HFD

Koppitz
Emotional
Indicators

ELIZABETH MUSTERBERG KOPPITZ, PHD

 HFD
The HFD can be administered as a group test or as an individual test.
Individual test administration is preferable, since it enables child to be
observed by the examiner.
When administering the test the examiner should seat the child
comfortably at an uncluttered table or desk and should present him with a
blank sheet of A-4 size paper and pencil with an eraser. The examiner than
tells the child: (Instructions)

“ On this piece of paper , I would like you to draw a whole person, it can
be any kind of a person you want to draw, just make sure that it is a
whole person and not a stick figure or a cartoon figure”
38 potential Emotional Indicators are as follows:

 1. Quality Signs:
Broken or sketchy lines
Poor integration of parts of figure
Shading of the face or its parts
Shading of the body and/or limbs
Gross asymmetry of limbs
Figure standing by 15 degrees or more
Tiny figure, 2" or less in height
Big figure, 9" or more in height
transparencies

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2. The Special Features:

 Tiny head, 1/10th of total height of figure

 Large head, as large or large than body
 Vacant eyes, circles without pupils
 Side glances of both eyes, both eyes turned to
one side
 Crossed eyes, both eyes turned inward
 Teeth
 Short arms, not long enough to reach waistline

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 2. cont…

Long arms, that could reach below knee line

Arms clinging to sides of body
Big hands, as big as face
Hands cutoff, arms without hands and fingers
Hands hidden behind back or in pockets
Legs pressed back or in pockets
Legs pressed together

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Cont…

Genitals
Monster or ghost like figure
Three or more figures spontaneously drawn
Figure cutoff by the edge of paper
Baseline, grass, figure on edge of paper
Sun or moon
Clouds, rain, snow or flying birds

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3. Omissions:

• Omission of eyes
• Omission of nose
• Omission of mouth
• Omission of arms
• Omission of legs
• Omission of feet
• Omission of neck

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1. Poor Integration of Parts of Figure
• Instability, a poorly integrated personality, poor coordination or
impulsivity, indicates immaturity on the part of the child which may be
due to developmental lag, neurological impairment, or regression due to
serious emotional disturbance.
• This sign was not found to be a valid Emotional Indicator for children Boys
before age 7 & Girls before age 6.
2. Shading of Face
• Reflects anxiety specially to that particular part
• Shading of entire face reflects anxiety, poor self concept. Partial
shading of face reflects specific anxiety about those features that are
shaded or about their functions. Mouth shaded may indicate speech
problems
• Problems in communication
• May also related to guilt
3. Shading of body and/or limbs
• Shaded arms correspond to guilt feelings, aggressive impulses or
masturbatory activities. Shaded legs may indicate anxiety about size
and physical growth or concern about sexual impulses.
• This item is not a valid indicator until age 8 for girls and 9 for boys.
4. Shading of hands and/or neck
• Hands that are shaded reflect guilt about stealing and specific anxiety
over some real or imagined activity. Shading of neck may hint at rigid
control over impulsive behaviors or struggles to control impulses.
• Not come under a valid emotional indicator until age 7 for girls and 8
for boys.
5. Gross asymmetry of limbs
• Asymmetry suggests poor coordination and impulsiveness related
problem, history of neurological malfunctioning. It can reflect the
feeling of not being well coordinated and out of balance, Physical
awkward feelings, physical inadequacy, and a confusion of lateral
dominance.
6. Figure slanting by 15 degrees or
more
 Brain injured
 Aggressive
 Shy
 Psychosomatic complaints
 Stealing behavior
 General inability and a sense of lack of balance
 Feelings of mental imbalance
 Lack of sense of secure footing
 You are going to fall down
7. Tiny Figure
• Shy
• Not overtly aggressive
• Extreme withdrawal
2 inches or less than 2
• Insecurity
• Depression
• Low self esteem
8. big figure 9” or more in height
 Aggressive
 Stealing tendency
 Expansiveness
 Immaturity
 Poor inner controls
 Feelings of narcissism
 Paranoid delusions of grandiosity
 Psychopathic tendencies
 Not a clinically significant until age 8 for boys and girls.
 9. Transparencies
• Stealing behavior (relating with impulse control)
• Overtly aggressive
• Immaturity
• Impulsivity • Presence of belly button
• Acting out behavior • Presence of nipples
• Making internal organs
• Area Particular transparency
• Anxiety and concern relating to that area
• Poor judgment
• Transparency of toes from within the show
• Pathological aggressiveness
10. Tiny head
• Intense feelings of intellectual inadequacy
• Obsessive-compulsive individuals’ wish to control their thoughts and
desire to indulge in the compulsions/impulses

