Psychological definition of personality. What do you see first in the picture? Psychological definition of personality The meaning of drawings in psychology

Drawing is one of children's favorite activities. From the drawings you can see how the child sees the world, how he feels about himself, what worries him, who he loves.

Children's drawings are especially valuable material in cases where you need to find out whether the child has any problems - fears, anxiety, aggressiveness.

Here are a few basic rules to learn.

1. Drawings of children under five years of age are poorly informative due to the fact that the fingers are still poorly developed and the drawings are sketchy. At this age, one can only assume certain characteristics of the baby. by color scheme. If prevails black, this speaks of aggression. Red means activity, and brown signals possible ill health.

2. It is important to understand that a drawing is always a reflection of the child’s momentary mood. Therefore, it is impossible to judge his character from just one drawing. You should always look at general trends, having at least 5-6 samples made at different times. And ideally, if you want to make a psychological portrait of your baby, choose a time when he is in a good mood and ask him to draw .

3. If you give your child a task to draw something on a given topic, do not interfere with the process. The task itself should be given in the most general form - for example, draw a tree (house, person) of whatever kind you want. Don't suggest that a person has ears and you forgot to draw them. Try to be nearby, but pretend that you are minding your own business. And watch for yourself at this time.

Your observation and patience are the key to success, which will allow you to understand the hidden characteristics, fears, doubts and character traits of your child.

4. For test drawing, it is better to offer the child pencils - they allow you to see the force of pressure.

5. Even if all the child’s drawings speak of internal negativity, do not be afraid. Perhaps the baby is going through a difficult period now. In any case, a drawing is not a diagnosis, but a reason to think about what is happening in the soul of a little man. If you find it difficult to understand the causes of children's problems yourself, consult a psychologist.

So, you asked to draw person, house, tree, family .

And after the drawing is completed, the first step in the analysis may be your first superficial impression, you should evaluate what your child’s drawing is like, how it reflects reality, the child’s mood.

Look at the color your child used. According to psychologists, color determines the child’s inner mood, his emotional sphere.

A child chooses a simple pencil and refuses color altogether, this indicates a rather low intellectual level. Sometimes refusal of color is motivated by a bad mood, but, as a rule, this does not happen often. A child who uses dark colors is most likely at a low level of general development, has underdeveloped abstract thinking, and has memory problems.

The child uses the standard color for the depicted object, this indicates a normal level of his intellectual and general development. The baby adequately perceives surrounding objects and people around.

If, when depicting a given object, your child uses non-standard colors or colors that do not correspond to certain parts of the given object, this indicates non-standard thinking, a highly developed imagination.

Human

As a rule, if a child is asked to draw a person, it will be a person of his gender. The drawing of an asexual being or a person of the opposite sex indicates internal discord. If the figure is located in the center, this is a sign of a confident person. At the very bottom of the sheet (with 2/3 of the space at the top empty) children who have low self-esteem draw a person. A figure depicted in profile can indicate anxiety and problems with communication.

Each part of the drawn person means something.

Head is a symbol of intelligence. A large head indicates developed mental abilities, a small one indicates insufficient mental abilities for his age. If a child needs protection, he will definitely draw a headdress.

Face will talk about the baby’s sociability. Fuzzy facial features mean that the child is “closed” towards other people. Drawn ears are a sign that hearing is an important channel for the child’s perception of information, that he listens to the comments of other people. Aggressive children draw an open mouth with teeth. Very large eyes with pupils symbolize the child's fears.

Big long hands show that the baby is dexterous and physically developed. Small hands will be drawn by a weak child. If he is unsure of himself, he will hide the hands of the little man in the picture behind his back or in his pockets. Raised hands indicate aggression, wide arms indicate a desire to act.

Legs- This is a symbol of support in real life. If a child has a great desire to be independent, he will draw very long legs. Widely spaced legs signify the baby's self-confidence.

Angular or square torso Boys usually draw - this is a sign of masculinity. If a person's torso is disproportionately small, this means that the child feels humiliated.

House

If a child often draws a house without windows and doors, this indicates problems in communicating with other people and isolation. The smaller the window, the more shy the baby is. Sometimes the number of windows corresponds to the number of family members.

Tree

A large tree in the picture means that the child has great vital energy. The branches of the tree are directed upward, and the tree itself has a thick trunk and stands firmly on the ground (even the roots are drawn) - in front of you is a self-confident, cheerful child.

More details:

Trunk symbolizes the inner core of the child, his personal potential.

Base extended to the left - the child is a dreamy introvert, timid, indecisive, and does not show initiative.

The trunk is straight, regular in shape - the child has difficulty adapting, but it is easily restored. The general development of such a child is at a fairly high level.

The base extended to the right means that the child is characterized by prudence, prudence, and perseverance. He ignores other people's opinions and is not inclined to trust recognized authorities.

A trunk closed at the top speaks of vitality and impulsiveness. The child is not prone to abstract thinking and is diligent in his work.

Rounded and widened base - the child is slow, thorough, but somewhat inhibited. At the same time, he has such undoubted advantages as responsibility and reliability.

The pointed trunk is usually drawn by the smallest ones, in whom it is difficult to identify the constituent parts of the personality.

contour lines, barrel filling, indicate certain character traits of the child drawing.

Weak, uneven, dotted lines speak of an enthusiastic, uneven, impatient and impulsive character, which is how an intuitive, sensual and vulnerable child usually draws.

Hatching and scribbles inside the trunk indicate uncertainty, dissatisfaction and spiritual fragility of the baby.

Reproduction of the bark pattern is a good sign - a sign of observation, critical mind, inquisitiveness, possibly a good sense of humor and fairly high intellectual development.

