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Abstract:
Art as projective medium was used to explore the degree to which the
projected content in the young adults' artwork reflects their personal life-
and experiential world. The young adults also had to write spontaneous
sketches about their life history in their own handwriting on unlined paper.
This was passed on to a graphologist to analyze the handwriting. The findings
of the graphologist were later used as a method of triangulation to verify the
identified themes obtained from the analysis.
Introduction
Problem Statement
During the course of their education art students are exposed to a wide
variety of life situations that they have to express by means of art. Given the
fact that artists are sensitive observers and that their artworks are discussed
in class, negative comments and criticism could possibly intensify existing
emotional problems. Therefore, people with unresolved emotional trauma
from their past, can either respond with aggression/rebellion, or become
totally withdrawn and depressed (Abraham, 1990:401). Art lecturers from a
Tertiary institution observed this tendency within their students. In addition
to negative behavioral patterns and -interactions displayed by the students, it
was also noticed that their artwork mainly contains themes of explicit
violence and sexual elements.
The question arose with the lecturers whether the observed expressions
could possibly be a reflection of personal exposure to some kind of abuse or
an indication of experienced aggression and internal conflict. The lecturers
wanted to know whether it was possible to use a more reliable method to
gain information about the art student's emotional state of well being as well
as an explanation for the violent themes expressed in their artwork. These
aspects were discussed with colleagues at a University and the following
question were formulated:
Objective
During the analysis of data, central concepts (themes) were identified and
verified by means of a literature control (Woods & Catanzaro, 1988:136;
Poggenpoel, 1994:2). The central themes were further verified by an
independent coder--a person, with a doctorate in educational psychology
with experience in the qualitative research methodology, theory generating
and model development. Copies of the transcriptions, rose drawings,
cartoons and field notes were given to him for the purpose of independent
analysis. After a discussion with him, to reach consent about the identified
concepts, the information from the graphologist were incorporated to, once
again, verify the themes/concepts found during data analysis. These central
concepts were then defined according to the combined three-step method of
Wandelt & Stewart (1983:64-65) and Wilson (1989:20-38). This implicates that
concepts are defined and clarified by making use of dictionaries, subject
related descriptions and by constructing a model case. The classification of
concepts took place according to the survey list from Dickoff, James and
Wiedenbach (1968:415-435).
Research Results
During the collection of data, it became clear that the art students used their
artwork to express personal traumatic life events and experiences. One
respondent stated the following: "I use my art as an emotional waste paper
basket" and another said: "My art is almost like a record of myself" (Loock,
1999:73)
By using art as projective media during the process of facilitative interaction,
it came to light that the respondents were victims of abuse during their
childhood years. Abuse in all its forms--physical, emotional, verbal abuse, as
well as neglect--(Bear, Schenk & Buckner, 1993:42-47), were expressed
through works of art, handwriting, interviews and spontaneous sketches. It
seemed as if these destructive exposures during childhood harmed their
self-perception and had a negative influence on their relationships and
behavior (Chaffer, 1995:23-24; Natale, 1996:16; Loock, 1999:73-75). Brendtro
& Long (1995:52) and Bear et.al (1993:42) explains this tendency due to the
fact that human behavior arises and is influenced by experiences from the
past. Epanchin & Paul (1987:18) and Thompson & Rudolph (1992:187)
confirmed that the subconscious thinking processes arises from childhood
experiences and, to a large extent, gives direction to human behavior.
According to these research results, unresolved trauma leads to barriers that
have a negative influence on relationships with others and oneself.
The two role players, the educational psychologist and the young adult, are
both presented as a whole person. This means that each consists of body,
soul and mind and functions in terms of their own internal- and external
living world (Oral Roberts University: Anna Vaughn School of Nursing,
1990:136-142).
For the purpose of this study, educational psychologist are defined as the
trained person with specific knowledge and skills to fulfill different roles and
perform the task of facilitator to guide and empower people towards insight
obtaining and promoting a lifestyle that reflects mental health (Loock,
1999:134). As a result of the educational psychologists' widespread training
and contemporary extended roles--where a person's development from birth
to death are studied and seen as domain of practice (Kriegler, 1988:87;
Sharrat, 1995:221),--facilitative interaction takes place with the young adult
by using facilitative elements like respect, acceptance, positive regard,
empathy, trust and certain communication skills.
For the purpose of the study, art as projective medium is thus described as
the creating of a situation/stimulation where an artist, or any person that has
the ability to construct a work of art, can react as freely as possible to
communicate his life world experiences and perceptions (Reber, 1998:53).
These contents, coming from his subconscious mind, can be interpreted as a
reflection of the artist's emotions, personality and behavioral patterns.
Through his art, he can get the chance to discover his own realities and
inner-world perceptions. This can help him to get acquainted with his
perceptions in order to address and overcome his problems--which can lead
to an enhanced self-esteem (Loock, 1999:131).
The second part of the working phase entails artwork analysis during the
in-depth interviews with individuals. Analysis of the rose drawing gives the
young adult the opportunity to observe the rose as a symbolic
representation of the "here-and-now" of his life and to attach personal
meaning to it. After the deeper meaning of the rose drawing is revealed, the
young adult's cartoons are also analyzed in terms the personal projection
value it consists of. The artist is allowed to explain--and discover--the
personal meaning of his work in order to come to a deeper understanding of
his subconscious world (Natale, 1996:13; Caffaro, 1995:32). Art analysis can
have a therapeutic function if the educational psychologist continuously uses
facilitative elements, providing guidance and support through emphatic
interaction with the young adult (Rogers in Moller, 1992:144). During this
process the young adult can achieve self-insight in terms of discovering the
link between current problems and the occurrences and incidents that took
place in his life. It holds the implication that he may realize that he
sometimes plays a roll in the continuation thereof--through negative
behavior and interaction. Self-insight represents those aspects that mobilize
the will-to-change.
The evaluation of the model is done according to the criteria set by Chinn
and Kramer (1991:128-138). In terms of clarity, it is important to make sure
that all major concepts are clearly defined within the frame of the specific
discipline. Consistency of explanations, terms, examples and structures
should lead to a flow of sequence in reaching conclusions.
Simplicity is reflected by the way in which the theory is structured and the
relationships of concepts are organized. A graphic design helped to simplify
the model and to indicate the relationships between concepts visually.
Generality represents the areas in which the specific model can be used. The
model, as described in this article, is found to be of such a nature that it
could be apply in a wider context by various health workers.
Empirical applicability refers to the way in which the concepts and empirical
indicators are identifiable in reality. Clear definitions of concepts and the
formulating of statements and hypothesis within a specific context, enhances
empirical applicability.
Summary
This research was conducted because of the inquiry from lecturers, who
were concerned about the fact that some art student's artwork, behavior and
interactions in general reflected a pattern of negativity--which could be an
indication of emotional problems. An educational psychological model was
developed in which do as projective media were used during a process of
facilitative interaction to address unresolved young adults experience
trauma. The success of this model was already noticeable in the
enlightenment that the participants expressed after art as projective media
were applied and they could step into facilitative interaction with the
educational psychologist. Graphology, as external triangulation, showed a
striking correspondence with the information made known by the
participants.
The evaluation of the model indicates the practical usefulness of this model
with young adults who battle with unresolved trauma due to childhood
abuse.
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LOOCK, A.C.
* MYBURGH, CPH
POGGENPOEL, M.