Cultural influence on directional tendencies in children’s drawing

• Published in: Laterality (Hove) Vol. 22; no. 5; pp. 621 - 640
• Main Authors: Portex, Marine, Foulin, Jean-Noel, Troadec, Bertrand
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Taylor & Francis 12.12.2016
• Subjects: Humanities and Social Sciences; Psychology; Drawing directionality; Asymmetry of space perception; Cultural embodiment; Print experience; Drawing development
• ISSN: 1357-650X; 1464-0678
• DOI: 10.1080/1357650x.2016.1266363

The present study was aimed at investigating how print experience as a cultural factor influences directional tendencies in children’s drawing in the interplay with biomechanical (hand), syntactic (shape orientation) and semantic (shape meaning) factors. Eighty-eight right-handed children from three literacy/age groups (preliterate, first graders and third graders) had to copy a geometrical shape adapted from the Rey–Osterrieth complex figure. The shape was presented alternatively leftward and rightward, while using both dominant (right) and non-dominant (left) hands. Directional tendencies were assessed regarding directionality of drawing movements at global, intermediate and local levels and deviation error in centre line bisection. Results show a global improvement of drawing quality and strategies across groups and an advantage for the dominant right hand from 6 years onward. Regarding directional tendencies, a reinforcement of a congruency effect between conditions and writing direction was found from preliterates to third graders. These results are discussed as a cultural embodiment process and have implications for psychological testing.