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1. FEATURE
You are what you write
By Dr George Leow Chee Seng, British Institute of Homeopathy
An analytical approach to one’s personality from handwriting alone can yield
many practical benefits.
I s it possible to understand a person’s personality
through handwriting? It seems impossible but it
really is possible to do so.
Think of handwriting as a type of EEG (brain wave
recording) of personality. In fact, some handwriting
analysts describe “brainwriting” could be a more
descriptive term than handwriting analysis.
Personality inventory can be categorised into
projective and non-projective (Kathleen, 1978). Distortions of the result – due to the subject’s
Projective personality inventory uses pictures knowledge that he is being analysed – is common
or diagrams to capture responses from the in most personality analysis tools.
respondent. Hence, this method is a subjective
form of personality inventory. Graphology can analyse a person’s personality
without the person even knowing that he is being
Graphology analysed. Through this method, we can reduce
Graphology or handwriting analysis is the science the possibility of inaccuracies due to conscious or
of interpreting a person’s character from his/ unconscious efforts by the subject to affect the result.
her personal handwriting. It is categorised as a
projective personality test. It is interesting to learn what your handwriting
is able to tell you. Graphology is used widely in
The term graphology comes from two Greek words varied applications. The common application of
that mean to learn something about writing and graphology is in vocational guidance. Teachers often
the inferring of character or aptitude from it. find they can use it to bring out better behaviour in
problem students.
While graphology cannot point to a specific career
on the basis of a handwriting sample, it can certainly
point someone in the right direction or away from
the wrong direction, based on personality, abilities
and inclinations.
Besides vocational guidance, a handwriting analysis
of both partners can confirm compatibilities, point
out potential trouble spots and help the couple to
understand and accept each other’s weaker points.
People who investigate genealogy have used
the service of graphologists to help them better
understand their ancestors through an analysis of
their handwriting. Graphologists can track clients’
progress in therapy, and some law enforcement
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2. FEATURE
agencies use handwriting analysis to determine This is then followed by a 30-point worksheet analysis:
how dangerous a suspect is, as well as truthfulness 1. Regularity 16. Width of letters
of victim and witness statements.
2. Rhythm 17. Covering strokes
Graphology is now being used increasingly by 3. Size 18. Leftward and
employers or assessment centres to help in personnel rightward tendencies
selection. It is especially used at the short listing 4. Zones 19. Initial strokes
stages. Small companies, in particular, need to avoid 5. Connection, degree 20. Terminal strokes
friction and personality clashes between staff as well of connection, form of
as getting the right person for the right job. 6. Horizontal tension 21. Form of letters
7. Shading 22. Speed
Some candidates are better at interviews than at
their actual jobs; while others blow their chances 8. Slant 23. Signature and
through nervousness. A handwriting analysis can underscore
give a more complete picture. 9. Pressure 24. “I”- dots and “t” bars
10. Margins 25. Personal pronoun “I”
Practical graphology 11. Punctuation 26. Form level
In practice, it’s better to use graphology to analyse 12. Spacing between 27. Reliability factors
the handwriting of a pure untainted subject, rather words (if applicable)
than to put the subject under unnatural stress of 13. Spacing between 28. Tension and release
filling out a long questionnaire. Furthermore, a lines (stress factors)
single personality questionnaire may reveal a single
14. Direction of the lines 29. Degree of attention
dimension of personality. (deals with any
characteristics that
However, two handwriting samples of the same are not covered in the
person on different occasions may reveal different general worksheet.
behavioural characteristics. Eg: stimulus words,
symbols, envelop if
In fact, handwriting analysis is an art. Each different from general
graphologist has different analytical styles. I have spacing)
designed my own worksheet to help me to complete 15. Fullness and leanness 30. The analysis
my handwriting analysis. In fact, there are a lot of
computer programmes that offer the same service. Limitation
It is important to identify the limitation of
However, I strongly believe, handwriting analysis is an handwriting analysis to avoid unrealistic
art that needs human interpretation and the following expectations during analysis.
are among the key factors I would be looking at:
• Margin of page; From the handwriting analysis, we would not be able
• Lines; to determine the age or gender of the writer. What it
• Height of writing; actually does is to indicate masculine and feminine
• Slope or slant of writing; influence, which is present in both sexes. It reveals
• Word endings; maturity rather than actual chronological age.
• Round and angular writing;
• Plain and fancy writing; Nor can graphology predict happenings and future
• Regular and irregular writing; events. From graphology, we can point to a person’s
• Wide and narrow writing; and potential that needs to be brought out once they
• Thin and thick writing. are made aware of it. OH!
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JAN/FEB 2010 • OH! 13