Specks and spots inside the trunk are evidence of dissatisfaction and feelings of guilt, and perhaps that the child is going through a difficult period of development.

The wavy outlines in the picture mean liveliness, flexibility, a tendency to adapt, and a positive attitude of your baby.

Branches can tell about the child’s relationship with the outside world.

Branches drawn in parallel lines express constancy, positivity, and activity.

Lines of branches diverging towards the ends - expansion, adventurism, high self-esteem, desire to assert oneself.

Radiant branches indicate nervousness, hot temper, lack of self-determination, and the wandering in search of his “I” in the young artist.

If your child has highlighted one branch in the picture, this indicates his ability to improvise, be creative, and think outside the box, rejecting conventions.

Curved branches - susceptibility to the influence of others. The child who drew a tree with such branches loves games and fun activities, but it is difficult to force him to do what seems tedious and boring to him.

Branches hanging down depict ordinary dreamers, melancholic people.

Bend branches - restraint, humility, responsibility, discipline.

Branches pointing upward - practicality, hot temper, and a tendency towards adventurism.

Crown informs about the energy characteristics and capabilities of the baby.

If a child draws a tree crown in the form of a cloud, this indicates his characteristic caution, thoroughness, and high level of self-control.

The crown-corolla testifies to the prudence and diplomacy of the young artist.

Crown circle – calmness, self-sufficiency, egocentrism.

Children, who are characterized by dynamism, absent-mindedness, a sense of humor, and cheerfulness, usually draw a crown with curls.

Crown with scribbles or shaded - disorder, anxiety, tension, indecisiveness, impulsiveness, susceptibility to other people's influence.

Flat crown – depression, dependence, desire to lean on someone.

Children often do not draw tree roots because they are not visible.

My family

Children usually draw the most significant person in their lives first. The larger a person’s figure, the greater the authority he is for the baby. A child lovingly decorates such a person and pays attention to details.

If a child does not draw a picture of one of the family members, it means that he is unpleasant to him and quarrels often occur with him. A sign of reluctance is a small, sketchy figure.

If all family members hold hands, the family is friendly.

Everyone does their own thing - the family is divided.

If there are objects between people that separate them, this indicates problems in communication.

People involved in the game are a reflection of the rivalry in the family.

Raised hands of someone in the picture indicate aggression or a need for help.

Very often, children draw an imaginary family: a dad who does not live with them, a sister who is not there, a deceased relative, or even a stranger. This means that the child experiences discomfort in his family and wants to change it.

If a child draws himself the same size or even larger than adults, this indicates that he feels significant and unique.

The baby is not in the picture at all when he feels out of place in his family.

The attitude towards family members can be judged by the force of pressure. The baby will draw an unpleasant person with sharp, strong strokes, and will often erase the drawing. The baby draws his loved ones with smooth movements, decorates them in every possible way, chooses pastel or bright rich colors.

Surely each of us has scribbled something more than once during boring lectures, meetings, or while talking on the phone. We draw some curlicues, draw animals and little men and do not even suspect that they can say more about us than we know ourselves.

The fact that you can learn a lot about a person’s personality, character, and mood from drawings has been confirmed by many psychological studies. Psychologists have been using various drawing tests and techniques in their diagnostics for a long time. The meaning of reflecting a person’s inner world on paper is this: any of our thoughts, processes, ideas in the psyche ends in movement. So, our fears, unconscious desires, feelings, emotions accumulate in the form of a certain energy in the muscles, and when a pencil and paper appear in front of us, the hand itself, as it were, splashes all this onto the surface of the sheet.

The position of the drawing relative to the free space on the paper e can also say something, even if it is a small piece of a notepad page or a corner of a telephone directory. If it is located closer to the top edge, then you have very high self-esteem, but at the same time you may be dissatisfied with your position in society (at work, parties) and feel a lack of recognition from others. The picture at the bottom means that you are unsure of yourself, indecisive or uninterested in increasing your own importance. If the pictures are predominantly on the left, you are emphasizing your past experiences, focusing on past experience. The right edge of the sheet is drawn - this indicates a desire to quickly bring the events of the future closer; your life and emotions are always turned to something in the future.

If the lines of your drawings are “shaggy”, bold, then perhaps something is bothering you or you are very worried about some unresolved problem. Weak and thin “web-like” lines indicate energy savings, body fatigue and psychological exhaustion. If your drawings are rather angular, the lines are perpendicular, then this indicates some unexpressed aggression, that at the moment it is difficult for you to adapt to something or someone new. Jagged, uneven lines reveal insolence and hostility. And if the lines are smooth and rounded, then you are a soft, calm, feminine person. When you “draw” one contour for a long time, outlining a figure in one movement, this means that you require privacy, you strive for isolation from external events.

Sometimes it happens that we shade some fragment of our drawing. Short strokes mean you are an excitable person, long strokes mean you are measured and calm. The strokes are straight and clear - you are persistent and persistent, and if they are sketchy and light - you are slightly anxious and unsure of yourself. When you slowly and rhythmically shade some fragment, you are relaxed and free. Horizontal strokes mean femininity and weakness, while vertical strokes mean stubbornness and determination.

Your “I” can easily be seen in the size of your creations. The picture is large - this indicates that you have quite high self-esteem, you are expansive, prone to vanity and even arrogance. And if you strive to occupy all the free space, then perhaps, with a feeling of self-doubt, you extol your status in your imagination in a compensatory way. A small drawing means anxiety, emotional dependence and stiffness.

