Interpretation of Koch’s Baum Test { The Tree-Drawing Test - Our inner mirror }

The drawing generally is a language that expresses a lot about the personality of the individual.

Like many other projective techniques, and drawing tests began by analyzing symbolic bill psychoanalytic, works of art.

The tree was chosen as sample drawing in a projective test that is an element of the busy nature of meanings.

The tree is a symbol of verticality, of wealth, a living entity that develops, grows and dies, like a human being.

Even the components tree - roots, trunk, crown - are very expressive and can easily be related to the physical life of man.

For example, the root refers to what is unknown, hidden underground - unseen side, connected to the pulse.

The tree is a kind of mirror of the human being.

If you don`t know about the history of Baum test click here to read an old post of mine that contains the full information.

Test tree has two main facets diagnoses - one projective and one metric to assess the level of mental development.

What do we project in drawing a tree?

First, self-image, how we perceive with our inner conflicts, aspirations and our fears.
Secondly, often our energy and dynamic designs.

Also, in a tree is projected the worldview about the relationships a person has.

The first step is getting a general interpretation , overall, the tree drawing - an intuitive image.

You can ask questions such as: is beautiful or ugly? harmonious or disharmonious? schematically and rich in details? contains elements drawn realistically or absurd, naive, unrealistic? It is static or dynamic? drew ordered or chaotic? cheerful or morbid?

Eventually, Koch recommends a kind of "Talk project" shaft - for example, we can ask: "How is this tree?"

Initial the impression can quickly show some trends of the subject: the energy organization in thinking, today`s attitude to the world, psychological sophistication and so on.

Step two consists of analysis features graphics (drawing lines).

Soft lines, deleted, flabby show lack of energy, tone, sometimes depression.

Streaks, tease, small lines detached from the body trunk or crown indicate nervousness, irritation, sometimes trouble concentrating.

Sharp lines, this angle, especially in drawing crown indicates aggression.

The next step is itself a symbolic interpretation.

The first issue concerned is the symbolism of space.

Interest where on the page is placed tree, and his size and orientation.

There are two intersecting coordinates: one up-down direction, the other in the left-right direction.

The top of the page suggests consciousness aspirations of the subject, his desire for affirmation and personal development.

The bottom is the space of regression, the unconscious, a humble space, close to the ground.

People who draw in the bottom of the page often have a sense of personal failure, helplessness, inferiority complexes.

When the tree is drawn on top and especially lacks ground line, it indicates a person "air" without desire or ability insertion in reality, living more in the world of "daydream".

The left area of the page is the space maternal past refolding space itself, nostalgia, passivity, viewer attitude.

So a tree placed or skewed to the left indicates a retractable attitude, caution, fear of the world.

The right side is the relationship with the world, the confrontation with others; space pattern.

Most trees do not handle the extreme one of four directions, but are in the middle, with a certain tendency toward the top, bottom, left or right, as a result, are more difficult to interpret.

But the symbolism of space is present in any drawing.

There are few people who think they know themselves very well, but actually discover something with this test.

This test even reveals aspects of your child's personality and reveals the current state of intellectual development of the child.

We can identify certain personality traits: self-confidence, extroversion, aspirations, skills, interpersonal skills, valuing self, optimism.

The child will draw with a simple pencil on a sheet . The drawing must be free, spontaneous, made without haste and without guidance from parents.

If you are someone who is always looking to grow, if you are passionate about psychology and if you want to understand what's going on in your mind I propose this old test - for almost a century - that can reveal unsuspected things about you.