Abstract

DE FELICE, Eliana Marcello. The human figure drawing as the representation of the maternity experience. Aletheia [online]. 2010, n.32, pp. 104-120. ISSN 1413-0394.

This article presents the results of the Human Figure Drawing test applied in women during the puerperium period. It was introduced a modification on the Machover´s technique, in a way that all women drew a child and an adult. The drawings were analyzed regarding order, sex and age of the images, and by individual aspects related to the maternal experience. The results revealed the projection of psychological aspects associated to the puerperium period, as ambivalence, regression, identification with the baby and with the new maternal role. The projection, on the child, of the mother´s expectations and desires was observed by the drawings portraiting a child; and the meaning of the maternal and paternal figures of the mother, beyond the husband, was revealed by the drawings representing adults. It was observed, in some cases, the individual characteristics of the mother´s personality that influenced on the maternal experience and on the mother-child relationship.

Keywords : Maternity; Human figure drawing; Mother-child relationship.

        · abstract in Portuguese     · text in Portuguese     · Portuguese ( pdf )