When you draw patterns like on wallpaper, this indicates that you are bored, tired of a telephone conversation or a lecture, or maybe even your whole lifestyle. Come up with something new, buy an interesting thing or clothes that are unusual for you, do an extravagant act - and the melancholy will go away by itself.

Build a honeycomb on paper– you strive for peace, harmony, you want to streamline your life. It is also quite likely that you are thinking about creating a family nest.

Spirals, circles or wavy lines mean that other people's problems do not concern you too much or do not interest you at all. Maybe you are even experiencing a slight emotional crisis: you are walking in a circle of your ambiguous experiences. Now you need to monitor your behavior so as not to lose your temper and lash out at others.

Squares, triangles and other geometric shapes– you have clear goals and beliefs, you almost never hide your opinion, you are always persistent and persistent. You are usually overly vigilant and cautious, so try to keep things simple.

Figure of a circle (especially one empty) symbolizes a tendency towards secrecy and isolation. You close your inner world and do not want to give information about yourself. You don’t like it when not only strangers, but also fairly close ones, meddle in your life and your affairs.

If you are constantly shading or drawing grids, then you are probably in an awkward situation or have entered into a risky business, and in such a situation you will not take the initiative into your own hands, but will agree to everything that is offered to you, endure the insult and restrain your irritation. The pattern resembles a lattice - then you feel driven into a corner or are trying to isolate yourself from such an obstacle.

When chessboards appear on your piece of paper, then, apparently, you find yourself in a very unpleasant or at least difficult situation. If such images appear frequently, then you most likely suffer from hidden complexes associated with the inability to resolve some situation or are in search of yourself, your life path, and doubt the correctness of your life.

Interweaving circles– it seems to you that you are outside of some important events, you want to take part in something, join some kind of community. But the intertwining of hearts means that you are overwhelmed with feelings and are ready to give love and warmth to the whole world. Don't hold back, and those around you will reciprocate.

All human activities bear the stamp of his personality, and to the greatest extent its features are manifested precisely in creativity. Looking at paintings at an exhibition or in an art gallery, we see not only a work of art, but also the inner world of its creator, we try to understand what exactly prompted the author to paint this or that canvas.

A drawing is nothing more than a reflection of a person’s thoughts, feelings, attitude and character; it serves as a means of penetration into a person’s spiritual space.

What does the drawing tell you?

Psychological analysis of a person’s personality based on his drawings as a method of professional psychology arose at the beginning of the 20th century. Then the first tests appeared, the purpose of which was to diagnose various aspects of personality based on a person’s drawings.

Nowadays, psychologists have no doubt about the great importance of drawing in psychology, because drawing is the most important source of knowledge about the human psyche.

Psychological “decoding” of a drawing gives a qualitative idea of ​​the personality of an adult; it is almost impossible to “fake” or predict the result, because the diagnosis and interpretation of a drawing is a complex and multi-layered process, somewhat similar to the definition.

Doctor of Psychological Sciences, Professor Elena Potemkina conducted a large-scale psychological study from 1985 to 1995. This is an analysis and interpretation of more than 100,000 drawings that were made by people of different ages and areas of activity, who were in different life circumstances and mental states.

Thus, the professor managed to create a general model for analyzing a drawing, with the help of which it becomes possible to qualitatively diagnose and interpret the characteristics of a person’s psychology and determine his character from a drawing.

The table presents general signs by which individual personality traits can be determined.

General pattern analysis model

Psychological diagnostics using drawings in psychology is called projective diagnostics. This name is explained by the fact that in psychology a drawing is an individual projection of a person’s inner world, his character and personal characteristics. Psychology calls tests based on human drawings projective tests or techniques; they are of key importance among other techniques.

There are many interesting projective techniques, such as “Family Drawing” or, which can tell a lot about the character of the creator of the drawing.

What exactly do human drawings say?

You will learn about this through the example of the interpretation of the projective technique “Self-Portrait”.

Of course, a high-quality diagnosis should be carried out by a professional psychologist using a wide range of different methods, but you and I know how interesting it can be to independently “diagnose” yourself and your loved ones, to learn something new and interesting about yourself and others. You can find many different tests on the Internet, but are you sure of their authenticity and effectiveness?

That is why we bring to your attention a complete description of the professional projective technique “Self-portrait” in the adaptation of the American researcher R. Burns with additions by E. Potemkina.

Paint your self-portrait

The test task is quite simple and sounds like this: “Take a simple pencil or pen, a sheet of paper, size 10x15, and draw on paper yourself, alone, and possibly with your family or colleagues. Your artistic ability doesn't matter."

Interpretation based on the elements of the picture:

Head

A large head speaks of a person’s great intellectual pretensions or, conversely, of dissatisfaction with the development of intelligence. A small head indicates inadequacy of judgment regarding one’s intellectual or social capabilities.

Eyes

Large eyes characterize suspicion, as well as strong dependence on public opinion. Small or closed eyes indicate increased concentration on one’s personality or a closed person.

Ears and nose

Enlarged ears indicate high sensitivity to criticism. If the nose is highlighted as a prominent accent of appearance, this indicates sexual problems. Strongly prominent nostrils are evidence of aggression.

Mouth

A prominent mouth may indicate speech problems. If the mouth is not drawn at all, then this means a negative mental state, perhaps depression, or simply lethargy in communication.

Hands

They are a symbol of human contact with society and the world as a whole. Shackled hands indicate rigidity, isolation, and increased demands on oneself. Lethargic hands indicate a person’s general ineffectiveness. Weak, fragile hands suggest lack of self-confidence. Long and strong arms, on the contrary, speak of strength and ambition. Very short arms are evidence of feelings of inadequacy.

