The Anthropomorphized Emotional Profile of a (Un) Healthy Tooth

  • Maria do Rosario Dias Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Samir Ahmad Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Helcília Dias dos Santos Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Maria Calejo Pires Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Ana Ferreira Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Valter Alves Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
  • Ana Delgado Egas Moniz-Cooperativa de Ensino Superior, CRL, Monte de Caparica, Portugal
Keywords: Oral health, Mental and Pictorial Representation, Caries, Anthropomorphized Drawings, (Un) Healthy Teeth

Abstract

Drawing as a projective technique allows the access to the child's intrapsychic experiences. Notoriously, the use of drawings has been known as a referential research instrument in qualitative Health studies. Objectives: This exploratory study aims at understanding the mental representation of the concept of a healthy tooth and of an unhealthy tooth, through anthropomorphized drawings made by children, aged 6-12 years. Methods: The sample consisted of 150 children of both genders who attended at least one dental appointment at a University Dental Clinic of a metropolitan urban area. Drawings that showed anthropomorphized teeth (n = 300) were selected to perform the content analysis of the anthropomorphized features. Results: There is a clear variation in the level of anthropomorphizing of teeth according to age and gender. Conclusion: The results point to an increase in subject’s mental representation of reality in drawings in accordance to subject’s age, most significantly from 10 years onwards.

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Published
2020-09-29
How to Cite
Dias, M. do R., Ahmad, S., Santos, H. D. dos, Pires, M. C., Ferreira, A., Alves, V., & Delgado, A. (2020). The Anthropomorphized Emotional Profile of a (Un) Healthy Tooth. European Scientific Journal, ESJ, 16(26), 1. https://doi.org/10.19044/esj.2020.v16n26p1
Section
ESJ Humanities