Total height x 1/10

11. Crossed eyes
• Hostile towards others
• Rebellious and angry
• Not willing to look at world

• It suggests hostility and it is interpreted as a reflection of rebellion

and anger. When a child draws a figure with crossed eyes, he seems
to signify that things are out of focus for him, he does not view the
world in the same manner as others do so they cannot or doesn’t
wish to conform to the expected ways of behavior.
12. teeth
• Overtly aggressive and sadistic tendencies.
13. Short arms
• Psychosomatic complaints
• Shy
If on arm is long and other is short
• Difficulty reaching toward others it’s the indicator
• Withdrawn
• Inhibitions of impulses
• Timid
• Lack of aggression
14. Long arms
• Overtly aggressive
• Aggressively reaching out
• Need for acquisition, striving for love and affection
 15. Arms clinging to the side of the
body

• Rigid inner control

• Difficulty reaching out toward others
• Poor interpersonal relationships; withdrawal tendencies
• Lack of flexibility
• Tendency for reserve and withdrawal, deep seated conflict and brittle
control. It is found in passive and very defensive individuals.
•
16. Big hands
• Overly aggressive
• Acting-out behaviors involving hands
• Feelings of physical and/or emotional inadequacy
• Difficulty making contact with others
• Guilt over the use of hands
17.Hands cut off (arms without hands or
fingers)
• Feelings of inadequacy
• guilt over failure to act correctly
• inability to act at all or perform
• Feeling of guilt over stealing or lack of achievement
• Castration anxiety
 18. Legs pressed together
• Psychosomatic complaints
• Tenseness
• Rigid attempt to control sexual impulses
• Concern over sexual attack by others
• Rejection of sexual approach by others
19. genitals
• Poor impulse control
• Acute body anxiety
• Serious indicator of psychopathology
20. Monsters or grotesque figures
• Intense feelings of failure
• Very poor self-concept
• Perception of being different from others
• Feelings of not being able to fit in
• self directed disapproval and hostility
21. Three or more figures spontaneously
drawn
• Lacking in feelings of identity
• Being complete or whole person in their own right
• Feelings of inadequacy
22. Clouds, rain, snow
• Very anxious individuals
• Psychosomatic complaints
• Self-directed anger
• Inward aggression (can’t strike out at others)
• Under pressure from above
23.Omission of eyes
• Clinically significant indicator
• Socially isolated
• Denial of problems
• Refusal to face the world, escape into fantasy
• Poor social interest
24. Omission of nose
• Psychosomatic complaints
• Shy
• Withdrawn behavior
• Lack of overt aggression
• Masturbation guilt
• Castration anxiety
• Symbol of forward striving and independence
• Feeling of immobility and helplessness
• Lack of self-assurance
25. Omission of mouth
• Psychosomatic complaints
• Anxiety
• Insecurity
• Withdrawal
• Passive resistance
• Inability or refusal to communicate with others
• Fear, perfectionism and depression
26. Omission of body
• Mental retardation
• Immaturity due to developmental delay
• Emotional disturbance
• Body anxiety
• Castration fear
27. Omission of arms
• Anxiety
• Guilt over usage of arms in socially undesirable activities
• Guilt over hostility or sexuality
• Depression/withdrawn
28. Omission of legs
• Intense anxiety and insecurity
29. Omission of feet
• Insecurity
• Helplessness
30. Omission of neck
• Poor impulse control
• Illogical
• Poor coordination skills
Non valid emotional indicators
• 31. big head
• 32. Vacant eye or nonseeing eyes
• 33. sideway glance of both eyes
• 34. hidden hands
• 35. figure cut off by the edge of the paper
• 36. baseline or grass
• 37. the sun or moon
• 38. broken or sketchy lines