The study presented a series of experiential art therapy based workshops to foster empathy for individuals with disabilities in preservice art educators. Using a pretest/posttest quasi-experimental research design, participants engaged in humanistic, active art therapy directives related to the disabled experience as they are integrated into a two session, four hour, class time frame. Discussion focused on empathetic responses as well as possible adaptations to art materials after each workshop. It was hypothesized that these experiences would increase participants' levels of empathy, as measured by the Empathy Quotient (EQ) Scale, and decrease discomfort level with disabled populations, as measured by the Interactions with Disabled Persons (IDP) Scale (Gething, 1994, n.d.; Gething et al., 1997; Lawrence, Shaw, Baker, Baron-Cohen & David, 2004). Thus, an inverse relationship was predicted between the participants' empathy and discomfort level with disabled populations. Additional anecdotal data was gathered using responses to an art therapy directive and feedback questionnaires. While the quantitative data did not support the initial hypotheses, an inverse relationship was found between participant EQ and IDP scores. Anecdotal data also supported the hypotheses and demonstrated change in participants' perceptions toward individuals with disabilities. / A Thesis submitted to the Department of Art Education in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science. / Summer Semester, 2013. / June 20, 2013. / art education, art therapy, disabilities, disability, disabled,
empathy / Includes bibliographical references. / Marcia Rosal, Professor Directing Thesis; David Gussak, Committee Chair; Jeffrey Broome, Committee Chair.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:fsu.edu/oai:fsu.digital.flvc.org:fsu_183810 |
| Contributors | Mantica, Leeanna E. (authoraut), Rosal, Marcia (professor directing thesis), Gussak, David (committee chair), Broome, Jeffrey (committee chair), Department of Art Education (degree granting department), Florida State University (degree granting institution) |
| Publisher | Florida State University, Florida State University |
| Source Sets | Florida State University |
| Language | English, English |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Text, text |
| Format | 1 online resource, computer, application/pdf |
| Rights | This Item is protected by copyright and/or related rights. You are free to use this Item in any way that is permitted by the copyright and related rights legislation that applies to your use. For other uses you need to obtain permission from the rights-holder(s). The copyright in theses and dissertations completed at Florida State University is held by the students who author them. |
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