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And a happy Valentine's Day with Rorschach's survey

The Fake Science Laboratories are working hard to give the moon the right amount of gravity.

Today’s Lesson

This Day in Science History: Before Rorschach’s inkblot

February 11, 1919

Today, Hermann Rorschach is most well known for his psychological inkblot test. After devising the test, he showed it to a variety of science journals and asked them, “So, uh, what does this look like to you?” If they replied, “Science,” he told them they were very well-adjusted and should publish his work.

But well before people saw genius in the inkblot, Rorschach had another psychological breakthrough: Rorschach’s “Do You Like Me” survey.

Though today known for its use in elementary schools, Rorschach roamed the Swiss coffeeshops and fondu-cafes (fondueries) with his psychological survey. After handing the piece of paper to a wide range of unsuspecting baristas, dental assistants, and a few passersby, he waited patiently for the results.

If a woman checked “yes,” he declared her psychologically fit. If she checked “no,” she was insane. A “maybe” meant Rorschach would immediately whip out his juggling balls and show her his “very impressive” skills.

Ultimately, the inkblot made more of an impact on Rorschach’s reputation, while Rorschach’s ink pen, hastily holstered in his pocket, often made a stain on his shirt. Still, the “Do You Like Me” survey remains in use today and is a vital psychological test for ages 8 through 9 and a half.

From the Lab

Would you forward this newsletter to a friend, or subscribe if you aren’t subscribed already? You could also send it to an acquaintance. An acquaintance becomes a friend. A friend becomes a lover. A lover becomes a partner. A partner becomes a traitor. A traitor becomes an enemy. An enemy becomes a memory. You see them though, once again, at the grocery, shopping for the same grapes you used to feed into each other’s mouths. Something clicks. It’s not passion. Something simpler. Purer. A memory becomes an acquaintance once again.

Today’s Classic Lesson