Drawing Conclusions--Or Not-From Drawings

Abstract

Riethmiller and Handler (this issue) critiqued our article on drawing indices and emotional distress (Joiner, Schmidt, & Barnett, 1996). On several counts, we find their points unconvincing. Specifically, we reject the possibilities that our null results are explained by (a) the distinction between self-attributed and implicit motives, (b) measurement error, and (c) curvilinear relations between variables. Furthermore, we document, using Riethmiller and Handler's own data, that previous research on drawings, construed by Riethmiller and Handler as supportive, actually undermines the validity of drawings as indices of emotional distress.