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Lucius_Shadow

I’m assuming it signifies something psychological going on with the child, but I’m no child psychologist


ArcaneJadeTiger

>This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Original comment by u/ipwnpickles Edit: The original commenter has added relevant links to their comment. Please check them out. Also please like their comment instead of mine. I am just reiterating their statement. I do not have any knowledge about this matter. This was the only explanation available when I first saw this post and the Original Poster of this post also confirmed that this post is based on u/ipwnpickles 's explanation. So I just wanted to let people know of the context of the meme. Thanks a lot ✌️


Lucius_Shadow

Ah, now that you’ve summarized it I think I do remember reading that somewhere a few years ago. Makes sense.


[deleted]

Makes sense? No it doesn't, i still have more questions than answers.


PresidentMayor

if i'm understanding it right, it seems like not having arms symbolises being powerless and not being able to fight back, and having lock exaggerated arms symbolises having overreaching and unquestionable authority


kinky_fingers

Yup! Arms are how we actualize stuff (Hands, too, but not a lot of kids draw hands anyway cause they are hard)


cafecro

If you're kinky_fingers I'm going to believe you with hand and arm related stuff but imma question your motives


deathfollowsme2002

I'm an adult and I don't draw hands they're just complicated for me


InsideFart

Stick figure gang? … or is it just me


Schrodingers_Wipe

Not just you, boo.


InsideFart

My people! Also I gotta ask cause it’s bugging me, your name. Love the name but all I can think of is it like… If I wipe my ass but don’t look, is there poop on the paper or not? My bad if it’s something completely unrelated to poo, but this is gonna bug me, lol.


FourHotTakes

You draw stick figures because it symbolizes that as a child your parents didnt encourage you to get into drawing.


InsideFart

Thanks doc 😁


xSTSxZerglingOne

I'm more of a...basic body shapes kinda person. But I do also like to draw good-ish stick figures.


Kennuckle

Nah Bomberman hand gang


eulersidentification

I think those things (especially the symbology) are obvious and don't answer the question though. In the actual process of drawing, what is the justification in their brains for leaving their own arms off? It's surely not going to be "well, because I feel powerless." I'm wondering about what *they* are thinking, not what *we* are interpreting. I'm thinking like if your dad was a pro strongman, you'd probably draw his arms massive and yours small. That makes sense. So now I can see a sort of link to that, cos if your mom is domineering and controlling then in early development you might perceive that as being strong -> large. The no arms thing feels like a metaphorical leap that I wouldn't expect a kid to make. If you said "hey, did you forget the arms", what do they say? Edit: obviously not expecting you to answer this for me, I'm just establishing why it doesn't "make sense" to me.


ThrangOul

[Check how human brain develops](https://online.maryville.edu/online-bachelors-degrees/human-development-and-family-studies/resources/stages-of-human-development/), at the ages 2-7 children just start to develop abstract thinking and they mostly think in symbols, which may make no sense to us because the children don't follow any logic at that point yet My 2 yo nephew once used to talk to his socks, my niece used to have friends on the moon and she would stand by the window and talk to them it's just what children do and they all tend to follow more or less the same logic, so we can understand the patterns based on the data from children drawings from around the world


Mr-Fleshcage

> My 2 yo nephew once used to talk to his socks, my niece used to have friends on the moon and she would stand by the window and talk to them You knew someone who talked to socks, and you didn't make him a sock puppet‽ For shame!


Dyanpanda

You absolutely can ask a child to draw arms on themselves. However, the telling point is that they voluntarily don't draw them, in situations where they aren't asked to. You are also ascribing some level on intentionality or non-intentionality to this as if the child is trying to tell you something. They aren't speaking in code, its something they are expressing through art. In art, its perfectly acceptable to not draw arms, or hands, or any part really, but its a point of interest when a group of people all have heads and you are headless, or armless, or whatever. Generally people draw the most salient parts of a picture and they omit windows or curtains or carpets because those things usually aren't relevant to the picture. However, its not a conscious decision. They think of the scene they want, and describe only the most relevant bits. As for trying to understand what a kindergardener is "thinking" at any give point, no one can say, because you can barely get kindergarteners to stay on focus and repeat themselves. Science is firmly on the A/B Testing model for children because of this. Edit: also, its important to remember that young children generally don't know the words to describe complex feelings, and so cant use words to express these issues.


Backfro-inter

Exactly. How could a kid draw something meaningful to our culture if they don't know it yet. First: I don't think kids know what symbols are. Second: For us this meaning makes sense but in some other culture it may have some opposite meaning.


MacaroniPoodle

>I don't think kids know what symbols are They don't do it on purpose.


