the assessment of the distinctive indicators in "self-figure drawings" of three groups of children with internalizing problems, externalizing problems, and normal children

abstract introduction: the purpose of present project was to examine the distinctive indicators in self-figure drawings in three groups of children with internalizing problems, those with externalizing problems, and the normal children. method: a total of 4000 child behavior checklist were administered in 34 boys and girls elementary schools in six different tehran school districts .using a purposeful sampling method n= 90 students (30 in each group) were selected and individual self-figure drawings were collected and interpreted using the indicators chart. results: a chi square analysis reflected significant differences between three groups. the internalizing group showed the higher rate for 11indicators such as :drawing by the edge or down the page, drawing no hair, drawing the trunk in the shape of a square, while the externalizing group showed the higher rate for 11 indicators such as :drawing big head, accentuated hair, arms like arrows and downward. conclusions: the observed indicators in internalizing group corresponds low self-steam and inhibition, whereas those of externalizing group corresponds self-valuation and centralization of self