Abstract
This research was intended to discern the adverse mental state of prison inmates based on their
expression of art images. Thirty inmates, 20 males and 10 females aged 24-57 years, were subjected to
psychoanalysis by two psychologists, and interpretation of their drawings by the art investigator.
Results obtained by the psychology group and the art educator were then compared, discussed and
a conclusion reached. It became evident that in the present project the drawings did not demonstrate
revelations as expected in the objective nor were they in accord with the psychologist’s findings; the
outcomes of both groups denoted only the prisoners’ present mental state, reflecting their factual situation
as prisoners. In realizing that the present study included subjects who were prisoners because of
having committed crimes that were not so serious, mental state was similar to that of normal persons.
Therefore, the researchers decided to carry out further research on persons convicted of committing more
serious crimes, which theoretically might be reflected in a more severe innate mental status.
