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Loss of loved ones and the drawing of dead or broken branches on the HTP
Author(s) -
Bluestein Venus
Publication year - 1978
Publication title -
psychology in the schools
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.738
H-Index - 75
eISSN - 1520-6807
pISSN - 0033-3085
DOI - 10.1002/1520-6807(197807)15:3<364::aid-pits2310150310>3.0.co;2-0
Subject(s) - psychology , grief , socioeconomic status , developmental psychology , race (biology) , phenomenon , population , dead tree , demography , psychotherapist , gender studies , physics , quantum mechanics , sociology , forestry , geography
Abstract The HTP technique is commonly used in the assessment of children and adults. Theoretically, only seriously maladjusted individuals perceive the Tree drawing as dead; broken and dead branches are presumed to reflect traumatic experiences. In my clinical experience, I have found that maladjusted children, more often than the learning disabled or children who manifest behavioral disturbances, do perceive their Trees as dead. I have observed, further, that children who have lost a loved one through death frequently label a portion of the Tree as dead. This phenomenon appears unrelated to age, sex, socioeconomic status, or race Whether it is a normal occurrence within the general population or a reflection of unresolved grief is a matter for further research.