Barry, H. (1957). Relationships between child training and the pictorial arts. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 54, 380-383.

Works of pictorial art of 30 nonliterate cultures were rated on a number of variables of art style. Eleven of these art variables were found to be related to each other on a dimension of complexity of style. The art variables were correlated with a combined measure of severity of socialization from ratings presented by Whiting and Child («Child training and personality.» New Haven: Yale University Press, 1953). For each of the 11 art variables the cultures above the median in complexity tended to be above the average in severity of socialization; for two of the art variables the correlation was statistically significant. The variable entitled complexity of design, which was more closely related than any other art variable to the overall measure of complexity, showed a higher correlation than any of the others with the measure of severity of socialization. Cultures above the median in complexity of design tended to be above average in each of the 10 separate measures of socialization severity.

A possible interpretation of the results is that a personality characteristic is related to severity of socialization and complexity of art style in the individual, and that the cultural custom which perpetuates a pattern of socialization and art style is an adjustment to the personalities of the individuals in the culture.