Comparison of Children's Self-Drawings with Their Drawings of other Persons

Abstract

To test the hypothesis that children's awareness of their own bodily attributes is more articulated and accurate than their conception of those of the opposite sex, a modified D-A-P Test was given to 151 Ss (Grades K to 6). Instructions were to draw frontal pictures of the self and of an opposite sex age-mate, both standing up and wearing bathing suits. Sketches were compared for detail, manner of depiction, symmetry, proportion, size, placement, and line quality. Except for size and for depictions of hair, mouth, and eyes, protocols showed no significant differences between self- and opposite-sex drawings. Individual graphic styles were highly consistent. A significant proportion drew larger, but not qualitatively superior, self-representations than non-self figures. Results were related to the development of body image, projective interpretations of figure drawings, realism, and IQ. It was concluded that, for the aspects assessed, children seem equally aware of the bodily attributes of both sexes.