Legs

Large feet indicate a need for security. The longer the legs, the more expressed the desire to be independent. The absence of legs suggests instability, a feeling of emptiness, a lack of foundation in life.

Interpretation by image type:

• Schematic illustration. The image in the form of general details and diagrams belongs to people of an intellectual disposition, “thinkers”, for whom general information about various phenomena plays the most important role.
• Realistic image. This is a detailed drawing of appearance, characteristic of a pedantic person, prone to deep analysis and constant clarification.
• Metaphor image. A person draws himself not as a person, but as some object, creature or phenomenon, for example, an animal, rain, a mug, a character in a film or book. This indicates developed creativity, artistic talent, developed imagination and creative abilities. Such a person has a good sense of humor.
• Portrait in the interior. A person draws himself against the backdrop of a landscape, in certain circumstances. surrounded by various objects. This speaks of extraversion, a desire to be surrounded by other people.
• Emotional portrait. A picture of yourself in a certain emotional state. This indicates high emotionality and sensitivity, and a tendency to deep self-reflection. Often a person draws the opposite emotion: he is sad, but depicts himself with a smile on his face.
• Portrait image from the back. Instead of a face, a person draws the back of his head, which speaks of internal contradiction, of a desire to demonstrate his personality. This may also indicate a reluctance to depict certain details, such as the face.
• Aesthetic image. Characteristic of people with developed artistic abilities and aesthetic taste.

A short story about “What your drawings say.”

The scribbles we unknowingly scribble during a telephone conversation or a long face-to-face meeting can reveal many of the artist's hidden motives. A carelessly drawn drawing, a word or a line outlined dozens of times is of great importance, because they are determined by our subconscious. What do the careless pen strokes that we so often create mean?

Figures of people

If you can clearly see human figures among the author’s scribbles and drawings, he probably feels insecure and helpless. Thus, the subconscious gives out attempts to escape from responsibilities. Simple straight lines, outlined repeatedly, indicate the author's emotional instability. This person longs to isolate himself from other people, and conversation is very difficult for him.

Eyes

Drawings depicting eyes reveal the inner essence of a person. If the eyes depicted on paper by the author are wide open, this indicates his openness. Squinting means observation, and closed eyes symbolize refusing the opportunity to look into your soul.

Signature

A person who, when talking with an interlocutor, writes his own signature on a piece of paper is unusually selfish, narcissistic and arrogant. If you sign an autograph without hesitation at the most crucial moment, subconsciously in solving the problem you intend to pull the blanket over yourself.

Circles and rings

Any circles connected together or placed within each other indicate the need to seek unity. On a subconscious level, the author feels that he desperately needs a new friend or increased attention from others.

Animals

Doodles and drawings that depict animals tell a lot about the current emotional component of a person. Tigers and wolves indicate hidden anger, foxes indicate cunning plans. The image of cats and squirrels characterizes the search for care and protection, lions indicate the arrogance of the author. In any case, a person tends to associate himself with a drawn animal, drawing parallels with its characteristic features.

Spirals and wavy lines

A person who carelessly draws spirals and wavy lines on paper during a conversation is in fact little concerned about the problems of those around him. If such a person is threatened with an emotional crisis, it will be associated with her own person. The author attaches too much importance to small details in life. If you recognize yourself in this person, try to keep your emotions under control. Sometimes you are unreasonably aggressive with others.

Geometric figures

A love for symmetrical geometric patterns indicates certain goals and beliefs. Such a person will never keep his opinion to himself; he is stubborn and persistent. At the same time, the author is careful and attentive.

Arrows

Many people unconsciously often depict arrows. Thus, they try to find the vector of direction for their own activities. An arrow pointing up indicates concern for other people's problems. If the vector falls down, the author focuses on his own interests. A line leading to the left indicates thoughts about the past. An arrow pointing to the right indicates a focus on the future.

Stars

If a person associates himself with a star, on a subconscious level he dreams of being the center of attention. The author enjoys the admiring glances of people and loves when passers-by turn to look at him. However, if the stars depicted have too many dots or are not depicted symmetrically, this may indicate a depressive disorder.

Flowers and natural phenomena

If you like to draw flower buds while talking, this indicates your satisfaction with the conversation. At this moment, you fantasize about good things that await you in the future. Drawings of the sun and clouds indicate the author's positive mood.

Crosses

A person who draws crosses during a conversation tends to blame himself for mistakes.

Houses and boxes

The following types of drawings reveal your pathological love of order. The author carefully plans small details and likes everything to be in its place. This man knows exactly what he wants to get out of life. Goals are set and priorities are set. Nothing can force you to deviate from your intended path.

Chess board

Recently, a person has been experiencing serious difficulties in life. On a subconscious level, he tries to cope with problems by playing a chess game. If queens and rooks are the constant heroes of drawings, a person is in search of formation.

Honeycomb

Surely the first manifestations of human creativity were drawings, not writing. Today, while talking on the phone, being at a meeting, discussing a new hobby with a friend, we often draw. These designs can be abstract, consisting of individual lines and geometric shapes. What are we drawing and what does such modern “rock painting” mean?

While studying a fairly extensive scientific and popular literature, I noticed that often, when analyzing drawings, some scientists do not consider some of the factors that are interesting from a diagnostic point of view.Firstly , for example, not everyone studies the question of whetherwhen and under what conditions was the drawing made? , what happened at the same time. It’s one thing when the image was “born” in a relaxed atmosphere, and quite another if at the same time you had to listen, for example, to instructions from your boss. This situational mood will certainly be reflected in the theme of the drawing, the force of pressure on the surface of the sheet, the sharpness of some lines, and much more.Secondly , we must take into accountwas the topic predetermined? drawing: whether something specific was depicted or simply what the subconscious dictated.

