceNormal” – methodical sequence– AbnormalAbnormal

Overly concerned with organization (e.g. measuringOverly concerned with organization (e.g. measuring

distance between figures, possibly obsessivedistance between figures, possibly obsessive– IndecisivenessIndecisiveness– Excessive rigidityExcessive rigidity– Covert feelings of inadequacyCovert feelings of inadequacy– Compulsive doubtingCompulsive doubting

Irregular – lack of control, possibly bipolar or impulse Irregular – lack of control, possibly bipolar or impulse control disordercontrol disorder

– Low frustration toleranceLow frustration tolerance– High latent anxietyHigh latent anxiety– IndecisivenessIndecisiveness– Borderline ego controlBorderline ego control– ImpulsivenessImpulsiveness

Left to right organization possibly rebelliousLeft to right organization possibly rebellious

Position of first drawingPosition of first drawing– Normal is within upper third of pageNormal is within upper third of page– Egocentric – within 3 inch square of center of Egocentric – within 3 inch square of center of

paperpaper– Abnormal – within one inch of edge of paperAbnormal – within one inch of edge of paper– Shows orientation of individual to his/her worldShows orientation of individual to his/her world– Center of the page, especially enlargedCenter of the page, especially enlarged

NarcissismNarcissism EgocentrismEgocentrism Passive oppositionalismPassive oppositionalism

Use of spaceUse of space– Space between drawingsSpace between drawings

Excessive spaceExcessive space– ImmaturityImmaturity– Acting outActing out

Constricted spaceConstricted space– PassivePassive– WithdrawnWithdrawn– Schizoid tendenciesSchizoid tendencies

CollisionCollision– Running together or overlapping figuresRunning together or overlapping figures

– Broadest terms – loss of controlBroadest terms – loss of control– Poor anticipatory planningPoor anticipatory planning– Difficulty with figure/ground relationshipsDifficulty with figure/ground relationships

Could be neurological (cortical dysfunction)Could be neurological (cortical dysfunction)

– ImpulsivityImpulsivity

Shift in position of the paper – rotation of Shift in position of the paper – rotation of paperpaper– Latent or passive oppositional tendenciesLatent or passive oppositional tendencies

Closure difficulty – difficulty joining partsClosure difficulty – difficulty joining parts– Difficulty maintaining relationshipsDifficulty maintaining relationships

– Fearfulness in relationshipsFearfulness in relationships– Emotional disturbanceEmotional disturbance

Crossing difficulty – difficulty crossing lines Crossing difficulty – difficulty crossing lines in figures 6 and 7in figures 6 and 7– Psychological blocking (preventing decisions)Psychological blocking (preventing decisions)– IndecisivenessIndecisiveness– Compulsive doubtingCompulsive doubting– PhobiasPhobias

Curvature Difficulty – obvious change in Curvature Difficulty – obvious change in curvescurves

– Emotional disturbanceEmotional disturbance– Increased curves – emotionalityIncreased curves – emotionality– Decreases – repression of emotionsDecreases – repression of emotions– Can indicate depressionCan indicate depression

Change in angulations – angle of part of Change in angulations – angle of part of figure 15% or more from cardfigure 15% or more from card– Problems with emotional controlProblems with emotional control– Problems with impulse controlProblems with impulse control– Associated with organic brain damage, Associated with organic brain damage,

particularly when more severeparticularly when more severe

Perceptual rotation – entire figure rotated Perceptual rotation – entire figure rotated while card and paper are in standard while card and paper are in standard positionspositions– Severe – disturbance in ego functioningSevere – disturbance in ego functioning– Often in people who are psychoticOften in people who are psychotic– Sometimes oppositionalSometimes oppositional– Clockwise – can indicate depression if mildClockwise – can indicate depression if mild– Counterclockwise – can indicate oppositional Counterclockwise – can indicate oppositional

tendencies if mildtendencies if mild

Retrogression – substitute more primitive Retrogression – substitute more primitive Gestalt form (dashes for dots)Gestalt form (dashes for dots)– Defense against trauma – failure of egoDefense against trauma – failure of ego

Some types of schizophreniaSome types of schizophrenia

– Anxiety and poor defensesAnxiety and poor defenses– Always indicates severe pathology in adultsAlways indicates severe pathology in adults

SimplificationSimplification– Reduce involvement in an external task, reduce Reduce involvement in an external task, reduce

energy expendedenergy expended– Often related to organic problemsOften related to organic problems

FragmentationFragmentation– Unfinished or incompleteUnfinished or incomplete– Problems in abstract thinking or synthesizing Problems in abstract thinking or synthesizing

gestaltsgestalts

Overlapping DifficultyOverlapping Difficulty– Overlap when not in stimulus cardOverlap when not in stimulus card– Failure to overlapFailure to overlap– Usually associated with brain damageUsually associated with brain damage

Elaboration or DoodlingElaboration or Doodling– Impulse controlImpulse control– Intense anxietyIntense anxiety

PreservationPreservation– Marked difficulty in ego controlMarked difficulty in ego control

Redrawing Total FigureRedrawing Total Figure– Absence of adequate anticipatory planningAbsence of adequate anticipatory planning– Temporal brain damageTemporal brain damage– Also associated with obsessive behaviorAlso associated with obsessive behavior

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