Using the AVPT With German University Students to Establish a Norminative Base for Visual Construct Preferences
Graduation Date
Spring 2000
Document Type
Master's Thesis
Document Form
Degree Name
Master of Arts in Marriage and Family Therapy
Degree Granting Institution
Notre Dame de Namur University
Program Name
Art Therapy
Dean
Elaine L. Cohen, EdD
First Reader
Richard Carolan, EdD, ATR-BC
Second Reader
Doris Arrington, EdD, ATR-BC
Abstract
This research study explored the visual construct preferences of young male and female German adults, using the Arrington Visual Preference Test (AVPT). The AVPT is a pre-existing Jungian based test, developed to identify the visual construct preferences of individuals or groups. Eighteen female and fifteen male university students participated in the study. Results showed that both male and female students chose symbols categorized as transformation most often in the most-preferred category. In the least preferred category, constructs classified as masculine were chosen most often. Symbolic preferences and non-preferences are discussed in correlation with gender and the German culture. Limitations of this study and recommendations for further research are also included. This research was designed to begin to establish baseline information regarding normal populations in a cross-cultural context.