Interpretation and psychological meaning of color. What do the scribbles we unconsciously draw mean? Interpretation by image type

Many young parents know how their children love to draw. All kinds of markers, pencils, paints and crayons are used. Sometimes not only paper becomes a canvas for children's drawings, but also walls, wallpaper, a tired dad or a cat who did not have time to escape. But don’t rush to destroy and remove all the “art” of your child, try to take a closer look at them.

Sometimes a child, due to his age, cannot or does not know how to explain what worries him, what he would like. Preschool children strive to express their needs through play. Therefore, in psychology, nonverbal methods are often used to diagnose children. The most informative are drawing of a person, drawing of a family. The child communicates his needs, experiences, fears and aspirations in a playful way.

Remember, when entering school, a child is given a piece of paper and asked to draw a person. This is done not only to soften the procedure for assessing knowledge, but also to determine the level of mental development and study the personal characteristics of the child.

The norm for children 3-4 years old there is a picture of a person not completely, but only head (in the form of a circle) and limbs (stripes - dashes, extending to the sides of the head). The drawing may include eyes, mouth, nose and hair.

Beginning from 4-4.5 years old a person is depicted with a torso, but all the “elements” of the character are not interconnected, the arms are drawn from the middle of the body.

IN six years old children try to draw a man in vertical position(before this it was depicted at an angle), arms and legs gain shape and thickness(depicted by two lines), minor details appear in the picture: ears, hair, fingers, eyebrows, eyelashes, neck, clothes.

Children aged 7-9 years combine schematic(body parts are connected by straight, rough lines, as if glued) and plastic image(parts of the body are connected by smooth, rolling lines, the drawing is complete). Beginning from 10 years old, plastic elements predominate in drawings.

The first thing you should pay attention to is location of the drawing on the sheet:

– at the top of the sheet - indicates high self-esteem and the desire for high achievements;

– at the bottom of the sheet - low self-esteem;

– in the corner of the sheet– depression, low mood;

– goes beyond the edge of the sheet, Some parts of the picture don't fit– impulsiveness, acute anxiety.

An important indicator is pencil pressure:

– strong pressure indicates emotional stress, difficulty switching from one activity to another, a tendency to get stuck on specific experiences and actions;

– super strong– hyperactivity, sometimes aggressive behavior;

– weak pressure, the lines are barely visible(thread-like) – decreased activity, nervous exhaustion, low mood, shyness, lack of self-confidence;

– pressure changes– mood swings, unstable condition;

pay attention to picture size:

- much more than half a sheet indicates anxiety, hyperactivity, stress, impulsivity;

– less than half a sheet– depression, low self-esteem.

The presence of monotonous details, excessive accuracy of the drawing, an emphasized outline indicate high self-control(the desire to hide one’s experiences and problems from others).

For availability anxiety the child may indicate multiple lines, shading, frequent corrections, unfinished lines.

Dense shading of the eyes(strikethrough) or image of eyes without pupils(empty circles) indicates the presence obsessive fears.

The arms pressed tightly to the body, the angularity and thinness of the depicted figure, the sad face of the depicted character indicate isolation, unsociability, concentration on one’s experiences. About availability communication problems may testify poorly defined facial features, small hands, hands in pockets, arms crossed over the chest or hands behind the back. If the hands are drawn and emphasized, this indicates to a strong need for communication, which for various reasons is not satisfied.

Arms spread wide to the side(as if the little man wants to hug someone) and legs, the smile of the depicted character indicates sociability, self-confidence, cheerful character, absence of communication problems.

Demonstrativeness manifests itself in drawing additional details: hairstyle, outfit (inscriptions on clothes), jewelry, eyelashes. Such children love to be seen; they have a great need for attention and praise. It is they who recite poetry with great pleasure, standing on a stool, and participate in school plays. Parents need to pay more attention to such children when they behave well and react as less emotionally as possible to negative moments.

Exaggerated human head size, may indicate a particularly valuable value mental abilities for a child, a tendency to fantasize and daydream. Greatly reduced head size, on the contrary, indicates low intelligence for a child.

Excessively enlarged feet in the figure may indicate need for support and support, A reduced their image indicates weak everyday orientation of the child, about ineptitude in social contacts.

On increased aggressiveness may indicate the presence of such elements in the drawing as: special drawing of hands, fists, weapons, angry facial expression, emphasized signs of strength and courage. Image teeth and sharp elements in the figure indicates a tendency to verbal aggression(shouting, threats, curses); aggressive postures and raised hand – about the tendency to use of physical force.

