Monochrome Males and Colorful Females

Do Gender and Age Influence the Color and Content of Drawings

Bibliographic Data

ID3406748
AuthorsLynn Wright, L L Wright (Abertay University), Fiona Black, Fiona A Black (Abertay University)
Year2013
Volume3
Issue4
Publication date2013-01-01
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueSAGE Open (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 2158-2440 • E-ISSN: 2158-2440
PublisherSAGE Publications Inc (PUBLISHER)
DOI10.1177/2158244013509254
OpenAlexW2153731278
LanguageEN
Citations received4
References cited21

Influences of educational level and gender were examined through free drawings. A total of 216 participants were recruited ranging from nursery school to university students. Using an adaptation of Turgeon's methodology, participants were given a standardized set of colored pens and asked to draw a picture. Pictures were analyzed for the area of the page covered, colors used, number of colors used, and content. Overall, females covered more of the page, and used more colors than males. Females drew significantly more sky, flowers/trees and buildings (in most cases houses), and males drew more people and vehicles. In relation to educational level, nursery children used fewer colors than the other groups and secondary school children used more colors than primary school children. It was concluded that gender differences in content, and color, of drawings exist and these differences remain stable into adulthood. Results are discussed in terms of social and evolutionary theory

Colored · Developmental psychology · Mathematics education · Monochrome · Sociology · Animal and Plant Science Education · Color perception and design · Computer Science · Demography · Evolutionary Psychology and Human Behavior · Psychology