"Drawing a mind map" is a simple and very effective technique to understand internal emotional make up of any individual. Internal emotional make up can be characterised by positive and negative traits/ values owned by the person. Characteristics such as being observant, confident, honest, trustworthiness, cool, concerned, committed, patience, conscience, sensible, empathy, emotional, irritating, egoist, anguish, doubtful, etc. can be easily gauged through the image drawn by a person in a designed setting. The activity can be conducted in groups or individually. I am using this technique since last 11 years as part of my training programme on "stress management". Participants are asked to draw a picture of their own choice in given time. They use crayons, pens, pencils and draw a picture. I analyse the pictures and indicate three strengths and three areas of improvement.
I use following to take a decision on the image drawn;'
1. Subject chosen
2. Proportion and linkages of objects
4. Colours and their integration.
5. Pressure used by the participant to draw the image
6. Relevance to life
7. Creativity and logic used
8. Finishing of the image
9. Detailing of individual objects in image and their inter-relationship
10. Total message conveyed in nutshell
I found the technique quite intresting as it involves serious researching into an image. I could found as many as 80 characteristics in the image. The images shown here have feedback of the participants as well.This technique can be used to help children in finding behavioural, cognitive and emotional problems. Children tend to lie to hide their problems, but images do tell the exact mental and emotional frame of that child. This technique can also be used to diagnose career orientation of the children.