When interpreting children's drawings, two main points should be taken into account: 1) based on the data in the figure, no diagnoses or conclusions can be made; this requires additional research (using reliable diagnostic methods); 2) you need to interpret not individual parts of the picture, but their connection with each other, try to put the whole picture together.

Love and take care of yourself!

Often, while listening to our interlocutor, waiting in line, sitting in class, we draw, draw, or paint something. Almost no one pays attention to this: it’s just ordinary entertainment, so it won’t be so boring. Nevertheless, drawings can say a lot about a person’s character, his preferences and condition.

Psychologists have long confirmed that you can learn a lot about a person from drawings. Everything is important here: what a person draws, and in what part his work is located, and what size and color it is. After all, our creations are symbols coming from the depths of the subconscious. People spit them out automatically when they move a pencil over paper.

Many psychologists believe that something as simple as drawing can help overcome absent-mindedness without harming the performance of the main task. By drawing, we concentrate better on boring tasks. This was proven by such a simple test. The subjects were given a speech to listen to, in which different names were mentioned. Half of the volunteers drew while listening. Another suffered without a pencil and paper. The result: those who drew remembered much more surnames - by 29 percent. So, when going to a meeting, feel free to take a pen, pencil, paper with you and get creative!

Where will we place it, how will we draw it?

The position of a drawing relative to the available space on the paper can say a lot about a person.

• If it is located closer to the top edge, this indicates high self-esteem, but at the same time it also indicates that a person may be dissatisfied with his position in society and feels a lack of recognition from others. The large size of the picture also indicates high self-esteem. This indicates that the artist is expansive, prone to vanity and arrogance. A small drawing means anxiety, emotional dependence and stiffness.
• The picture at the bottom means that the "artist" is unsure of himself, indecisive or uninterested in increasing his own importance.
• If creation is predominantly on the left, the person is focused on his past experiences, focusing on past experience. The painted right edge of the sheet speaks of a desire to quickly bring the future closer, that life and emotions are directed towards something in the future.

Are the lines of the drawings thick? The person is probably worried about something. Weak and thin “web-like” lines indicate body fatigue and psychological exhaustion.

• If the drawings are angular, the lines are perpendicular, this indicates unexpressed aggression, that at the moment it is difficult for the artist to adapt to something new. Jagged, uneven lines reveal insolence and hostility. Are the lines smooth and rounded? You are a soft, calm, feminine person.
• Three-dimensional figures, for example, indicate that their author is a multifaceted personality, capable of making unconventional decisions and performing unpredictable actions.

Quite often we shade something in a drawing. Short strokes mean that the person is excitable, long strokes mean that the person is measured and calm. The strokes are straight and clear - you are persistent and stubborn, sketchy and light - slightly anxious and unsure of yourself. Horizontal strokes are feminine and weak, while vertical strokes are stubborn and decisive. In general, if a person constantly shades something or draws grids, this indicates that he is in an awkward position or has entered into a risky business, cannot take the initiative into his own hands and is holding back irritation. The artist feels driven into a corner or tries to isolate himself from some obstacle.

Flowers, houses, names, animals

According to psychologists and graphologists, it is important not only how a person draws, but also what he depicts. Here are the most common images and what they can tell about a person.

• So, if you depict words, meticulously drawing out each letter, putting them in frames, emphasizing them, this means a lot. A word in a frame is a sign of self-affirmation and conviction that one is right; it can also mean a desire to convince everyone else of this. A word underlined with a straight and even line expresses your persistent intention, firmness of thoughts on this matter, a word underlined with a wavy line expresses sentimentality and some indecision, written with a “web”, barely noticeable, doubt.
• If you write your name over and over again, put a signature, the first letters of your name or initials, experimenting with elements of decoration, you are in a state of crisis and are not sure of the correctness of the decisions you are making. Writing your name is a way of self-affirmation, overcoming emotional or intellectual conflicts. The only advice here is to think less about problems, and more about what you have already achieved, what life has already given you.
• If you draw animals, it all depends on who is depicted and how. If it is a tiger or a wolf, aggression is hidden in you, if it is a fox, you are planning to cheat somewhere, a bunny or a squirrel - you need care and protection, a lion - you feel superior to everyone. This mechanism is similar to the allegorical meaning of animals and their characters in fairy tales, parables and children's stories. When you constantly depict the same animal, bird or bug, you most likely compare it with yourself, attribute its habits to yourself. Sometimes in such drawings the muzzles of animals resemble human faces, and the shape of their paws resembles legs and arms. This indicates infantility, emotional immaturity, because a person subconsciously places himself at a lower level of development.