While studying psychology, I obliged myself not to use vulgar popular publications for my work. The latter may entertain the reader, but at the same time they give a clearly erroneous interpretation of the psychological characteristics of the individual. This disappoints some and pleases the morbid ambition of others. Therefore, in this article I tried to present something that is both scientifically proven and may be of interest to those interested in studying other people.

Features of “unconscious drawings”

Unconscious drawing should be consideredas a psychophysiological act , defined by a conditioned reflex system of movements, and not as an image of a specific semantic object.

Forming the skill of fairly fast, clear and at the same time harmonious drawing movements (as well as writing) is associated with the formation of a certain image in the brain. Until this motor image of movement and the drawing itself are thought out and composed, carrying out the movement will be impossible. On this occasion, the famous psychophysiologist Nikolai Bernstein noted that when training any movement, it is not the hands that are trained first, but the brain. Those who are interested in psychophysiology know thatthe formation of an imaginary image of movement entails changes in the somatic, autonomic and psychological systems of the body .

Each movement is closely related to the corresponding processes in the psyche through the levels of construction of movements of the central nervous system (so called by N. Bernstein -approx. author). These levels provide individual movements during the drawing process. The individuality of such movements determines the specificity of the image of the drawing, which, in turn, depends on the same individuality of individual character traits.

Without delving into the scientific details of the theory of the levels of structure of the nervous system, we note the following. The areas of the brain and other organs of the body assigned to these levels provide the general tonic background of the writing limb. They support the necessary working position of the body, fine motor skills of the forearm muscles, and contribute to the gradual transition of tension from some muscles involved in drawing to others. In addition to these, at first glance, purely mechanical moments that help to draw, there is an analysis and semantic assessment of what will be drawn, because the image is not only a graphic configuration, but has a certain symbolic or concrete meaning. Since this is due to the psychophysiological characteristics of the body, the drawings, being a projection of our internal experiences, show purely personal interests, problems and much more. Thus, our drawings must be considered taking into account individual psychophysiological characteristics. According to scientists Lyudmila Lebedeva, Yulia Nikonorova and Natalya Tarakanova, the psychological principle of projection is found at the basis of all types of artistic creativity. A person who creates displays or projects in this way his unconscious or hidden complexes, experiences and motives. The main mechanism of visual activity is projection. That is, what we draw consciously or automatically, while doing other work along the way, is a reflection of our individual psychological properties and worldview.

Principles for interpreting drawings

When interpreting drawings, the author’s previous emotional experience, his individuality, and possible neurotic reactions are assessed. For example, if in a simple conversation many people behave quite constrained, then in a drawing they can manifest themselves much more widely. Let us dwell on the consideration of drawings or scribbles made involuntarily during conversations with other people on the phone, at meetings in the process of thinking, etc. Such drawings, first of all, reflect the background emotional state of their author while drawing, and, consequently, the attitude to what was happening to him at that very moment or shortly before that.

Stages of interpretation

Images must be interpreted according to a certain scheme: from assessing the general appearance of the drawing to studying the details and features of the lines. Let's look at this scheme in more detail.

Evaluation of the drawing as a whole. First, the entire drawing is assessed for its integrity, harmony, aesthetic completeness, unusualness or ordinaryness. Such componentsdetermine the degree of a person’s giftedness, the development of mental abilities, the presence of taste, the level of internal culture .

Aesthetic completeness is evidence of the level of volitional development, the supply of neuropsychic energy, a person’s ability to work and the state of his nervous system as a whole. Strict adherence to the accepted canons of drawing does not demonstrate personal characteristics or indicates “average” abilities for everything. And in some cases, this indicates excessive pedantry, reluctance, and sometimes fear of change, and the manifestation of initiative.

The non-standard nature of the drawing shows the level of identity of the individual. The more noticeable the unusualness of the drawing, the more original the personality in different spheres of life. But everything is fine to a certain extent. Too unusual drawings, “encrypted” abstractions may indicate accentuation (overly pronounced mental qualities of one direction), a mental state close to pathology. Suffice it to recall the bright, incomprehensible paintings of Van Gogh, who suffered from psychopathology, Salvador Dali and some other famous artists whom society admires to this day.

Location of the drawing. The option of placing an image on a sheet of paper is psychologically associated with self-esteem and self-realization, the subjective perception of integration into the world around us.

When placing a picturein the central part of the sheet one can judge the desire and a certain ability to find a balance between one’s egoistic needs and the desires of others, the ability to find compromises, and defend one’s interests. In addition, this arrangement of the picture is evidence of a subjective feeling of security. If the drawing located in the center occupies almost the entire sheet of paper, then this indicates pronounced egocentrism, possibly aggressiveness and inflated self-esteem. The same can be said about a person posting his drawing.at the top of the sheet . This placement of the image indicates a desire to dominate and meet a high social standard. According to the above-mentioned scientists, drawings arranged in this way, related in theme to the depiction of people, often indicate a tendency to escape reality and the presence of defense mechanisms such as fantasy.

From the left sidePictures are posted by those who connect everything good in life with the past. For such people, the emotional sphere dominates. Most of them are dreamy introverts prone to inactivity.

Drawings on the right side of the sheet for the most part belong to those who have a predominant expression of the intellectual sphere, aspirations are directed towards the future. Such people are active and active. If the drawing is located in the upper right corner of the sheet, we can talk about the author’s tendency towards insubordination, unpredictability, and excessive conflict. Some scientists (Lyudmila Lebedeva, Yulia Nikonorova, Natalya Tarakanova) say that such people in extreme situations can direct aggression towards themselves. In my opinion, they may have injuries when performing activities in extreme conditions, for example, when skydiving or performing work related to urban mountaineering.