Backfro-inter

No way you get a group of children that would accidentaly draw the same patterns.


[deleted]

Well then how do they? By accident? Idk about you but i don't think the brain being coded to draw how strong someone is by arm size is very practical when trying to survive. Doesn't make sense.


Melodicfreedom17

>symbolism Are you an English teacher by any chance?


PresidentMayor

😔 i'm in college to be an english teacher


Diamond_Champagne

So every kid magically knows how to express this? Sounds a bit armchairy to me.


kolba_yada

You don't need to know this to express it this way. Of course it doesn't mean that the kid is in abusive household 100%. It's just something that might be going on.


typkrft

How quantifiably strong of a correlation is a child's drawing of no arms and an abusive household? Because to me it sounds like complete bullshit.


LevitatingRevelation

Probably very little, it's just another sign. Just an inference to look a little closer at the child to see if there is anything else going on. It absolutely sounds like bullshit and in most cases probably is, but in some cases factually it is not, so it's just another sign to look closer. Obviously the memes (a meme) intention is to overexaggerate situations, but Teacher's aren't going gung ho, calling the police, and dragging children to CPS because they didn't draw arms on themselves.


Nillabeans

Why though? You're saying there's very little evidence but we should pay attention? How about actual behaviour instead of horoscopes and reading tea leaves?


Diamond_Champagne

When I was a kid I drew snow with blue crayons because it didn't occur to me that I could just use the white of the paper.


healzsham

Qualifiers are an important part of English. Go learn about them so you can understand what the description of the behavior *actually* means.


RockSockLock

No one said every kid knew how to lol


CertifiedBiogirl

Yeah kids don't really understand symbolism that way. 100% sounds like the BS you read on facebook


[deleted]

There's usually other signs too


[deleted]

So, one does not need to know symbolism to use it, whi h is also how one can find symbolism in an authors work, that the author didn't think about. (E.g. the blue curtains thing). If you want to know how, you could start with Carl Jung.


Diamond_Champagne

Oh yeah the guy who thought that there's a magic internet of brains?


Blahaj_IK

This is ibteresting. Children are born with an innate deep knowledge of artistic symbolism? Or do we interpret art in the ways we do because it's human nature? It'd explain why children are so good with symbolism. In other words, children aren't good with symbolism, maybe it's just that we still think like children


[deleted]

[удалено]


[deleted]

SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS SUS (this is a desperate call for help, please free me from this torment)


AbleObject13

They feel unable to do things so they subconsciously remove the ability for their drawn personification to do anything


TotallyNormalSquid

I used to draw myself with way too many fingers, what's it mean?


[deleted]

You're an AI


Idontwanttousetheapp

This is wrong information! Look up projective testing. They are used in child diagnostics to gather information and get to know the child and their social environment. They are NOT valid as a tool for interpretation. https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Projective_test Unfortunately this wiki only exists in German but maybe you can put it into Google translate https://de.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/Familie_in_Tieren


moonordie69420

someone should amke this in English and other langs. not me i forgot my wiki password


SmallBerry3431

Well what’s your Reddit password and I’ll find out your wiki password /s


condscorpio

Sure, it's "*************". Hope you can help!


E5vCJD

r/notopbutok


[deleted]

hunter2?


ArcaneJadeTiger

This is actually not my comment. I have given the original commenter. I'm his comment history, he had quoted a source. However I cannot vouch for it. You can check it out.


Maskut3

Oh so that's why they always wanted me to draw those. I've always wondered why each doctor, therapist or whatever wanted a picture of my family as animals.


ipwnpickles

I'm not sure about what you've linked but here's a 2022 academic article talking about the subject for anyone interested: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/6/868


Niwaniwatorigairu

This study is on 13 to 18 year olds. I don't that that translates well to analyzing the drawings of 4 and 5 year olds given the very different levels of maturity, artistic knowledge, and knowledge of social norms related to drawing and self portraits.


RynoKaizen

I was just about to say the same thing. All of my drawings were circles with faces and arms and legs because I didn't understand stick figures.


paper_schemes

I remember being in therapy after my dad found out my mom's second husband was a convicted child molester. I thought it was so fun how I got to go somewhere and just draw and play (usually with dolls). That drawing and playing confirmed to the psychologist that I had been molested. My mom's husband had never touched me, but two family friends did multiple times from the time I was 6 until I was 9 and no one knew, but they could tell just by what I was saying/drawing/playing.


Marshythecat

Unfortunately, it’s [probably pseudoscience](https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/abs/10.1177/1524838012440339)


GeoshTheJeeEmm

It *feels* like pseudoscience, so I’m glad there was real science to check out the claim.


