First-drawn pictures: a cross-cultural investigation

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Sociology
• Cross-cultural studies

Background:

• Previous research indicates potential differences in how genders perceive and represent each other.
• Understanding cross-cultural variations in sex-role expression is crucial for psychological and sociological insights.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate whether Jordanian college students exhibit a tendency to draw the opposite sex first.
• To compare findings with previous studies conducted in different cultural contexts, such as the United States.
• To explore the influence of sociocultural factors and sex-role frames on this drawing behavior.

Main Methods:

• Fifty male and female students from the University of Jordan participated in the study.
• Participants were instructed to draw a person.
• The order in which the opposite-sex or same-sex person was drawn was recorded and analyzed.

Main Results:

• A statistically significant higher number of female students drew a picture of the opposite sex first compared to male students.
• This pattern observed in Jordanian students mirrors findings previously reported for American college students.
• The results suggest a potential cross-cultural consistency in this specific drawing behavior.

Conclusions:

• The tendency for female students to draw the opposite sex first appears to be a phenomenon observed in both Jordanian and American college student populations.
• Sociocultural factors and the framework of sex roles likely play a significant role in shaping this behavior.
• Further research is recommended to explore these influences more deeply and across diverse cultural settings.