Image of a person

The image of little people is a sign of helplessness or a desire to evade some responsibility. In general, if a person is depicted schematically, this indicates an unstable emotional state, a desire to close himself off and not let anyone near him.

If a “real” person is depicted, the analysis should begin with the head.

• Full face drawing - you are open to communication, the more a person “turns away”, “leave”, the more you strive to avoid external contacts.
• The head is in profile, and the body is frontal - you have anxiety caused by the social environment and the need for communication, a large head - you are guided primarily by thought, a small one - you pay little attention to intellectual work, a poorly drawn one - you show shyness and timidity.
• If you carefully draw your face, then you are very concerned about your appearance and relationships with other people; it is important for you how you are “greeted by your clothes.”
• And when you depict figures without faces or make them unclear, slightly outlined, this indicates shyness and slight timidity; it is difficult for you to have casual conversations and make acquaintances at parties.
• Closed, hidden or not drawn eyes indicate a desire to avoid unpleasant visual stimuli, a reluctance to actually see the unpleasant moments of life.

A dissatisfied, sad face indicates the same state of the painter. After all a person who draws faces thinks that he is drawing others, but in reality he is drawing himself, his inner state.

A gloomy face is dissatisfaction with oneself, grimaces express pain and confusion, a smile is happiness. Large, widely spaced eyes indicate optimism and love for life. A face with dots instead of eyes and a line of mouth - alienation (from the world, a person, oneself). If an artist depicts beautiful profiles, it means that he is interested in communication. These drawings reveal a sociable nature and love for people.

• Large ears - you are sensitive to criticism and depend on the opinions of others, too small or absent - you do not want to listen to other people's views and positions. Heavily colored hair means anxiety has settled in you; unshaded hair framing your head means you are controlled by hostile feelings.
• Large shoulders or body - you have a feeling of great strength or excessive preoccupation with power, small ones - a feeling of low value and insignificance, sloping shoulders or a stooped back - despondency, despair, guilt and lack of vital energy.
• Hands are a symbol of interpersonal relationships. If your arms are far from your body (spread to the sides), your actions are out of control, when crossed on your chest, you are hostile, behind your back or in your pockets - unwillingness to give in, to compromise, pressed against your body - you have difficulties in social contacts.
• Long legs indicate a need for independence, short legs indicate a feeling of physical or psychological awkwardness. Widely spaced legs indicate outright disdain and ignorance of the interlocutors and their actions, legs together (the person stands in line) indicates constraint in communication.
• If you suddenly "forgot" or deliberately drew a person without any body parts, this suggests that you are experiencing some feeling of rejection of this part, feel a corresponding lack in your appearance, or are unhappy with something in your partner.

Picture of dolls means that the artist is dominated by those around him, he feels that he constantly has to give in to someone, agree with other people’s decisions.

Clown or caricature express a desire to avoid their own inferiority, to hide behind a non-existent image. appeared on your sheet robot- you suffer from the control of external forces, you worry that much in life does not depend on you. Mask - you are secretive and cautious, trying to hide from the outside world.

At home

Images of a house or home furniture speak of a love for a warm homely atmosphere. Such drawings are found among single women or bachelors. However, when they are drawn by married people, this indicates a lack of warmth in the relationship. No matter how houses or household items are depicted, these drawings show the desire to find home comfort and family warmth.

• But a too clear, repeatedly outlined outline of the house indicates attempts to control one’s actions and emotions.
• A huge window will appear in the picture of a person with an open, welcoming, friendly character. A window (several windows) with shutters or bars indicates secrecy, the presence of complexes, greed, and the inability to give oneself or accept anything from others. If they are located in the middle of the facade, then this is a sign of friendliness and hospitality. And when there is also a porch, the author can be congratulated: you are very confident in yourself.
• An open door means sociability. And closed means isolation. Those who have the door on the side are not very sociable. There are people whose door covers almost the entire façade of the building. This is evidence of frivolity and unpredictability in actions. The same door simultaneously indicates your inherent generosity, sometimes even excessive.

The absence of a pipe is a sign of insensitivity. If there is a chimney, but no smoke comes out of it, this means the same thing. If smoke comes out of the chimney, the artist is generous. Bricks or other small details indicate optimism.

