Examining Social Perceptions Between Arab and Jewish Children Through Human Figure Drawings

Abstract

This study examined social perceptions among 191 Arab and Jewish children who live in mixed neighborhoods in Israel. Human Figure Drawing assessment was used to examine the children's social perceptions. The drawings that the Jewish Israeli children created portrayed Arabs as the enemy, whereas the Arab Israeli children expressed a more positive perception of Jews. The Arab children's perceptions of the Arab social image were found to be less positive than the Jewish children's perceptions of the Jewish social image. Examples of the children's drawings and questionnaire responses about their drawings are presented.

Acknowledgments

Editor's Note: Tova Yedidia, PhD, chairs the clinical master's degree program at the School of Social Work, Bar-Ilan University, Ramat Gam, Israel. Rachel Lipschitz-Elchawi, PhD, is a member of the School of Social Work as well, and a social worker at the Geha Mental Health Center, Rabin Medical Center, Petah Tiqva, Israel.