Posted at the bottom of the sheet the image shows a person with low self-esteem, who is constantly dissatisfied with himself and his life, feels dependent, oppressed and depressed. Such individuals often have depressive moods, feelings of insecurity, and sometimes increased levels of anxiety.

Emotional background of the drawing. Regardless of your own experiences, you should give it an objective assessment. For example, a smiling kind animal or a calm sea will indicate a similar state of the artist, and the wind tilting the trees to the ground, the toothy mouth of a shark, the crying sun will in no way be a sign of a peaceful attitude towards the process or event during which the drawing was created.

Drawings that express our emotions are a reflection of our internal state or situational attitude towards the time during which they were created. We can talk about a cheerful little devil as a projection of a good emotional background, a perky mood, a desire to “do something special.” A crying sun will be a sign of internal hidden or obvious frustration or resentment. In principle, it is not difficult to assess the emotional coloring of a drawing.

Analysis of individual parts of the image. If the drawing consists of multiple details, then this indicates the author’s energy, activity, and initiative. Hands or paws characterize the communicative sphere of the individual. They are typically portrayed as extroverts. The absence of arms or paws expresses problems in the sphere of communication, or simply the author’s inability to draw these parts of the body. For example, tentacles indicate courage and, possibly, enterprise, ears indicate the desire to receive and possess information. Horns express aggressive defensive aspirations. Paws, if they are stable and clear, show an attentive attitude to the basics of activity and the validity of decision-making. Weak, unconnected with the body, on the contrary, thoughtlessness of decisions, inability to be consistent. Eyes are the mirror of the soul. In a drawing of an adult, empty eye sockets drawn in the form of identical circles may indicate internal emotional emptiness, dullness, sometimes degradation, asociality and fear. Beautiful and well-drawn - a symbol of the desire to please others, to be attractive. “Dots” or “dashes” instead of eyes indicate an internal prohibition on showing emotions, possibly paranoid traits. Blackening the eyes and depicting them in dark glasses are associated with the fears of the author of the drawing, Lyudmila Lebedeva, Yulia Nikonorova, Natalya Tarakanova talk about this in the book “Encyclopedia of signs and interpretations in projective drawing and art therapy.”

Analysis of drawing lines. Next, the lines of the drawn image are evaluated: broken, sharp-angled or smooth, rounded, individual clear and neat, or multiple, randomly intersecting each other. As a rule, the features of drawing lines reflect such properties of the nervous system as its strength or weakness, inertia, dynamism. Some psychologists, analyzing the lines, associate them with the properties of a person’s temperament and say that the sharpness of the lines is evidence of a choleric temperament, and excessive smoothness - a phlegmatic one. In my opinion, such an assessment “works” when interpreting the characteristics of handwriting, but not always when studying a drawing.

In general, when depicting something, we, without realizing it, are drawing either ourselves or our inner state, or rather both. As a result, the outer lines (contours) of the central or only figure in the drawing are initially a symbolic boundary between us and the world around us, and the nature of these lines often reflects our attitude to this world, its subjective perception. For example,confident, bright and light lines indicate self-confidence to the point of self-confidence.

Uneven, unclear lines indicate fearfulness and timidity, especially clearlyunderlined and highlighted - a sign of increased self-control, the desire to hide one’s problems and experiences from others.Darkening, "smudging" - expresses increased levels of fear and anxiety.Clear, framing the image of lines drawn as if in one movement is an indicator of self-isolation from society, or the subjective perception of one’s state as isolated.Unfinishedlines, as if the author did not have enough strength to complete them - a frequent sign of an asthenic* state. Unconscious tendencies towards extreme economy of strength, the desire to conserve the remainder of psychic energy.

Pressure force.I always additionally consider such a feature of the drawing as pressure. With the help of pressure, you can evaluate the nature of the author’s external emotional and volitional manifestations. Both in handwriting and in drawingstrong pressureis characteristic of people who are emotionally active, mobile, distinguished by bright gestures and articulation. Those who draw withlight pressure, are in an emotionally depressed mood, do not like to speak in front of an audience, and are “pale” in emotional manifestations. Such weak pressure characterizes an anxious person. If these lines can be called “web-like,” then there is an asthenic, weakened state both physically and mentally, depression. A tree trunk drawn with the help of such lines indicates a person’s fear of self-affirmation and avoidance of independent actions. Foliage depicted in this way speaks of developed sensitivity, impressionability, and susceptibility to outside influence.

Impulsive, fickle In terms of force, the pressure of the drawing is the most undesirable. After all, constant, sustained pressure is evidence of a balanced character, the ability to think through your decisions. And fickle indicates nervousness, impulsiveness, excessive emotionality when making vital decisions, impetuosity, and often an inability to work systematically. If the pressure in the lines of the drawing is weak and at the same time uneven, then this may indicate uncertainty, sometimes neurasthenicness and, possibly, mental masochism. The last statement is usually confirmed if the picture as a whole is emotionally “sad” and expresses negative moods or tendencies.

Strong, but not very differentiated pressure is observed in individuals who are characterized by fixation on a problem, some experience, and a difficult transition from one type of activity to another. But such people successfully get to the bottom of certain ideas and almost never give up what they have started.

Very strong pressure on the drawing indicates that a person has a sharp rise in anxiety, probably attempts to aggressively suppress the source of fear, and great emotional tension. Broken and shaky lines drawn slowly indicate indecisiveness, self-doubt, increased levels of anxiety or even pronounced anxiety. Howeverthin and graceful lines drawn quickly and energetically are proof of the author’s confidence in what he is doing, the absence of embarrassment, and the desire to achieve the goal.