• Other images Stars.
• A person wants to be the center of attention; it is important for him to be bright and noticeable. But if a star has too many rays or they are depicted separately, this may indicate depression. The painter strives for peace, harmony, and wants to streamline his life. It is likely that he was thinking about creating a family nest.
• Spirals, circles, wavy lines. They mean that other people's problems are of little or no interest to the artist. Or perhaps he is experiencing a slight emotional crisis: he is walking in a circle of his experiences. Now he needs to monitor his behavior so as not to lose his temper and lash out at others.
• Labyrinths, passages. A sign that a person is in search of harmony, his life path. If the lines are inclined to the right, there is a desire to be more open, to the left - cautious. Endless designs indicate a lack of time to think about what you really want.
• Squares, triangles and other geometric shapes. The creator has clear goals and convictions, he almost never hides his opinion, and is always persistent and persistent. Usually overly vigilant and cautious.
• The figure of a circle (especially one not filled with anything). Symbolizes the tendency towards secrecy and isolation. A person closes his inner world and does not want to give information about himself, does not like it when not only strangers, but also fairly close ones meddle in his life and affairs.
• Interweaving circles. It seems to a person that he is outside of some important events, he wants to take part in something, to join some kind of community.
• Intertwining of hearts. It means being overwhelmed with feelings. I want to kiss the whole world.
• Pentagon (regular pentagon). Well-being and health. The painter feels that life is good and strives to consolidate this.
• Hexagon (regular hexagon). Beauty and harmony. The painter wants to achieve true life balance.
• Brickwork. It says that the artist is trying to focus on one important thought. If the masonry is drawn carefully, the character is methodical and consistent, the person knows exactly what he wants.
• Serrations (similar to saw teeth or mountains). They symbolize aggressiveness, which can be positive, and mean a desire to fight, or negative (anger, hostility).
• Chess fields. A symbol that a person finds himself in an unpleasant, difficult situation. If such images appear frequently, this is an indicator of hidden complexes associated with the inability to resolve some situation, or being in search of oneself, one’s path in life.
• Crosses. Feelings of guilt towards a loved one or responsibility for some problem.
• Swastika. Contrary to the ingrained associations of Russians, it denotes an auspicious and happy object - it is a symbol of happiness and light. The fact is that the Swastika is one of the most ancient symbols. It was used by many peoples of the world: it was present on weapons, everyday items, clothing, banners and coats of arms, and was used in the design of churches and houses. The swastika has many meanings. For most peoples, they were positive - it was a symbol of the movement of life, sun, light, prosperity (before the era of the overthrow of Nazism).
• Pistols or other weapons. A lot of aggression has accumulated in a person; perhaps he is very angry with someone or is angry with life.
• Flowers, leaves, sun, garlands or something similar. They say that a person has a kind nature. Such people love to help others and have a very gentle character. They have a little low self-esteem. If a flower is placed in a vase, a person tends to avoid conflicts; he needs support and nourishment. A flower with a cut stem - a person is lost in his fantasies, does not adapt well to situations, does not feel support and support.
• Tree. If a person draws a tree with a lot of leaves, it means he is sociable and outgoing. If the branches of a tree are broken, there are difficulties in the past that have left an indelible mark on the soul. A tree has no roots - it is a feeling of lack of support.
• River. The direction of flow from left to right is a focus on the future; from right to left - a lot of unfinished business in the past. The river bed is straight - clearly defined goals, the ability to achieve them. Bending in the riverbed means inability to concentrate on solving problems.
• Arrows. This is the vector by which you navigate in life. The arrow is directed upward - focus on other people, down - on yourself, to the left - look at the past, to the right - hope for the future.
• Eye. The eye is a paranoid image of control. The person drawing the eye feels that he is not independent, someone is constantly putting pressure on him, he cannot make important decisions. Very large eyes indicate vigilance and, in extreme cases, paranoia; if the eyes are very small, the person does not want to notice anything.

There are a number of general points that must be taken into account when interpreting drawings.

Regardless of the content of the drawing, extremely important and informative indicators are: manner, character, images, quality of lines. All this has the same meaning as the content of the drawings.

When analyzing drawings, it is very important to look at the whole picture as a whole and draw conclusions regarding the following characteristics.

Line quality (pressure)

Smooth, moderate pressure indicates a flexible and adaptive personality; balance, self-control, tendency to think about one’s actions. Unusually strong pressure, leaving marks on the back of the sheet, is a sign of great stress and. high energy level, manifestations of assertiveness, will, tendency to overcome resistance.

Very light, weak, superficial, abrupt lines are often characteristic of an indecisive, timid, defenseless person. This most likely indicates that the person has a lack of self-confidence and a lack of self-esteem.

In children's drawings, light pressure can. reflect restraint, limitations in personal manifestations or low level of energy.

The size of the drawing should be considered in accordance with the size of the sheet of paper.

Unusually, large drawings occupying almost the entire sheet reflect either aggressiveness or expansiveness.

Small drawings reflect feelings of humiliation, shyness, defenselessness and ineffectiveness.

