Handwriting: More Than Just Ink [graphology]

Handwriting analysis is also known as graphology. Graphology is defined as the study of handwriting, especially as used to infer a person's character. The interest in handwriting as an expression of personality is as old as the practice itself. "Chinese philosophers have been fascinated with handwriting since ancient times and have been especially interested in the distinct styles of calligraphy produced by different writers" (Sackheim,1990, p. xv-xvi). The first methodical attempts to study handwriting took place in Italy in the beginning of the seventeenth century. Alderisius Prosper published in Bologna a study called Ideographia. Camillo Baldo soon after tried making a formal recording which presented a way for judging the nature of a writer from his letters. These were all lost. But they obviously attracted readers. It became practiced from "castle to castle" by people trying to make money from handwriting interpretations (Roman, 1952, p.3). The surprising thing about graphology that is not all about handwriting analysis. "Graphology is the study of the graphic movement; it is not simply 'handwriting analysis" (McNichol and Nelson, 1991, p. 23). This is why graphologists can also study doodles, drawings, sculptures, and paintings to infer a person's character and the physical, mental, and emotional states of the subject. These creations are called brain prints. These reveal who we are, how we think, feel and behave. These mind x-rays are very evident in handwriting since we for the most part don't think about how we write. Graphology is a good way to loosely judge people, who they truly might be.

Whenever we take a write utensil and begin writing, much of what we're doing comes naturally. This is an unconscious act. But there are times when we'll change how we write certain letters because we like the other way of writing it more. This is a conscious effort. Both of these can be analyzed. The latter can be analyzed just as well as the former because it is a conscious effort of trying to change unconsciously to a certain trait. The style of the changed letter seems appealing because the characteristic does, unconsciously or consciously (McNichol et al, 1991).

There are the fixed traits: IQ, aptitudes, temperament, and identity. And there are unfixed traits: ability, attitudes, moods, beliefs, motivation level, physical condition. All of these are certainly revealed in a sample of handwriting.

All those traits fall into one of the three facets of man (McNichol et al, 1991) The first one is the physical aspect. Handwriting reveals our identities, the state of our physical health and the presence of intoxication of any type. The second facet is the mental facet. Samples can tell us about our intelligence and our aptitudes also known as our natural abilities. The last aspect is the emotional facet. This had to do with how we think, feel, and act in a specified way.

As far as identity goes, the signature is the best way to determine how people see themselves. The signature is influenced by a search for beauty and originality. Signatures represent peoples' ideas of what they are like. Some people spend years trying to figure out how to make their signatures because they are trying to find themselves. We can also find out temporary emotional feelings comparing the signatures of people at a calm time and their signatures during tribulation (Santoli, 1989).

Since writing involves a physical work too, when people are physically ill, their handwriting will show it. We are weaker therefore affecting our muscular motion (McNichol et al, 1991). Motor skills are also challenged when people are drunk or drugged. Their handwriting looks sloppier, crazier, and mostly illegible. One would be certain to see this very quickly. It is also possible to see if there's a stimulant or depressant in the body.

We can also see intelligence in writing. People whose handwriting tends to get a bit smaller as they progress in writing are more intelligent than people who keep a steady size. This

is speculated because it means that they're concentrating harder and harder on what they're

writing. Aptitudes are also shown by the size of the writing. But this pertains to the steady size.

People who have handwriting that's a size that is fairly legible they could either be into themselves

or out there. People who have large handwriting are usually more outgoing, we call these

extroverts. Introverts are people who write smaller, they are more discreet. Extroverts are usually

more ambitious and therefore have higher aptitudes (McNichol et al, 1991).

People's handwriting can tell us their emotional states. People who feel strongly about themselves and strongly about sharing themselves will write big, legibly, tall, leaning to the right thorough and with added pressure (McNichol et al, 1991 & Santoli, 1989). This can tell us if a person is open, kind, easy-going and strong. If the opposite effects are shown, then they're just the opposite, closed, greedy, taut and weak.

Graphology is used for many reasons. Five reasons are personal use, education, criminology, employment, and psychology.

Under personal uses are the following concerns

-Who is okay to go into business with

-Who is okay to date

-Who to trust around your prized possessions and children (McNichol et al, 1991).

Graphology can determine all of this. Therefore making life easier for everyone who plans to do any of the things listed.

Educations is an area where graphology is greatly needed and appreciated. For example, a young student could be diagnosed with emotional problems at a young age by the way he writes. The direction of the lines would be going upward and downward. Their writing would be indicative of his turmoil and a teacher could pick up on this and do something about it. Or a child might have dyslexia so he writes the letter, "d" like the letter "b" (McNichol et al, 1991). Teachers could also notice other sort of characteristics, which aren't always burdens, of that student and therefore understand them better. Now let us apply this to college-level students. They might study this as, I am, and essentially find more reasons to use this knowledge!

The biggest and most expensive field that graphology is used for is criminology. This is perhaps also one of the most