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VALUES EXPRESSED IN NIGERIAN CHILDREN'S DRAWINGS *
Author(s) -
Zaidi S.M.Hafeez
Publication year - 1979
Publication title -
international journal of psychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.75
H-Index - 62
eISSN - 1464-066X
pISSN - 0020-7594
DOI - 10.1080/00207597908246728
Subject(s) - depiction , kindness , psychology , possession (linguistics) , respondent , preference , character (mathematics) , social psychology , human physical appearance , developmental psychology , gender studies , sociology , visual arts , art , philosophy , linguistics , geometry , theology , mathematics , political science , law , economics , microeconomics
Five hundred and sixty‐five human figure drawings by 8 to 11 year old Nigerian boys and girls are analyzed in terms of depiction of dress, physical features, work activities, facial expression and social roles. These drawings are assumed to project the social values of present‐day Nigerian society. The analysis indicates a dominant preference for modern dress, attachment to own‐group physical features, and choice of family relatives as subjects of the drawing. In addition, more men than women are drawn as engaged in work, and more women than men are shown with smiling faces. Reasons for drawing a particular person include kindness of the person towards the respondent, his/her wealth, qualities of character, possession of certain skills and attractive features. The results seem to indicate transition from some of Nigeria's traditional values and an attempt at readjustment in a rapidly changing society.