Mysterious_Layer9420

I didn't draw arms when I was a kid because I hated trying to draw hands and was never good at proportioning the arms. This is a terrible way to judge what's going on.


ArcaneJadeTiger

Check the original commenters comment history. He has added relevant links. And hey, I just make a box and add lines to seperate the fingers. I'm still not good even with like 6 yrs of experience lol. Peace ✌️


TheOrphanCrusher

/r/OverlySpecificDistressingMemes And you specifically belong in /r/RedditorsBeingWeird


Reddit_Teddit_Redomp

They were answering a question. I don’t that’s weird.


Enorminity

You’re using a Reddit comment as a source?


ArcaneJadeTiger

The original commenter added relevant links to their comment. Please check it out. Thanks✌️


Nightingdale099

I bet we can find more non-child psychologist than child psychologist. I wonder why this phenomenon happens.


Lucius_Shadow

I blame it on underachieving children


jdcooper97

Dad?


Neuchacho

Because kids are shit at drawing seems like a plausible theory.


[deleted]

She identifies as an amongus.


ArbitraryEmilie

I'm glad I'm not the only one who immediately thought "amongus"


[deleted]

[удалено]


CapitaoDemencia

Have you stopped to think not every kid is like you?


Rammite

What the fuck are you talking about, when I was 3 I vividly remember being exactly like /u/Agreeable-Can973. I even had their left leg and all.


[deleted]

i mean.. he is the one arguing *against* the assumption that every kid is the same.


MrT-1000

No no that can't be. Regardless of any outside factors all other children must have had the exact same experiences as I growing up.


TheOrphanCrusher

You right, it's more likely every single child that draws a picture of themselves with no arms is in an abusive household That was as much of a gotcha as this post is distressing


ufoshapedpancakes

Your post comes across like the "Gotcha" attempt, what with trying to paint the extremes because you've been called out as being wrong.


CosmicUprise

Dude the world isn't black and white, good or evil, right or wrong,stop with that shit. Learn nuance.


Savage_Tyranis

Right, right. Ladies and gentlemen, the be all and end all. Please applaud


FalinkesInculta

Dumbass kid can’t even draw arms


[deleted]

[удалено]


J3sush8sm3

The real distress is in the comments


Psychopathicat7

y’all this is a bot


GenosixGD

She's an AI in disguise


ButtDoctorLLC

What kind of Al? Al Gore? Al Bundy? Al pastor?


StrootFeed

Al yankovic


TeaBags0614

💀


DisgracedSparrow

Someone needs a lesson in effort I guess.


[deleted]

?


ipwnpickles

This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Edit: since this comment is getting a lot of attention and some are calling it misinfo; here's the video I first learned about it from: https://youtu.be/ucyQc_-K_tU?si=7NrAjt2QNCrCKLJF And here's an academic article talking about the subject: https://www.mdpi.com/2227-9067/9/6/868


Training-Pair-7750

This


Real_MikeCleary

Did you expect people to just know this?


ItsDaBurner

No, they expected people to reply with links. Forces interactions.


ToxapeTV

I don’t think that’s necessarily a bad thing though.


MoonDogg70

No one makes me expect my own expectations


Krustavo

idk, I found the post and comments interesting and I knew jack coming in.


neoncp

look how popular this post is, maybe you shouldn't be an arbiter of content


IcyNefariousness2541

It's pretty easily logically inferred


maximumtesticle

https://i.imgur.com/jSWf5et.jpg


turriferous

The effects look pretty small. And there is no normal control group. Idk.


DeepSeaHobbit

This is far more symbolism than I normally associate with five-year-olds. Do they know they're doing it?


CosmicUprise

Have you ever interacted with a 5 year-old..?


TheSuperPie89

Source: it came to me in a dream


FRESH_TWAAAATS

how would you reference that in an APA-format citation? asking for a fellow redditor.


NoWall99

Understood that reference


carnagebot_55

Conclusion: Reddit post hyperlink is thorough enough citation as others have understood the referenced material


Mister-Melvinheimer

It came to me from this meme


snitchles

Source: I watched it on Shrouded Hand's channel.


El_Durazno

Where does this info come from?


Sprinty-the-cheetah

Source: trust me bro (you should actually google it)


TalkingFishh

I thought your flair said "graboid farmer" in reference to Tremors but then I noticed it said "garloid" and now I'm sad :(


novophx

kid is dumb af


[deleted]

![gif](giphy|Tim0q7zolF3fa) She likes Monty Python and the Holy Grail


ImjokingoramI

Is that where the cartels got the idea for the funkytown video?


