Effects of Socioeconomic Differences on the Sophistication of Nigerian Children's Human Figure Drawings

Abstract

Drawings of a man and a woman were obtained from 125 Yoruba school children from middle and low income schools. Comparisons based on over-all shape and proportion of figures, inclusion of and position of body parts, and inclusion of clothes and fine details were made between subjects of middle and low income. Middle-income children drew more realistic figures than low-income children based on all the measured criteria. Findings were related to differences in socialization. Implications for education were also discussed.