Psychologists use different methods in working with preschool children . Basically, all research is conducted in a playful way. But sometimes, to define certain personality characteristics, it is enough to draw something. This technique implies the Cactus technique. M. A. Panfilova is a child psychologist who is the author of this study.
What can be revealed
When carrying out this technique, the emotional and personal sphere of the child is investigated. With its help, you can determine whether the baby is subject to aggression, how intense it is and what it is aimed at. The Cactus technique is used by psychologists in working with children older than three years, because it is necessary that the baby knows how to hold a pencil and draw well.
The essence of the technique
So what is the Cactus graphical technique? For its implementation, it is necessary to prepare for each child one sheet of paper and a pencil. Ideally, the study is carried out in private with a psychologist, but in the absence of such an opportunity, the lesson can be a group one.
So, all the young participants in the study are given “tools”. Since the Cactus technique is called, then each child should draw this particular plant. Moreover, no questions should be asked to an adult, there should be no clues and explanations. The kid should depict the cactus as he imagines it. Perhaps he doesn’t quite know how he looks, but this is precisely the essence of such a study as the Cactus technique.
Additional questions
After the drawing is ready, the psychologist asks the child additional questions in order to be able to correctly interpret the results. This will help to see the whole picture more clearly. So, what questions does the Cactus technique offer? M. A. Panfilova believes that it is possible to better understand the condition of the child if you ask him the following:
- Is he a home-made cactus in the picture or wild?
- Is it possible to touch it? Is he prickly?
- Does this cactus like when it is watered and fertilized, taken care of?
- Does any other plant live next door to the cactus? If so, which one?
- What will he be when he grows up? How will its needles, processes, volume change?
Interpretation of Results
Conclusions are drawn both on the basis of the drawing and on the basis of the responses of the little test subject. At the same time, considering the image, take into account such details as:
- the force of pressure on the pencil;
- the location of the cactus on the leaf;
- image size;
- characteristics of the lines.
The “Cactus” technique allows you to identify the following qualities of a child’s personality:
1. Impulsivity. Its presence is indicated by a strong pressure on the writing instrument and dashed lines.
2. Aggressiveness. First of all, as you might guess, needles speak of it, especially if there are a lot of them. A high degree of aggressiveness takes place if they are long, stick out strongly in different directions and are located close to each other.
3. Egocentrism (otherwise - the desire to be a leader in everything). The presence of this quality in a child is evidenced by the large size of the drawing and its location in the very center of the sheet.
4. Openness, demonstration. This can be judged by some pretentiousness of the forms in the figure and protruding processes on the cactus.
5. Caution and secrecy. In the picture of a child who has such qualities, it will be possible to notice zigzags directly inside the plant or along its contour.
6. Optimism. Bright colors will tell us about it if color pencils were used in the work , or simply a “happy” cactus with a cheerful smile.
7. Anxiety. This quality is reflected in the picture in the form of broken lines, internal hatching. If colored pencils were used, then dark colors will prevail.
8. Femininity. You can talk about her if the picture has soft forms and lines, flowers and all kinds of decorations - everything that a true lady likes so much.
9. Extroversion. People with this quality are very sociable. So the cactus in an extrovert child will be surrounded by other plants.
10. Introversion. This quality has a completely opposite characteristic. Accordingly, there will be only one cactus on a leaf.
11. Craving for home protection. If the child has a sense of family community, a cactus in a flower pot, i.e., a house plant, can be depicted in the figure.
12. The feeling of loneliness. A desert, wild-growing cactus speaks of its presence.
conclusions
As we see, the “Cactus” technique allows, based on just one drawing, to draw specific conclusions about the emotional state of a preschool child. Sometimes this is very important, because not all children openly make contact with adults. If the results were not very encouraging, you need to carefully consider the strategy for further actions, so as not to frighten away the little man, but to position him close and try to help him.