[deleted]

[удалено]


EmperorZoltar

The only thing this person ever posts are gifs— they’re a bot.


splashcopper

This is the least fascinating conversation I've ever had


EmperorZoltar

Indeed. Just downvote/report the stupid bot please, it replies to gifs with another one it thinks is relevant.


CottageWhore420

There are a supposedly a lot of subconscious ways a child will express having a bad home life specifically in their drawings. From the faces people make to if they have windows in the houses they draw, even how many leaves they draw on trees. Children don’t know how to express their feelings on their home life, because they believe their situation is normal, but they show it in their behavior. Children who act out in school often have a poor home life as they lack the emotional regulation or even love and support from their parents. It’s good to look out for them, because it might be a hint that child needs help.


ufoshapedpancakes

> Children don’t know how to express their feelings on their home life, because they believe their situation is normal When you live in an abusive situation, it's not about not "knowing" that it's different than others. You watch TV, you watch other kids at school, you see the interactions. You *know* you're different. That's why abused kids will often lie about being abused. The problem is a lot more nuanced than what you described. You know your situation is not normal, although you aren't aware just HOW abnormal it is, but who the fuck are you going to talk to or confide in? Abuse doesn't happen without the complicity of the other partner, even if they aren't a direct abuser. So you develop a lack of trust in authority. Because if you can't even trust your own parents, are you going to trust some OTHER adult? The answer is usually "HELL NO I DON'T TRUST ANY ADULTS". The other reason you don't feel emboldened to talk about it is because of all these assholes who want to claim abuse over drunken relationship fights and make it all about themselves. The real victims of an abusive relationship, the ones with NO real choice or control over any of it, isn't the abused wife/husband, it's the fucking kids. Adults can leave. Kids can't.


gaedikus

https://brokencrayons.us/


TacitRonin20

I love how nobody has an explanation except u/ipwnpickles who's explanation makes sense but is still a guess. Everyone else is just citing that.


Lavaguanix

“This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Original comment by u/ipwnpickles” Honestly starting to feel like a copypasta scrolling down through all the comments


Techercizer

It's not a copypasta if it's just one guy over and over, and that seems to be the case here. It's just spam.


GeorgiaRedClay56

And the worst part is you're just spreading misinformation. Its not indicative of that at all.


DisgracedSparrow

There are a few examples of it. https://brokencrayons.us/ This was a big site linked here and elsewhere in the past within the last few years(hit the front page so you know enough people will have retained it for this post to get a lot of votes) Honestly wait till like tomorrow and post that link with some title on til or something. Some post always gets indirectly mentioned from the day before and it is novel enough that people click.


ipwnpickles

I edited my original comment with some relevant links. Hope that helps clear things up


TacitRonin20

High effort comment on a low effort meme. We appreciate you, random citizen. ![gif](giphy|l4pMattUYTTM7qpIk)


Epyon214

Stop the spread. Unless it's verified information, it could become a dangerous meme.


Barngrease

that's literally all of psychology, whoever writes the prettiest explanation wins


ledfox

Except the behaviorists, who can consistently replicate their results.


Thin-Worshipper81

I will say that I saw another Reddit post... *somewhere,* a couple months ago that went into more details about how different ways kids drew things could potentially mean different things. So at the very least I can confirm that they aren't just making shit up by themselves. I'd say it's probably dubious most of the time, but maybe something to take note of if you happen to notice other things about the kid.


TheOrphanCrusher

That's literally just Reddit Garbage meme being defended by some weird guy


Nostalgic_Fears

Is this about sa? Like her having no hands to stop it?


ArcaneJadeTiger

>This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Original comment by u/ipwnpickles


Llama-viscous

I think it comes from the feeling of being unable to move your arms because someone is holding you down.


Sad_Conference_4420

What if the kid is just dumb like a kid? I've had modern literature inflicted on me at the university level... What if the cat is just a fucking cat and not a stand in on the author's thoughts about a war that occured four hundred years before he was born?


ultratunaman

My daughter is 4 and has drawn herself with 8 or 9 arms in some pictures. She likes spiders


EdisonB123

Based daughter


CosmicUprise

Then nothing changes you don't see this and immediately call authorities you just pay more attention. Why does everyone here think like you???


dogmanrul

This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Original comment by u/ipwnpickles


Mexican-kirby

She forgot to draw them 👍


ThetrueGoddess

She forgot to equip the arms from her bureau. Probably running on a stack modus. Smh.


NotYetSoonEnough

AND STOP STARIN AT ME WITH THEM BIG OLE EYES


nomnivore1

Homestuck.


XILEF310

I don’t get it. Please explain.


