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Vol. V No. 9 · 12 October 2001 |
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B.U. Bridge is published by the Boston University Office of University Relations.
Ask the Bridge
What does doodling say about a person's personality? Do certain types of doodles stand out as expressions of particular traits?
"That's an interesting question," says Robert Harrison, a CAS
associate professor of psychology. "I would consider doodling as
a form of fantasy. To explore this a bit further, you can read The Inner
World of Daydreaming -- a book by Jerome L. Singer, a professor of psychology
in the Yale Child Study Center and codirector of the Yale Family Television
Research and Consultation Center."
Singer, who has written books on children's play and the developing imagination,
the creative uses of fantasy, imagery and daydream methods in psychotherapy,
and television's impact on a child's imagination, uses conscious experience
as reflected in an ongoing stream of thoughts, fantasies, daydreams, and
inner monologues to study the human personality.
"Basically, there are three types of daydreaming -- wish-fulfilling,
anxious-worried, and planning," says Harrison. "My guess is
that doodling is some mixture between sketching pleasurable (wish-fulfilling)
images and sketching horrible scenarios one would not wish on anyone.
Doodlers are probably more fastasy-prone than nondoodlers, and may differ
in their drawing abilities.
"So, doodling is an expression of current concerns, and not diagnostic
of any inborn personality trait."
"Ask the Bridge" welcomes readers' questions. E-mail bridge@bu.edu or write to "Ask the Bridge," 10 Lenox Street, Brookline, MA 02446.
12
October 2001
Boston University
Office of University Relations