Adult’s ‘Person Picking an Apple from a Tree’ Drawings: Coherency, Reciprocity, and Attachment Styles

This study inquired into quantitative narrative aspects of 215 Person Picking an Apple from a Tree (PPAT) drawings of normative young adults. Coherency of drawings was measured by analyzing associations between the drawings’ main factors; additionally, a reciprocity score reflecting reciprocity degrees between the drawn objects, i.e., person, tree, and apples, was calculated. These aspects were examined for their relation to the participant’s attachment styles, measured by the questionnaire Experiences in Close Relationships Scale. Results show that: (a) significant positive and strong associations were found between the three main factors, reflecting a coherent visual script only in the secure attachment group; and (b) a significant main effect for attachment on reciprocity scores was found. Results are discussed in terms of attachment and projected drawings.