Children who draw small figures are usually shy in expressing their feelings and tend to be reserved and somewhat inhibited when interacting with people. Small figures may also indicate depressive and withdrawn behavior as a result of stress.

Position of the drawing on the sheet

If the drawing occupies a central position on the sheet, this indicates a normal person who feels safe and quite prosperous. Especially if, at the same time, several more figures are depicted on the sheet and they are well balanced and proportional to each other. If the picture is located on the right side of the sheet, then this indicates that. That a person in his behavior is mainly guided by the principle of reality, whereas, if the drawing is on the left side of the sheet, there is a tendency to impulsive emotional actions. The location of the picture at the top of the sheet indicates a high level of aspirations and optimism, while if the picture is at the bottom of the sheet, then this is associated with a feeling of defenselessness, low self-esteem and a lack of self-esteem.

Orderliness of drawings

Children with good psychological organization usually draw complete pictures in which the individual parts are proportional and interconnected.

Children who are depressed or with a low intellectual level often depict unconnected figures, or figures with minimal connections.

Erasing what you've drawn

Erasure in drawings is associated with uncertainty, indecision and anxiety. As a rule, these are children with low attention levels. disinhibited, hyperactive.

The most simple images reflect our character, temperament, and mood. It is not for nothing that psychology and psychiatry have long used a pencil and a piece of paper to learn a lot about a person, his problems, and choose the right treatment strategy.

Psychology of adult drawing

Images taken by an adult may indicate troubles in personal life, work, joyful or sad mood. Particularly valuable are the sketches that a person draws on a piece of paper automatically, without thinking about what exactly she is drawing (for example, when she is sitting at a tiring meeting). The psychology of drawing is as follows:

• wavy lines predominate, objects are a sign of a crisis, serious problems, a difficult entangled situation from which it is difficult to get out. The grid or chessboard (squares) says the same thing. But the situation is not critical, there is a way out (albeit an unpleasant one);
• honeycombs mean peace of mind, tranquility;
• the drawn little men indicate that the individual really needs the support of others, and that it is difficult to overcome troubles on one’s own;
• boredom is depicted with a repeating pattern;
• the presence of “cheerful” pictures in psychology does not necessarily hint at a great mood or absence of troubles. The sun is a sign of sadness, nostalgia, lack of human warmth, joy, lack of communication;
• hearts indicate a joyful mood;
• squares like to draw consistent, purposeful, unemotional individuals who have difficulty withstanding spontaneity, living according to a clear plan;
• triangles are created full of ambition. Such persons are ready to risk a lot in order to achieve their goal;
• those who always give in and are afraid of conflicts like to draw round objects;
• intertwined circles represent those who lack movement and activity.

If a person draws solid geometric figures, psychology claims that he is an individual who has firmly decided to act in a certain way. Such people are distinguished by inner confidence and steadfastness.

Decoding children's drawings - interpretation in psychology

The simplest drawings of a child are a “window” into the child’s worldview and inner state:

• when he depicts “desert” landscapes - trees, lawns, fields, it means he experiences loneliness. The baby lacks communication with family, the baby has troubles with peers;
• a drawn house is a sign of fatigue. The baby lacks the warmth of his home;
• kind peaceful animals (cats, squirrels, ducklings) the baby draws when he is in a great mood, no problem;
• loved ones with whom the child has conflicts have a dark, brown color. The little one creates her beloved relatives with bright colors. The larger the figure of a loved one, the more significant the place, according to the baby, it is;
• if the child has depicted large dark human figures, perhaps the baby is distrustful of others (especially strangers);
• A “self-portrait” with giant ears indicates some narcissism, a desire to be ahead of others. And your own image with long arms indicates openness, open-minded thinking, a fearless desire to explore new things;
• The baby has low self-esteem if he portrays himself as short-legged.

Individual figures of people depicted as shaded or painted over mean that the child has a negative attitude towards these persons and is afraid.

Decoding drawings in psychology

The color, location of objects, size, and shape of lines will tell a lot.

1. Color of drawings
   The color of objects can say a lot:

• red hints at an unresolved conflict situation, a tense nervous state, dissatisfaction and passive aggressiveness;
• - a reflection of a wonderful optimistic mood, readiness to act;
• blue. Psychological drawings of this shade indicate inner peace, lack of doubt, and positive attitude. The school depicted in blue is a clear hint that the child does not have any problems with his peers or teachers, and he is doing well with the educational material. Blue can also be a sign of detachment from what is happening, reluctance to leave your little world;
• the prevailing gray tones indicate that there is a lack of positivity, everything is too everyday, prosaic;
• a lot of green - the person is full of hope, looking forward optimistically. This color is also preferred by independent people;
• there is a lot of pink in the drawings of lovers, happy, sensitive people;
• the predominance of gray and black is a sign of anxiety, depressed depressive mood.

