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VOL. 2, ISSUE 1 (2026)
Symbolic echoes of conflict: Archetypal patterns in projective drawing of traumatized children in civil war-torn Myanmar
Authors
Kok Hwee Chia, Madeline Foong Yee Wong, Gideon Kap Cin Thang
Abstract
Projective drawings are widely used in trauma-informed child assessment
as non-verbal pathways into internal emotional states, particularly in contexts
where verbal expression is limited. This paper synthesizes archetypal patterns
observed in drawings by three children exposed to civil unrest in Myanmar,
including the Fragmented Self, Hypervigilant Watcher, Absent Figure, Fortress,
Aggressor, Displaced Journey, Silent Landscape, Protector Figure, Chaotic
Scene, and Frozen Moment. Drawing on principles from Dialogic-Diagnostic Arts
Therapies and Traumatized Behavioral Therapy (incorporating Trauma Psychology),
the paper situates ten key archetypes within trauma responses, such as
dissociation, hyperarousal, grief, and resilience. Emphasis is placed on
culturally responsive and ethically grounded interpretation, cautioning against
over-pathologizing imagery that may reflect lived realities of conflict,
particularly within the context of the Myanmar civil war. The paper advocates
for integrative assessment approaches combining visual analysis with narrative
elicitation and developmental understanding.
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Pages:29-32
How to cite this article:
Kok Hwee Chia, Madeline Foong Yee Wong, Gideon Kap Cin Thang "Symbolic echoes of conflict: Archetypal patterns in projective drawing of traumatized children in civil war-torn Myanmar". World Journal of Social Science and Humanities, Vol 2, Issue 1, 2026, Pages 29-32
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