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The present study, attempts to examine the personality profile of ten healthy siblings of the children with autism, in comparison to ten children who do not have siblings with autism (mean age -14.4 years, SD -1.35 years). They were matched in terms of relevant variables including intellectual level (as measured by the Standard Progressive Matrices). Rorschach Inkblot Test was administered individually to all 20 subjects and protocols were interpreted following Exner (1986). Evaluation of the D-scores and the Four Squares (EA, EB, eb, es, ADJ D and D-scores) indicated presence of ambitence, stimulus overload, greater stress tolerance capacity, greater awareness of primitive impulses and adoption of defensive maneuvers, in siblings of autists in contrast to introversiveness, balance between stimulus demand and coping resources, prevalence of situational stress and lesser reactivity in the normal controls.
Key Words : Autism and Rorschach
Sibling research characterizes siblings as attachment figures, antagonists, playmates, protectors and friends. Through a shared history and common bonds, siblings have the potential to provide one another with intense emotional experience, support, guidance, information and companionship (Davies, 2002). Consequently the significance of the sibling relationship suggests that the pervasive unalterable disability of one child will have an effect on his healthy sibling. Since the presence of a disabled child and the resultant home environment is not a fact that holds true for the rest of the population, naturally it is prudent to apprehend that the adjustment pattern of this family differs from that of the normal population.
Hurlock (1978) observed sibling relation to be an important determinant of home climate. Favourable sibling relationship helps to maintain a pleasant and friction free home life, but the presence of a maladjusted child or a disabled individual who requires the parent's constant supervision and care may jeopardize the otherfamily relationships. Particularly special attention or time demands made by the chronically disabled child from their parents make their healthy counterparts resentful. Although there is an appreciation of the needs of the disabled child (Powell and Gallagher, 1993), it is reported that the healthy sibling continues to feel deprived (DeMyer, 1979). Simeonsson and McHaIe (1981) reported that an emphasis in parental time and attention towards the child with the disability might arouse feelings of jealousy or resentment...