Remember! An individual who likes to shade what is drawn has difficulty accepting new things and adheres to outdated views. If a person never shades anything, then she is open to change and ready to accept it.

1. Location

Psychology from a person’s drawings is read by their location. If an individual chose to place the image closer to the top of the sheet, then he is full of ambition, a desire to achieve a lot. This person strives to become a professional in his field and climb high up the career ladder.

The drawing closer to the bottom of the sheet indicates an inferiority complex. He is particularly afraid of competition and underestimates his own capabilities.

If the drawing is closer to the left edge, then the person is overcome by longing for the past. It seems to him that the best is left behind.

The image on the right means that he prefers to forget about the present, since the individual is not satisfied with today.

Remember! It's best when objects are closer to the center. Then the person is happy with the present.

1. Size

Psychology based on pictures takes into account the size of the picture. The volume of the image indicates self-esteem. If the drawing is rather large, then everything is fine with it.

A huge image is a sign of arrogance, generated by internal dissatisfaction with life, the desire for more. Small is a sign of shyness, anxiety, fear of expressing oneself.

Line shapes of psychological drawings and their meaning

Lines are another criterion by which one can judge a person’s personality:

• if the lines are intermittent, the person doubts the decisions made, the strength of his position, there is a lack of stability in the individual’s life;
• solid ones hint at a strong personality, self-confident, not doubting the decisions made;
• thin lines are a desire to go into the shadows, to make sure that they leave you alone and stop noticing. This is how those who are ashamed of their own actions in front of others draw;
• fatty ones are made by those who want attention, a positive assessment of their actions, by those who lack self-confidence.

If the lines are straight, without sharp angles or bends, then the person does not adapt well to new things, thinks too linearly, and is accustomed to following inflexible patterns.

Sharp edges are indicated by hostility, an active reluctance to put up with what is of little satisfaction. Roundness, on the contrary, speaks of a soft, flexible character, ready to make compromises.

The meaning of drawings in psychology is perceived as symbolism of the subconscious. Through the shape of the images, their color, and size, what a person has hidden deeply and securely comes out. The task of specialists is to help an individual understand the origins of problems and then find ways to solve them. Such a specialist is psychologist-hypnologist Nikita Valerievich Baturin. Also, you can watch useful videos on various psychological topics on

Many psychologists have already confirmed that our drawings can tell a lot about our personality, character and mood. It is no coincidence that in both psychology and psychiatry many diagnostic methods are associated precisely with drawings. Particular attention is paid to children's drawings. When analyzing the personality of an adult, you can use the drawings that he makes casually - we all often move a pencil on paper during telephone conversations, meetings, lectures or long waits. From this article you will learn what our drawings can tell you.

Professional psychologists can tell a lot about a person from drawings. However, the basic rules for analyzing a drawing are now available to everyone who is interested, so even deciphering a drawing yourself will help you better get to know a loved one or even yourself. Why drawing analysis in psychology so effective? There are at least two explanations for this.

• First of all, in drawings we express what we think. Since this way of dialogue with the outside world is indirect, unlike, for example, speech, drawings are less controlled by our consciousness. If, when answering questions, we pass our words through certain internal filters, then by expressing something through a drawing, we feel freer and demonstrate our true selves. For example, this can explain the arrangement of pictures and their content.
• Our muscle movements are directly reflected in the drawings. The nature of your hand movements will be reflected in the lines and dimensions of the image. You've probably noticed that our movements depend both on momentary emotions and on temperament and character. Even in the process of ordinary communication, we receive a lot of information about a person non-verbally: by observing how he gestures and how his facial expressions change. Hand movements, which can be easily judged from a drawing, can also give us an idea of ​​a person’s character and mood.

Sometimes in psychology, for diagnosis, a person is specifically asked to draw, and sometimes in the analysis, random drawings are used, which many of us do casually, if we have a pencil and paper in our hands. The second method is certainly more effective. Random drawings provide the most objective characterization, and in drawings made specifically for a psychologist, a person can try to meet expectations.

The analysis of children's drawings occupies a special place in psychology. They are in many ways easier to decipher than the drawings of adults, because children's drawings are distinguished by greater variety and a wide range of colors. If you want to learn how to interpret adult or children's drawings, you should pay attention not only to the content of the image. The location of the object on the sheet, its color and the nature of the lines are no less important.

What does the location of the picture say?

