358 Journal of Personality Assessment, 1978. 42,4 Toward an objective Evaluation Procedure of the Kinetic Famlly Drawings(KFD) DAVID V. MYERS Universitv of Alabama Kinetic Family Drawings(FD)was examined. A quantitative scoring procedure was de- veloped from the clinical hypotheses Burns and Kaufman( 1970. 1972)to score 2l measurable KFD styles, actions, and characteristics. The scoring procedure was employed to evaluate sul:s indicated that four of seven sets of extracted component scores significantly differed veen ihe emotionally well-adjusted and the emotionally disturbed groups. One set of com ponent scores significantly differed between the younger and the oider groups, whrie twosets of scores did not differ among any of the four groups. The KFD iota score was found to dit nificantly only between the young emotionaly disturbed and the young adjusted groups, It was concluded that a quantitat: ve scoring procedure for Recently a promising new projective tion, and are found in actions associate drawing technique was introduced by with certain objects such as baiis. burning Burns and Kaufman(1970, 1972). view. fires, lights, etc. Styles, a third dimension ing emotionai problems in chiidren as interpretation, reiers to certain ap- stemming from the disturbances in inter- proaches to the drawing of K FDs that are personal, generally family, relationships. considered indicative of defensiveness these authors have deveioped a procedure and emotional disturbance. Compart known as the Kinetic Family Drawings mentalization (intentionally separating ( KFD) which provides a basis for exam family members by the use of lining) and ining the interpersona! dynamics of the Edged Placement(rectangularly placing hild. After 12 years of carefully studying all of the family figures on the perimeter of lyzing the page)ar linical significance of certain character- final aspect of interpretative significance tics. actions styles and symbols found in Burns and Kaufman 's KFDs, follow k ka fhaanterszc are ording to ities speptiat c Hasee n ghe ruano fa are eass commonly found in the drawings. Pencil ings to KFd symbois than they are in the erasures (reflecting ambivalence) and characteristics, actions, and styles hyper-extended arms Er Unlike most previous projective draw- to control the environment) are typical ings, the Kfd provides information that xampies of KFD characteristics. Ac- can permit the unique and valuable in- tions in KFDs are movements of energy vestigation of the personal and interper between people and objects. According sona perspectives of thechiid. However, Burns and Kaufman, certain objects the KFD, while promising, has two gen and depicted actions are said to ha era! shortcomings nergy invested in them. These"fields of First, Burns and Kaufman(1970, 1972) force"refiect such things as inhibition. offer no empirical validity for their hy anger,competition, and need for affec. potheses, but rather rely on the presenta tion of clinica cases which have been sub- d. Only two iatric Services for Children. richmond. Vir. studies have been reported with the KFD ginia, May, 976 O'Brian and Patton(974)attempted to