The paper describes findings of a study of self-perception stereotypes in subjects with different levels of ability to act "in the mind". The subjects, students with different levels of the above mentioned ability, were asked to draw a self-portrait. The study shows that development of the ability to act "in the mind" makes the self-portrait less stereotyped; the proportion of concrete images lessens while the number of symbolic and plot-based compositions increases. The author concludes that development of the ability contributes to development of self-reflection.