Certain formal characteristics of human figure drawings by institutionalized aged and by normal children.

Abstract

It was hypothesized that differences in self conceptualization between institutionalized aged and preadolescent children would be reflected in differences in these [e.g., area, height, and centeredness] formal aspects of the drawings. The drawings of 24 institutionalized elderly persons were compared with those of 25 third-grade school children. The results confirmed the hypothesis. More constricted, shorter, and less adequately centered figures were produced by the aged subjects. The findings were viewed as support for the validity of the view that the central variables of self concept and body image are reflected in drawings of the human figure. The application of this method in further research in this area was suggested. ".