Formal Elements of Art Products Indicate Aspects of Mental Health

Frontiers in Psychology

article

Ingrid Pénzes¹  Susan van Hooren¹  Ditty Dokter⁴  Giel Hutschemaekers⁶ 

[1] Department of Arts Therapies, Faculty of Health Care, Zuyd University of Applied Sciences;KenVaK Research Centre for the Arts Therapies and Psychomotricity;Faculty of Psychology, Open University of the Netherlands;Cambridge School of Creative Industries, Anglia Ruskin University, United Kingdom;Codarts University;Faculty of Social Sciences, Radboud University;Pro Persona Mental Health Care

关键词: art therapy observation;    assessment;    formal elements;    art product;    adult mental health;   

DOI  :  10.3389/fpsyg.2020.572700

学科分类：社会科学、人文和艺术（综合）

来源: Frontiers

【 摘 要 】

Formal elements are often used in art therapy assessment. The assumption is that formal elements are observable aspects of the art product that allow reliable and valid assessment of clients’ mental health. Most of the existing art therapy assessment instruments are based on clinical expertise. Therefore, it is not clear to what degree these instruments are restricted to formal elements. Other aspects might also be included, such as clinical expertise of the therapist. This raises the question of whether and how formal elements as observable aspects of the art product are related to clients’ mental health. To answer this question, four studies are presented that look at: (1) a meta-theoretical description of formal elements; (2) operationalization of these formal elements so they can be analyzed reliably in clients’ art products; (3) establishment of reliable and clinically relevant formal elements; (4) the relationship between formal elements and adult clients’ mental health. Results show that the combination of the formal elements “movement,” “dynamic,” and “contour” are significantly interrelated and related to clients’ mental health, i.e., psychopathology, psychological flexibility, experiential avoidance, and adaptability. These findings give insight in the diagnostic value of art products and how they may add to clients’ verbal expression and indicate their potential to benefit from therapy.

【 授权许可】

CC BY