Examining Changes in Taiwan’s New Graduates Through Self-Portraiture Process Research (Examen des changements chez les nouveaux diplômés de Taiwan grâce à la recherche sur le processus d’autoportrait)

Abstract

New graduates face challenges in job hunting, causing them to doubt their professional abilities and professional performance. The issues of adaptation influence work satisfaction and employee retention. This phenomenological study explored the changes in self-esteem and personal appearance using self-portraits in art therapy. The researchers recruited five new female college graduates (ages 20–25 years) who experienced frustration, low self-esteem, and negative personal appearance in the workplace. We integrated Glaister’s serial self-portraits and Betensky’s phenomenological art therapy practical technical steps to conduct six sessions of an art therapy course with self-portraits as the main axis of creation. Phenomenological study was adopted and Hycner’s (1985) phenomenological analysis steps were applied in this study. The change process observed in the self-portraiture by participants is summarized in three stages: “Opening the Door to Creation: Entering One’s Changing Process of Creating a Self-Portrait,” “Exploring the Realm of Self: To Explore the Process of Drawing a Self-Portrait With Self-awareness,” and “Key Elements of Changing Opportunities: The Self-Portrait Brings Changing Opportunities Regarding Self-Esteem and Personal Appearance.” The results indicate that when individuals overcome their fear of creating self-portraits, they begin to find symbolic meanings such as concrete self-image related to personal issues, personal appearance, or control in work, in the process. The results and limitations of this study are discussed. Future research might consider the use of self-portraits in art therapy process so that new graduates can enhance their control in the work and include male participants to understand their status and process.

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