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Determining the indicators of aggression using the Clay Create A Person
Thesis

Determining the indicators of aggression using the Clay Create A Person

Heather A. Barnaby
Master of Arts (M.A.), Allegheny University of the Health Sciences
May 1998
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.17918/etd-1153
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Barnaby_Heather_19986.01 MB
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Abstract

Adolescent behavior Aggressiveness in children Art therapy Violence
The purpose of this pilot study is to explore a method of assessment and predictability of potential aggression in adolescents with histories of violent behavior. The assessment piloted in the study is the Clay Create A Person technique developed by this author. The rationale for the study is based upon the necessity to develop methods to assess, manage and treat adolescents with psychiatric or behavior disorders within the contemporary healthcare structure. The foundation for the study is based in art therapy theory, which combines the concepts of content and media. The content refers to the psychological literature reviewed, which reflects research on the known graphic indicators in such projective tests as the "Draw a Person". The media refers to the experimental element of this research, which is based upon the more kinesthetic or aggressive nature evoked in the clay media. This study was initially planned with a N of 10 however due to difficulties with subject availability the resulting N was 3. The design of the study is therefore a naturalistic or case study model. The three adolescents participated in the art process and an interview using the Overt Aggression Scale-Modified (OAS-M). The art productions from these subjects were then rated by 4 registered art therapy therapists for the presence or absence of researched indicators in the psychological and art therapy literature. The results of these ratings were compared with the results of the OAS-M utilizing a correlational method. Results appear to support the need for continued research in the area of utilizing three-dimensional material in a screening technique for possible aggressive behaviors in adolescents. There appeared to be a high inter-rater reliability within the four registered art therapy raters. Results concerning raters spontaneous observed aggressive indicators in a three-dimensional screening tool vs. two-dimensional screening tool seemed to prove significant. Suggestions for future research include further testing of the formulated indicators, which the raters deemed as present, with a larger subject pool. This particular study utilized subjects, which were known to be aggressive in order to gain information concerning the validity of the aggressive indicators. In future research, it would be important to test the Clay Create A Person technique on a subject pool with "unknown" histories of acting-out aggressive behaviors, as a means to develop a more applicable technique.

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