Perception of Simple Figures Drawn upon the Body Surface

Abstract

The study examined 103 Ss' perceptions of finger drawings on the forehead and back of the head. The purpose was to test a hypothesized sex difference and the effect of locus in the degree of congruence with the Frontal Plane Hypothesis (FPH): “Symbols drawn upon anterior or posterior surfaces of the body are perceived as if they were drawn and viewed by S upon one common, transparent two-dimensional surface projected out in front of S” (Duke, 1966, p. 305). Four symbols (⌈,⌉, ⊂, ⊃) were traced on the foreheads and backs of heads of 103 Ss. The results indicate that the FPH does account for a majority of perceptions of finger drawings. No significant sex difference was obtained, but there was significantly greater congruence in the posterior locus.