Welcome to this exciting exploration of how drawing skills might be connected to intelligence! Let’s dive into a fascinating study that looks at how the way we draw as kids could say something about our smarts later on.
Researchers conducted a study with a group of four-year-old children. They asked these kids to draw a picture of a child and then scored each drawing from 0 to 12. The score was based on how many features the child included, like the head, eyes, nose, arms, ears, and legs.
For example, if a drawing had a body with arms and legs, and a head with eyes and a mouth, it might score around a six. The researchers then tested the children’s intelligence at age four and again at age fourteen. They found that kids who scored higher on their drawings at age four tended to be more intelligent at age fourteen.
This study suggests that there is a connection between how well a child can draw and their intelligence. However, it’s important to remember that drawing ability doesn’t determine intelligence. It’s just one of many factors that can be related to how smart someone is.
The researchers also looked at identical twins, who share all their genes, and fraternal twins, who share about half. They found that identical twins’ drawings were more similar to each other than those of fraternal twins. This suggests that genetics play a role in drawing ability, but it’s not the only factor. Our environment, including our parents, teachers, and friends, also influences how we develop these skills.
Drawing, like writing, is a way for us to express what’s in our minds. Both skills are linked to intelligence because they show how we understand and interpret the world around us. So, whether you’re drawing or writing, you’re using your brain in creative and intelligent ways!
Now it’s your turn! Do you enjoy drawing? Do you think your drawings say something about your intelligence? Share your thoughts and experiences with us. Remember, everyone has unique talents and ways of expressing themselves, and that’s what makes us all special!
Draw a picture of a person, including as many features as you can. Then, compare your drawing with a classmate’s. Discuss the different features you each included and what you think they might say about your observational skills and creativity.
Create a short story based on a drawing you make. Use your drawing to help illustrate the main events of your story. Share your story with the class and explain how your drawing helped you express your ideas.
Research how genetics and environment can influence skills like drawing. Create a poster that shows your findings and present it to the class. Discuss how both factors might have played a role in your own drawing abilities.
Participate in a class debate on whether drawing ability is a good indicator of intelligence. Prepare arguments for both sides and use examples from the study to support your points. Reflect on what you learned from the debate.
Choose a topic you are passionate about and create a drawing that represents your thoughts and feelings on the subject. Share your drawing with the class and explain how it reflects your understanding and perspective.
Sure! Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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This episode of DNews was proudly made possible by the all-new 2015 Subaru Legacy. It’s not just a sedan; it’s a Subaru.
Hey Tara, check out this drawing I made! It’s adorable. How old were you? I drew it this morning on my way to work.
[Music]
Oh hey guys, Tara and Trace here for DNews. If you have kids, you might think that everything they do is special and perfect, which is great! Encouraging your kids is important, but what about those drawings they bring home from school? You know, the ones that are a bit questionable?
What even is this? Is it a bird? Is it a person? Who knows! Actually, it’s Grimace from Ronald McDonald Land. Oh, that’s not too bad! I didn’t have purple, but what does this drawing say about me as a person?
According to a new study, our drawing abilities are correlated with our intelligence, which may not bode well for me.
Back to the study: a team of researchers took a group of four-year-old children and asked them to draw a picture of a child. They scored each picture on a scale of 0 to 12 based on how many features the child correctly identified—head, eyes, nose, arms, ears, legs, etc.
So my drawing, which I still maintain is a masterpiece, would score about a six because it has a body with arms and legs, and a head with eyes and a mouth.
They had the children do this drawing test and then tested their intelligence levels at age four and again at age fourteen. It turns out that the kids who had higher scores on their drawings at age four were also found to be more intelligent. This isn’t super surprising since the test was created to assess intelligence, but what is surprising is that even a decade later, the correlation between intelligence and drawing skills was still evident.
This means your ability to draw figures at age four is closely tied to how intelligent you may be at age fourteen.
Now, don’t panic if your kid isn’t a great drawer! The researchers behind the study pointed out that drawing ability doesn’t necessarily determine intelligence; they’re simply correlated, and there are many other factors to consider.
For the second part of the study, they conducted the same test on pairs of identical twins who share all of the same genes and would presumably have very similar upbringings. They found that drawings from four-year-old identical twins were more similar to each other than those from pairs of fraternal twins, who only share about half of their genes.
Clearly, there is a significant genetic component here, but what does that mean? According to the study’s author, the results don’t imply a specific drawing gene since our ability to draw is based on many different factors, including our parents, teachers, and peers.
That said, if we compare drawing ability to writing ability, it makes sense that both would be related to intelligence. At the end of the day, they are just ways for us to express what’s inside our heads, which is a clear indicator of our overall cognitive abilities.
Speaking of cognitive ability, here’s a picture I drew of my family when I was three and a half. I think I’m supposed to be the green one. That’s nice!
Technically, if we’re talking strictly features, mine would score about a six. By the way, I have no idea what’s going on with the arms in this drawing, but apparently, everyone in my family had an extreme pose!
Here’s a picture I drew of my family when I was five. As you can see, I included pretty much every feature except for the ears. So according to this test, I am a genius!
Yes, according to this test, you are a genius! What do you guys think? Obviously, you watch our show, so we know you’re intelligent, but are you a good drawer? Let us know your answers in the comments below, and as always, thank you for watching!
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the original content’s essence.
Drawing – The act of making pictures or designs using a pencil, pen, or other tools – In art class, we practiced drawing to express our emotions on paper.
Intelligence – The ability to learn, understand, and think about things – Psychologists study how intelligence can be influenced by both genetics and the environment.
Skills – The abilities or expertise needed to do something well – Developing art skills can help children express themselves more creatively.
Children – Young human beings who are not yet adults – Many psychologists focus on how children develop their thinking and social skills.
Genetics – The study of how traits are passed from parents to their offspring – Genetics can play a role in a person’s natural ability for drawing and other artistic talents.
Environment – The surroundings or conditions in which a person lives or operates – A supportive environment can encourage children to explore their creative interests.
Expression – The process of making known one’s thoughts or feelings – Art provides a powerful form of expression for those who find it hard to communicate with words.
Creative – Having the ability to make new things or think of new ideas – Being creative is important in both art and problem-solving situations.
Study – The act of learning about a subject through books, research, or observation – The study of psychology helps us understand how people think and behave.
Factors – Elements that contribute to a particular result or situation – Several factors, including practice and environment, can influence a person’s artistic abilities.
