1. Children and their Perception
Heinz Werner
Children and their Perception
of the External World
By: Eileen Rakowitz

2. Who is Werner? 1890 - 1964 Born in Vienna, Austria
Began as a Composer and Music Historian
Later studied Philosophy and Psychology
Became a Gestalt psychologist
Perceives things as whole forms and the unity between self and objects
Jewish – Nazi’s dismissed him from Hamburg  moved to the United States
Research psychologist and professor at many Universities in America
In the book:
Chapter 5

3. Werner’s Theory Eidetic Imagery/Memory (Photographic Memory)
Pictorial imagery
Eidetic Imagery/Memory (Photographic Memory)
Phenomenal World  Physiognomic Perception
Geometric – technical Perception
Synesthesia (Synthesis)
Basic Levels of Development
Infantile Amnesia  Allocentric  Self/Object Differentiation  Hierarchical Integration  Perceptual Level  Conceptual Level

4. My Project Major Premise:
Using Werner’s theory of physiognomic perception, self/object differentiation, eidetic imagery, and synesthesia, does combining the sense of hearing and sight in an intense situation cause a child to draw a picture that is more directed at a particular emotion?
Minor Premise:
Should the news networks broadcasting the “War on Terrorism” use “sad songs” or “patriotic songs” in connection with pictures? Which affects the children of America more negatively/positively?

5. Experiment
Go to a 5th grade class at a grade school and test about 20 students.
The control group: The group will watch a slide show of pictures with NO music taken from the September 11th attack. They will draw a pictorial representation of their emotional reaction to the pictures they just saw.
Variables: Then have the group of 20 watch the slideshow again with the “sad song” and draw a picture, and repeat the procedure again watching the slideshow with the “patriotic song” and draw a picture.

6. Setting
5th grade class at St. Elizabeth of Hungary Catholic grade school
Adam Lee Diaz
Age: 11
Brad Benjamin
Age: 10
Brandon Haynes
Brent Brumson
Brent Suckery
Caroline Urana
Cynthia Johnson
Drew Kappes
Eric Mabassen
Evan Kuterboch
Katie
Jessica Porter
Age: 10
Marco Velasco
Age: 11
Mark Sishel
Michael Rivera
Monica Dominguez
Nicolas Miranda
Patricia
Robbie
Sean Luke
Sydney Davila
Tina Mendizabal
Cried during the first slideshow
Experiment on Nov. 7, 2001

7. Limitations Experiment:
I noticed that they all knew about the Terrorist attacks, but they had various points of view and exposure to the events that happened on September 11th
Very difficult to evaluate some drawings
Experiment was taken almost 2 months after the Terrorist attacks
Presentation:
Time limited
Can’t show all the drawings

8. Slideshow of Pictures

9. TERRORISM
                                                                   
Attack on
America

15. Werner’s Theory Eidetic Imagery/Memory (Photographic Memory)
Pictorial imagery
Eidetic Imagery/Memory (Photographic Memory)
Phenomenal World  Physiognomic Perception
Geometric – technical Perception
Synesthesia (Synthesis)
Basic Levels of Development
Infantile Amnesia  Allocentric  Self/Object Differentiation  Perceptual Level  Conceptual Level

16. Objects 1 2 3 Buildings 15 Planes 12 Flags/ Flag Colors 6 9 17
SYNESTHESIA / EIDETIC IMAGERY
Objects 1
(Control) 2
(Sad song) 3
(Patriotic Song)
Buildings 15
Planes 12
Flags/ Flag Colors 6 9 17
Smoke/Fire 5
War/Military

17. Facial Expressions 1 2 3 Hand on Chest Smiles 5 Scream/Gasp Tears 7
PHYSIOGNOMIC PERCEPTION
Facial Expressions 1
(Control) 2
(Sad song) 3
(Patriotic Song)
Hand on Chest
Smiles 5
Scream/Gasp
Tears 7
Frowns 4

18. Feelings 1 2 3 Mad 4 Sad 7 Patriotic 5 12 Happy “Remember” Scared
SYNESTHESIA
Feelings 1
(Control) 2
(Sad song) 3
(Patriotic Song)
Mad 4
Sad 7
Patriotic 5 12
Happy
“Remember”
Scared
Religious
Vengeance

19. Patriotic Phrases 1 2 3 United We Stand 4 God Bless America
EIDETIC IMAGERY
Patriotic Phrases 1
(Control) 2
(Sad song) 3
(Patriotic Song)
United We Stand 4
God Bless America
Proud to be an American
Freedom

20. Conclusions Werner’s theory was true! What a smart guy!
Children could understand what happened on September 11th, and they could express in a drawing their own feelings in connection to an object outside themselves. However, their feelings changed drastically in relation to the music they heard.
QUESTION
What do you want your children watching and hearing on T.V.?
What should the news networks watch what kind of music they use with their pictures?

21. Bibliography
Werner, Heinz (1948) Comparative Psychology of Mental Development: International Universities Press, Inc.
Werner, Heinz (1965) The Body Percept: Random House.
Werner, Heinz and Kaplan, Bernard (1967) Symbol Formation. John Wiley and Sons, Inc.
Crain, William (2000) Theories of Development: Concepts and Applications. 4th ed. Prentice Hall.
Helping your kids cope with terrorism
CNN and TIME magazine
and
Theoretical Issues
Pitch of Music and memory
Synesthesia in Art
Journals on “Heinz Werner”
How to talk to children about terrorism
and
Psycho musicology