[1][2] After expanding and publishing his ideas throughout the next 2 decades, the test gained widespread popularity as it was first translated to English in the 1969 + 1971 editions.
For example, +0+7 (a strong preference for gray and black) indicates that the subject: ...feels he has been unjustly and undeservedly treated and betrayed in his hopes [and is] disgruntled and in revolt against his existing circumstances which he considers and affront.Finally, a 5th pair comprising the first and last colors can be analyzed (e.g. +0-5).
[3] Alternatively, the full test can also be used, but this was only published by Lüscher in German and was not included as part of the initial English translations.
Colors are divided between "basic" (blue, yellow, red, green) and "auxiliary" (violet, brown, grey, and black).
After subjects placed the cards in order from most liked to least liked, they were asked to evaluate the extent to which their personalities matched the descriptive statements formed by Lüscher of each color.
The test ranks high on a published list of discredited procedures in psychology.
[7][8] It lacks construct validity and is considered as example of the Barnum effect,[9] where an ostensible personality analysis (actually consisting of vague generalities applicable to the majority of people) is reported to be accurate by subjects who had completed a personality test before reviewing their "results".