Thick lines framing the central figure of the picture indicate a tendency to impulsive behavior, sometimes thoughtlessness of actions and deeds, and some aggressiveness, including verbal. In part, this may be a desire to maintain independence from the environment, as if to preserve one’s integrity and originality. But sometimes, the desire to draw with very thick, bold lines has not entirely socially acceptable forms.

Thick lines, without strong pressure, can be found in those who like to eat delicious food and get some physical pleasures from life.

In many drawings, their authors not only depict the contours of a figure or a drawing as a whole, but also hatch, highlight some parts by blackening, in this way indicating shadows, etc. Dark tones that predominate in shading, tracing the internal space with broken lines of different lengths and directions indicate the presence of internal conflict and an increased level of anxiety. If such shading is done with strong pressure, then the author may be in a state of forced aggression towards someone.

Color drawings. A separate topic is the color of the drawing, lines or sketches, if any. As a rule, drawings that “came to light” during a telephone conversation or meeting are made in one color, whatever is at hand. Therefore, the appearance of color is in itself evidence that a person wanted to especially emphasize something. Preference for the color black indicates compensatory behavior, a desire to reject (for example, what is being discussed at the time of drawing), to show aggression, and active opposition.

White color is a symbol of purity and openness. If you mix all the colors of the rainbow, you get white. It is important to know that the attitude towards these, and some other colors, is different, for example, among Europeans and the peoples of the East. In China, white is the color of mourning, and black, on the contrary, is the color of joy and celebration. Therefore, studying the drawings of representatives of other nations requires knowledge about their archetypal and national attitude to color.

Red is the color of aggressiveness, offensive activity and sexuality, sensual passion, but also anger and violence. Sometimes the choice of this color indicates the presence of a “burning” problem, emotional tension, reaction to danger,

According to I. Goethe, the orange color of the picture creates the impression of warmth and satisfaction, as it is a shade of fire, characteristic of the setting sun.

Blue color is a projection of depth, the desire to withdraw into oneself, peace and quiet, reliability, harmony and hope. It is also the color of introspection and self-deepening.

All the same authors express the idea of ​​the association of yellow with warmth and light, the sun, which feeds life with energy. This is the color of clarity, joy and fun, openness, determination and the desire for active creation, as well as pleasure from the results of this activity. Commenting on the drawings with a predominance of yellow color, we can say that their author is an inquisitive, active person, sometimes fickle in his secondary attachments, striving for new interesting activities and hobbies. Such people easily establish contacts with others and often try to take relationships into a relaxed direction. It can also be assumed that the author has a visual-figurative, artistic type of thinking. It is quite possible that those selected by the author sent to the competitionFigures 6–9the background and color of the paper indirectly indicate the presence of the mentioned qualities and aspirations.

The same I. Goethe associated his idea of ​​harmony with the color green, believing that in it there is a reconciliation of opposites, male and female, black and white, soul and body.

When talking about the use of color, it is necessary to pay attention to the fact that green grass, red or yellow sun are natural uses of color. It’s another matter when a person with normal color perception (not colorblind) draws a black sea with a blue pencil, brown grass, etc.

Theme of the drawing.And the last thing that is evaluated and interpreted is the theme of the drawing, what is depicted in it. What we draw directly reflects our inner world and its state.

We have already talked about lines. However, I would like to add that drawing straight lines with sufficient pressure shows a certain degree of irritation towards the subject of the conversation or the person with whom it is being conducted. This is especially noticeable when the lines cross each other. A typical example isFigure 6. Such drawings are created by people who endure long enough and try to avoid conflicts, but experience them inside and sooner or later throw out all their emotions on the offender. Such an offender can be either a specific person or a job. On the other hand, such drawings are a reaction to aggression, a kind of protective, psycho-corrective technique that promotes relaxation.

Wavy lines are evidence of peace, calm, diplomacy, and the ability to find reasonable compromises in the current situation.

A drawing of the sun with a kind expression on your face indicates that you are in a good mood, full of energy, communication at the moment is enjoyable or promises good prospects.

Let's pay attention tofigure 7. It shows two faces from the front. Such an image reveals a person who knows how to communicate, who easily finds common ground with other people; a similar interpretation is outlined by Alina Lanskaya in the book “The Language of Drawing. A person’s character is in full view.” But the faces are clearly distorted, which indicates an interpersonal conflict with a loved one, dissatisfaction with oneself. The specificity of the image of eyes (glasses) is a sign of the author’s awareness of his wrongness in this conflict. Either the author is tired of frequent discussions of common mistakes in relationships, stupidity that can ruin them. The drawing also expresses a certain degree of internal anxiety and tension. Other drawings by this author speak of conflict not only interpersonal, but also within oneself.

Author Figures 1–5clearly loves to depict polygons, complementing them with ornate lines that decorate the picture. Polygons are drawn by people who are quite demanding of themselves and others, who achieve success in life not only thanks to patronage, but also to their own strength. When polygons have five, six or more angles, and are connected with decorations, then we can say that they were drawn by an emotional person who sometimes makes intuitive decisions. If such people are not raised correctly in childhood, they can be conflicting, uncompromising, and picky. Analyzing the drawings of our contestant, painted in color, we can assume that she is active and cheerful, sometimes she is overwhelmed with energy, but there is not always a person nearby who can understand and accept her wishes and aspirations.

Figures 10–11They give off as a sociable, interesting person, inquisitive, who loves to travel. Such people know how to give gifts, not only material ones, but also emotional ones. In combination with the chosen color of the drawing, we can talk about a large supply of neuropsychic energy and the sexuality of the author.

