Relationship patterns of connectedness and individuality in couples as expressed in the couple joint drawing method

•Investigation of joint drawing as a means for assessing themes of connectedness and individuality.•Examination of pictorial phenomena in the process and product of joint drawings.•Identification of three couples joint drawings styles.

This study investigated the joint drawing technique as a means for assessing themes of connectedness and individuality among romantic couples. The aim was to identify distinct couple joint drawing patterns by examining pictorial phenomena in the context of the process and product of the joint drawings created by couples. A phenomenological qualitative analysis of 120 joint drawings, created by sixty couples, led to the identification of three couple joint drawing styles. The “balanced style” is characterized by a coherent product, which is a result of the couple's ability to agree on one drawing subject, and to work cooperatively. The “complicated style” is characterized by unconnected images without a common denominator, and the “disconnected style” is characterized by the absence of contact between the partners’ drawings on the sheet. The couple joint drawing styles are discussed in relation to family therapy models and attachment theory and research on couple relationships.