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Human Figure Drawing Test (HFDT) is a reliable and valid projective assessment tool; has potential to elicit information regarding cognition, feelings and overall personality of an individual. There is considerable diversity in the standardization of HFDT in forensic setting, and also absence of Indian study in this context. This paper intends to highlight the applicability of the test in forensic setting. Mr. A, 25 yrs old male, working as domestic help, was arrested for murder of his landlady and five children. He was referred for forensic psychological evaluation as he confessed the crime. The projective profile of HFDT on cognition, feeling and personality are discussed in the context of forensic investigation.
Key Words: Human Figure Drawing Test, Crime Investigation, Forensic Psychology
Forensic psychological evaluations require the multiple sources of data for formulating opinions and drawing conclusions. Projective tests are one of the sources which truly provide a window into an individual's hidden or implicit personality that would be of en ormous value in forensic setting (Skeem et al., 2009). The Human Figure Drawing Test (HFDT) is the pioneering work of Karen Machover and others during 1940s. The HFDT is based on deep rooted projective analytic theory. Projective analytic theory is based on the assumption that deep and often unconscious feelings and motives may be accessed through various means of self-exploration (Machover, 1949). The HFDT involves both qualitative as well as quantitative analysis to interpret which provides information about individual's cognitions, feelings, and emotions expressed in a subtle manner.
The administration, scoring, and norms of Human Figure drawings are already been established by Mitchell et al. (1993) and have been used on different clinical population. Permissibility of HFDT in forensic setting is evaluated in crime investigations for understanding and analyzing the suspected person's behavior. Analysis revealed that there is considerable diversity in the standardization of administration and scoring of human figure drawings (Lally, 2001). However, there is dearth of Indian studies on the utility of this test in forensic investigation. Keeping the above facts in view, the present case study is a sincere attempt to see the power of this test.
Case Report:
The case Mr. A, 25 yrs old male, working as a domestic servant, was arrested for brutally killing his 35...