Our drawings are a treasure trove of information. Having studied unconsciously made drawings, you can “read a person” like an open book, understanding his problems and joys, states and hidden desires.

Judging by the nature of the lines and arrows (which contain numbers) in the figure, their direction in different directions from the same center, we can say that the author of this figure (rice. 1) person is sufficient, proactive and decisive . But in life prefers second roles , wanting to stay “behind the scenes.” Sketches in the form of rectangles with smoothed edges are one of the evidencesresponsible attitude to business , in particular to the one shown in numbers and letters in the figure. However, for the author, this work is already boring, or is associated with communication with unpleasant people, or insufficient appreciation of her contribution. However, there may be many reasons, but the essence is the same - something in this process causes negative emotions. A small, carefully hidden and sometimes unconscious anxiety arises, which haunts from all sides, both from leaders and from the environment. In the figure, this is manifested in careful shading, darkening with straight and broken lines of almost all corners and sides of rectangles. The author seems to be hiding in these rectangles, closing himself off from everyone. Small “spiny” hedgehogs or stars from many lines are another confirmation of this.

Despite the above, the authoran optimistic and lively person, active and attentive to work, down to the smallest detail, eager for changes that will help harmonize relationships, first of all, with himself .

The unusual configuration of the various components of the picture indicatescreativity, good level of intelligence . But the ability to create is not used for various reasons, full self-realization does not occur, which may be the cause of the already mentioned anxiety. The girl who drew this drawing is quite stubborn, always strives to finish the job she has started and achieve her goal, putting a lot of effort into achieving it. But, often, she hides her desires, grievances, and sorrows, while others take it for granted, regardless of her.

A drawing depicting a flower reaching towards the sun (rice. 2) - harmonious and holistic. It contains not only a form depicting flowers, the sun, grass, but also a unique, visually perceptible movement. Such kinesthetic features of drawings are rare. A person who is able to express them is distinguished by artistic taste, imagination, and often lives in a world of abstract ideas, as the famous German psychologist Hermann Rorschach believes. Most likely this is expresseddesire to pay more attention to the spiritual side of life, originality in relationships and at work . Based on the general assessment of the nature of the drawing, we can say thatthe creator of the drawing wants more warmth, intimacy, something that will touch the delicate strings of the soul, and not everyday routine . This warmth and attention is lacking primarily from a figure that is stronger, in the author’s subjective understanding. Perhaps this person or organization is not attentive to the artist and is to a certain extent authoritarian. If we consider the drawn sun as a source of heat, then in most cultures close to us, primarily Slavic ones, the sun personifies the male, strong, energetic half. In our case, the sun can just be a symbolic image of a person, whose warmth and understanding helps to find psychological peace and balance. For such complete balancethe author lacks emotionally warm communication, sincere understanding of emotions .

It can be said with a reasonable degree of certainty that the author is goodcopes with work that requires creativity, the ability to use associative thinking, see well and highlight the main thing . The girl probably needs it more oftenlisten to your intuition and to your dreams, peculiar clues from the unconscious. She can be receptive to inner experiences and contemplations, without which both scientific discoveries and deep feelings are impossible.

Well crafted shapes and patternsfigure 3 They say about the desire for harmony, about a calm and organized life , which does not at all indicate a desire to do nothing and sit with arms folded. But some people like constant travel, noisy entertainment and big companies, but our author would probably preferlook at the sea, the sunset and the fire in a group of close friends . She's got enoughhigh level of intelligence , but it is not fully used in everyday work. She alsocapable of long concentration of attention, has good performance, prefers quiet work , where thoughtfulness and attentiveness of activities with simple results are required. The author is a personsociable, romantic .

Figure 4, depicting a clown with wings, is interesting because its author actually painted herself and her inner state. It can be assumed, thatthe artist has a high supply of neuropsychic energy, is interested in many areas of human activity, tries to take part in as many different activities and events as possible . All this is aimed at winning a place in the sun, explainspassion for your activities .

The author expresses wellcommunication skills , communication for her means work, rest, development, and much more. Whereinshe is interested in all aspects of communication , be it a meeting with friends or a discussion of the latest interesting films and exhibitions, a one-on-one conversation. Such communication also performs a kind of protective function. The shading of the picture indicatesconstant fear . It's quite possible thisassociated with the fear of not being accepted, misunderstood or abandoned by a psychologically significant person . Therefore, in order to establish and maintain the contacts she needs,Both light coquetry and childish whims are used . Multifaceted communication gives self-confidence, and the main way she uses to maintain relationships is to be an interesting interlocutor with a lot of knowledge,the ability to present oneself , just be an interesting person.The author has a very well developed active imagination, her curiosity “fuels” the intellect, makes it possible to generate ideas, be inspired and inspire others, and be interesting to the interlocutor.

Based on the nature of the drawing and its theme, we can say that the artist still, when making vital decisions, subconsciously turns to a psychologically stronger female figure for approval. For example, to your mother, grandmother, sister, friend. On the one hand, there is nothing wrong with this, but on the other, the author finds herself in a situation of a kind of psychological prison, from which she is not allowed to leave, or she herself does not want to,afraid of responsibility for decisions made , the likelihood of a conflict occurring. Perhaps you need to win, and not beg, the respect of this person, stop being afraid of being misunderstood or not accepted, becoming yourself, stop suppressing those wonderful impulses that prevent you from living the way you want.

An artist at heart, positivelyambitious and ambitious , with desire achieve and possess . For this she is ready to work hard and well, to grow upward like her flower (rice. 5).