Visual Experience or Translation Rules? Drawing the Human Figure by Blind and Sighted Children

Abstract

Figure drawings by 30 blind and 30 sighted children, tested under blindfold and visual conditions, were compared on positioning and drawing scores. Results showed that the majority of the blind, unlike the sighted made positioning errors, and were unaware of the correct placement rule. The older blind did not differ from the sighted on figure drawing, but the younger blind scored significantly worse. Blindfolded compared to visual conditions produced decrements mainly on cohesion and amount of detail by the sighted.

The findings suggest that drawing depends on the acquisition of translation rules for which prior visual experience is a facilitating but not a necessary condition. The absence of visual feedback during drawing seems to have detrimental effects mainly on the articulation of drawing.