The lowdown on handwriting analysis

Presents an account of a meeting with graphologist Andrea McNichol. Discusses basics of graphology including lack of credentials as a 'hard science.'

By Matthew Scanlon, James Mauro, published on November 01, 1992 - last reviewed on October 01, 2009

"Okay, here's a good example. The writer in the sample above ignores the left margin and writes through the vertical line as if it didn't exist. The left margin represents the 'line of society-when a writer goes outside the boundaries that are given to him, he flaunts his desire not to stay within the set limitations."

Would it surprise you to learn this is the writing of Oliver North?'

"No, actually, it wouldn't. But just because Oliver North writes this way, how do you know that everyone who ignores the left margin doesn't 'play by the rules' What gives you the scientific right to make that assumption, and isn't that really the big question this an comes down to-what do you base your conclusions on?"

"To begin with, this trait, like all traits in graphology, was validated through empirical study. Which means we look at handwriting samples that were taken from literally hundreds of people who have a particular characteristic, and if a statistically significant number of them also show certain tendencies in their handwriting, we make the connection that most people who write this way will also have that same characteristic.

"What we look for are handwriting traits that occur more frequently in certain people's writing than in that of the general population. For instance, the Oliver North margin example comes from a prison population study that sought to corroborate specific traits with criminal and antisocial behavior.

"Again, the study found that a statistically significant number of those who were tested did not line up their left margin."

"You're saying that this is more than just a parlor trick, that the way we write actually reflects what's going on inside our heads rather than simply our hand coordination."

"Exactly. Studies have shown that people who become paralyzed are able to recreate their original handwriting using a device which allows them to write with their mouths. Now, what does that tell you about where your handwriting originates?

"It's from up here," McNichol tapped her head knowingly, then ran her pen along a blank page, "and it comes out here."

Editor's Note: All of the handwriting samples were taken from Handwriting Analysis: Putting It to Work for You, by Andrea McNichol and Jeff Nelson (Contemporary Books, 1991).

A SHORT QUIZ

1. Who has a higher I.Q., Person A or Person B?

-B has a higher I.Q. What is it about B that we identify with intelligence? It is the fact that the letters got smaller as B wrote, while A's letters got bigger. The tendency of letters to grow smaller shows that the writer is picking up concentration as she writes.

2. Which person is more dishonest about money?

A is more dishonest about money because his numbers are indistinct and touched up. B is more honest because his numbers are easy to read. Who knows what numbers A is writing?

3. Which writer is feeling more restless?

The answer is B, the writer in the long lower zone. Such people are usually restless and in constant need of variety and change. The longer the lower zone (with letters such as Y and G), the more restless the writer.

4. Which Mrs. Smith wants a divorce from Mr. Smith?

I hope this one was obvious: B, by signing her name in this manner, is actualy crossing out her husband, Not the happiest marriage!

5. Which one of these two samples represent the lawbreaker, A or B?

The answer is A. You probably got this right simply by using common sense-B's writing is lined up and A's isn't. (For an explanation of the scientific method used to test the validity of htis particular trait, see "Writing a Rorsharch" on page 50.) We know that the criminal is more likely to get "out of line," not to order himself, while B has a straight left margin.

HANDWRITING TRAITS OF PSYCHOLOGICAL DISTURBANCES

One traits below apply only to those writing samples meant to be read by other people,

1. Writing which is slanted in all directions with no particular pattern (indicates severe emotional instability).

2. Writing which is permeated with mistakes (indicates drug/alcohol use and/or acute anxiety or dishonesty).

3. Mistakes crossed out multiple times and/or with heavy lines (indicates anxiety, severe frustration, and anti-social tendencies).

4. Continually crashing into the right edge of the paper (indicates severe impulsivity and may indicate an accident-prone individual),

5. High illegibility (indicates inner unhappiness which manifests itself in inconsideration for the reader and others).

6. Overly angular (indicates acute anger, frustration, and anti-social behavior).

7. Presence of unnecessary and inappropriate drawings, shapes, or formations (indicates abnormal thought patterns and possible psychosis).

8. An uneven left margin (indicates unwillingness to abide by the rules of society).

WRITING A RORSHARCH

Part of the skepticism surrounding graphology stems from the fact that most of the research attests to its validity as a scientific diagnostic tool, but fads to show how and why it works. As such, one is left believing that a certain trait in handwriting reveals a certain personality characteristic, with no rhyme or reason: depressed people write in a downward slant, angry people make sharp, angled lines, etc.