By the position of the picture one can judge the character and values ​​of a person. Adults sometimes draw casually in the margins of a notebook, on empty space in old documents, or on small scraps of paper. However, even in this case, you can pay attention to how a person uses the available space for his drawing.

• A drawing located closer to the top edge of the sheet indicates high self-esteem and determination. For this type of people, the main priority in life is self-realization and the desire for success. Such people love the competitive process and strive to be the best in any business. They are often also quite passionate and have leadership qualities.
• Accordingly, the drawing located at the bottom of the sheet indicates that the person has fairly low self-esteem, he does not feel in demand and is not interested in fighting for championship.
• The images on the left speak of conservatism and nostalgia. This person is immersed in his memories, and the past serves as a guide for him.
• If a person draws something on the right, this, on the contrary, means that he is focused on the future. This means that a person expects positive changes, but the current state of affairs does not suit him. It is worth noting that these analysis rules are specific to each culture. For example, movements from left to right are characteristic of our writing, so conclusions can be drawn from the drawings by analogy.

• The location of the picture either on the left or on the right can be associated with a certain degree of dissatisfaction with life. Usually those people who are uncomfortable in the present look to the past or the future. Therefore, the most harmonious place for a drawing is the center of the sheet.

What does the size of the picture indicate?

The size of the drawing on the sheet is usually associated with a person’s self-esteem. Of course, you should consider the size in relation to the entire space of the sheet if space is limited.

• Large drawings indicate high self-esteem. If the drawing is excessively large and looks unnatural, this may indicate arrogance and vanity, the underlying cause of which, on the contrary, is lack of self-confidence.
• Particular uncertainty is evidenced by drawings that strive to take up all the space on the sheet. This is due to the psychological mechanism of compensation: if a person cannot establish himself in his place in life, mentally he strives to take all the best, to take up as much space as possible. Usually such people are extroverts who, for one reason or another, cannot sufficiently realize themselves in society. This is reflected in the drawings.
• Introverts tend to draw small images and leave a lot of empty space around them. Psychologists interpret unreasonably small drawings as constriction, stiffness, fear and anxiety. Such people are emotionally closed, feel discomfort in the outside world, are embarrassed about themselves or do not trust their environment.

Color drawings in psychology

For the most part, children's drawings are analyzed using this parameter. Adults usually make drawings casually with the pencil that is at hand. The only thing that can be interpreted in adult drawings is the presence or absence of shading. In children's drawings, color is of great importance for psychologists.

• Green color can indicate independence, self-sufficiency and stubbornness. This color is used by children who want to assert themselves.
• Yellow patterns indicate that a person feels comfortable.
• Blue signifies concern and self-absorption. Blue drawings are made in moments of thinking about the past or in attempts to solve a problem.
• Purple color indicates developed imagination.
• Red color indicates the need to throw out accumulated energy. This color is often used by hyperactive children. Red can also serve as a signal of hidden aggression.
• Gray indicates boredom and lack of positive emotions.
• The color brown denotes subconscious protest. A child who often uses brown paint is dissatisfied with any situation, feels anxious and uncomfortable.
• Black is associated with depression. Such drawings indicate that the child is highly concentrated on his problem and lacks positive experiences.
• In casual drawings by adults, densely shaded figures can mean closedness, a feeling of being contained. Often such drawings indicate a person’s creative crisis.
• If a person never shades his images, this indicates his willingness to perceive new things and accept change.

What do the lines in the picture say?

The lines a person makes can tell you a lot about his character. These lines can be solid or broken, rounded or with sharp corners. Using the lines in the drawing, you can easily decipher even images made by adults casually. This method is equally suitable for analyzing children's and adult drawings.

• Solid lines indicate emotional stability, flexibility and confidence. Such people are usually calm and confident that they will cope with all the difficulties that arise.
• Broken lines, on the contrary, indicate uncertainty and instability.
• Bold lines may indicate a person’s desire to stand out and establish himself. With such lines we can try to compensate for internal uncertainty, the desire to be noticed and appreciated.
• Deliberately thin lines, when a person barely presses the pencil and barely touches the paper, indicate a desire to avoid attention and communication, and a need for privacy. Similar lines can also appear if a person experiences shame and guilt.

• Strictly geometric designs, where all angles are right and all lines are perpendicular or parallel to each other, can mean hidden aggression. Also, such lines speak of conservatism and difficulties in adapting to new things.
• Clearly expressed aggression and hostility can be determined by the abundance of sharp corners in the picture.
• Rounded lines and soft curves indicate the softness and flexibility of a person. Typically, such designs are found in women more often than in men.
• Narrow and miniature figures speak of enslavement, the desire to adhere to the rules and not go beyond the limits.
• Large three-dimensional figures indicate that a person has a broad outlook and is emotionally open.

