Representation of complex emotional and abstract meanings by simple forms

Using curved and angular line drawings, several investigators found a relation between form and meaning in individuals reared before the age of television. In the present study 60 university students who had been exposed to television from earliest childhood were asked to indicate whether a curved or angular figure best represented each of 40 emotion or abstract concepts. For 36 of the concepts the frequencies were significantly different from a chance level, and it was concluded that television viewing had no adverse effect on the fittingness of form and meaning. Several possible explanations for the phenomenon are discussed.