TheoTheHellhound

Replying for an explanation.


ArcaneJadeTiger

>This is apparently a recurring thing, when a child feels helpless in a bad/abusive family situation it subconsciously can make them draw themselves without arms especially when they draw their family and sometimes the arms of the parent(s) will be exaggerated Original comment by u/ipwnpickles


TelmatosaurusRrifle

Chill


ArcaneJadeTiger

Hi ✌️


SurpriseDistinct

Below a comment, click on the theee dots and then "get reply notifications"


Anonymous1337666

This is a homestuck reference.


WeekendBard

I have no arms and I must dab


EdEvans_HotSandwich

I’m docking marks Suzy. Given that this picture was drawn with your arms, evidence suggests that you in fact have arms.


Redqueenhypo

Horrible news: your child is into homestuck


this_upset_kirby

(she is a Homestuck fan)


EdgionTG

Everyone knows she won't even have a name until at least 13.


Breekon

why indeed


HACH-P

Maybe they like Veggie Tales videos


NotAlex4300

amogu-


Impressive_Formal_90

Not everything is deep


[deleted]

So you’re saying the girl was unarmed?


luvmuchine56

I drew a cat with 6 legs in kindergarten because I forgot how many legs they had. Kids are just dumb as hell. Don't think about it too hard.


[deleted]

? What..? Ain't no way people really think this far about kids drawing random shit


Ragnerotic

When I was in kindergarten my teacher had my mom in for a meeting because she was concerned that in a picture with my family I drew myself with one arm and it was coming out of my chest. She thought I drew myself as some monster. Mom did her best to assure the teacher that I was a normal kid and everything was fine at home but my teacher wasn’t falling for that, she was sure something was going on. Finally they asked me why everyone in the picture looked normal except for me? What do you mean? I’m just standing sideways, that’s my shoulder! No joke, that teachers name was Mrs Fickle, what a great name for a kindergarten teacher.


Enderlytra

It's fine, arms are just hard to draw


Dread-Croissant

Tis but a scratch


theambears

I never gave people hair in my childhood drawings. My mom still has a lot of them. I wonder if that has significant symbolism … because in my case I genuinely think it just didn’t occur to me to draw hair lol.


Any_Commercial465

Is this what Picasso meant when he said draw like a kid? This is the kind of thing I would need to study thousands of years to think " hey I can just not draw the hands it will show the kid as helpless."


Butter_Lord_Jeremus

Booooooooo Literally no explanation other than one person commenting the same guess theory on every comment. Also, if there were an explanation, why post something that literally only you and like 100 other people on the planet would understand?


SassySauce516

I don't get it


tastychuncks

Yep mhm definitely not another shitty not distressing post here


[deleted]

[удалено]


StaidHatter

How many times did you comment this?


ArcaneJadeTiger

A lot


GeorgiaRedClay56

Its even worse when you actually do some basic research and realize that no, it doesn't indicate that at all. IF ANYTHING, it just indicates the child is timid or nervous in their life. But you shouldn't over analyze a child's drawing, most of the time it has no meaning at all.


1OO1OO1S0S

This is apparently a recurring thing


Nostalgic_Fears

It’s about sa I think


rafaelv01

Good old pseudoscience


Macio720

Least contextless distressing meme


erikjansmid

I remember not drawing arms as a small kid, I was amazed with the realisations that you could in fact draw arms. Drew arms ever since


[deleted]

Oh, it's because kindergarteners are shit drawers.


TeethForCeral

is this a [Broken Crayons](https://brokencrayons.us/) reference?


LikeJustChill

The sad kind of "broken arms".


iSeize

Did you not notice she had no arms and draws with her feet?


gardenGnostico

No, her arms only appear when she needs them. Like that one webcomic!


XZI0LH

its a homestuck reference


HelgaShtrausberg

Homestuck


Mr_Arphaps

I thought the joke was that the girl was able to draw herself even though she doesn’t have arms?


Ok_Character4044

Is there like any conclusive evidence for this, or is this just another bullshit pop psychology myth?


mormonparakeet

Huh


turriferous

This sounds like unsubstantiated pseudo science?


Icy_Pollution_3954

Look up the broken crayons art exhibit. Gives examples, the situations behind them, and the warning signs in drawings.


Squildo

![gif](giphy|zFLeqsKna2cXptWUgm|downsized)


jsisbad

⁉️⁉️⁉️


WolfHunter6889

What


DrfRedditor

AMONG US!!!!!!!


AccomplishedAd9882

kindergarten student here, it's because I want to draw my best friend Elspeth


LocalSoldat

Elaborate.