What do the painted objects say?

Of course, special attention should be paid to what exactly is drawn. Based on what objects a person depicts, you can tell a lot about him.

• Living objects, which include animals or people, indicate a lack of communication and a need for social contact. Also, such images may indicate a difficult problem in a person’s life, which he is afraid to solve alone.
• Empty landscapes depicting nature without people indicate difficulties in communicating and understanding other people's feelings or thoughts.
• Repeating standard simple patterns, such as flowers, clouds, trees or stars, speaks of emotional closeness and an attempt to hide one's true feelings.
• Subject drawings depicting people or animals in motion reveal an active and active nature.

Psychology of adult drawing

Drawings by adults, made casually, can be no less diverse than children's. By what exactly is drawn, one can largely judge a person’s personality. Let's consider the most popular versions of images among adults and their significance in psychology.

• Wavy lines and spirals may indicate that a person is in a difficult situation and is trying to overcome a crisis. Such drawings indicate hopelessness and appear if a person is confused about something.
• The grid indicates that a person feels in an unpleasant, vulnerable position.
• Often people draw the sun or flowers in between times. Unfortunately, the meaning of such drawings is not at all as obvious as it seems. Drawings of flowers in psychology, like drawings of the sun, they most often express sadness and the need for attention and communication.
• Joy can be expressed in drawings with hearts.
• Repeating patterns indicate boredom.
• If a person draws people, it means that he wants to shift responsibility to someone else and avoid work. It may also indicate a need for help and support.
• Drawing of a house in psychology means fatigue, hostility of a person towards the outside world and a desire to relax in an environment favorable for this.
• Chess is usually drawn by people who find themselves in an ambiguous and difficult situation, when they do not know what decision to make.
• A honeycomb drawn by an adult speaks of harmony and tranquility.
• If a person draws geometric figures, this may indicate the firmness of his convictions and confidence in his decision.

Psychology of children's drawings

You can interpret the most frequently encountered drawings yourself - in any drawing there are always several basic criteria by which you can judge the child’s temperament and emotional state. What do children's drawings mean in psychology?

• Landscapes with a forest, lawn or street without people in children can signal loneliness and communication problems. If a child draws deserted landscapes, most likely his relationships with peers are not going well.
• A drawing of a house, just like in adults, speaks of fatigue and the need for comfort and relaxation surrounded by loved ones.
• Drawings of monsters can indicate internal tension, fear and discomfort. Often such images reflect popular childhood fears.
• Attention should be paid to the drawing of the family. Family drawing in psychology children demonstrate well how they see their family. If the family is depicted in its entirety and in bright colors, it means that things are going well and the child is comfortable. If the child does not portray someone, it is worth thinking about - perhaps this person is missing in the child’s life, he pays little attention to the child. Black and brown colors in the image of a family speak of the problems and negativity that the child feels. Also, for young children, the largest figure will mean the head of the family in a child’s understanding.
• Tree drawing in psychology means the desire for knowledge and development. However, how exactly the tree is drawn is also important. In the nursery psychology there are tests based on drawings- one of these tests is that the child is asked to draw a tree. By the presence or absence of roots, one can judge how deeply the child is accustomed to thinking. A curvature of the trunk or an unusually shaped trunk indicates stress, dissatisfaction and discomfort. You can easily evaluate the crown of a tree by the lines of which it consists - whether the lines are rounded or with pointed corners, thin or bold, solid or broken.
• In psychology, animal drawings are considered a good sign - they indicate the child’s calmness and joy.
• Interpretations of a person’s drawing are given a special place in psychology - this is especially interesting when working with children. If a child draws another person, this often indicates a lack of communication. It is also worth paying attention to whether a specific person or a certain collective image is drawn. If a person is drawn in dark colors and unnaturally large, perhaps the child has a fear of people.
• If a child draws himself, this indicates a need for self-knowledge and self-expression. Children's drawings are often not very proportional; you can also tell a lot from the small details of the image. For example, large ears indicate boldness and a desire to stand out, short legs indicate low self-esteem, and long arms indicate that the child is always ready to try new things.

In psychology based on the drawing of a person you can say a lot about his personal characteristics and his mood at a particular moment. By observing your own drawings, you can make sure that the rules for their interpretation work. Of course, when assessing a person, you should not rely entirely on the analysis of his drawings, but some images in which one or another motif can be clearly seen can help you get to know the person a little better.

Video: “What do our drawings say?”