Handwriting Analysis

1. Graphology: Unveiling the Mind Through Handwriting

Handwriting was my worst subject in school... Now, some twenty-plus years after graduating from college, I am on the witness stand in L.A. Superior Court, and the examining attorney is asking me, "Would you state your profession for the record, Ms. McNichol?" I respond, 'i am a handwriting expert."

Beyond Penmanship. Graphology is more than just handwriting analysis; it's the study of all graphic movement, including doodles, drawings, and even sculptures, to understand a person's physical, mental, and emotional states. It operates on the principle that our handwriting, like fingerprints, is unique and reveals aspects of our personality.

Brain Prints. The act of writing is not merely a physical skill but a "brainwriting" process, leaving behind "brain prints" on paper. These prints reflect our conscious and unconscious selves, fixed traits like identity and intelligence, and unfixed traits like health and mood.

Diagnostic Tool. Graphology serves as a diagnostic tool, offering insights into a person's sanity, honesty, intelligence, emotional stability, motivation, and even physical condition. While expertise takes years to develop, even a basic understanding can provide valuable information about others and ourselves.

2. The Three Facets of Man: Physical, Mental, and Emotional

When you pick up a pen to write something, you are using all three of these aspects.

Aristotle's Division. Graphology contends that handwriting reveals a great deal about an individual's characteristics in three key areas: physical, mental, and emotional. These facets are intertwined in the act of writing, making handwriting a rich source of information.

Physical Aspects. Handwriting can reveal a person's identity, state of physical health, and the presence of drugs or alcohol. For example, signatures are used to verify identity on legal documents, and tremors in handwriting can indicate illness.

Mental and Emotional Aspects. Handwriting also reflects intelligence, aptitudes, and emotional states. The size of writing can indicate extroversion or introversion, while the slant can reveal emotional expressiveness or repression.

3. Five Ways to Decipher Handwriting: A Graphological Toolkit

In this section we're going to take a look at the five major ways (and combination of these ways) such judgments are made.

Graphological Deductions. Graphological analysis relies on five primary methods: physiological deductions, basic common sense, universal concepts, simple psychological interpretations, and the scientific method. These techniques provide a framework for understanding the meaning behind graphic movement.

Physiological Deductions. These deductions relate to the physical state of the writer, such as identifying illness or the presence of drugs. For example, shaky handwriting can indicate a nervous system disorder.

Universal Concepts. These concepts are based on subconscious associations shared universally, such as "up" being positive and "down" being negative. These associations are rooted in body language and cultural norms.

4. Slant: Expressing or Repressing Emotional Feelings

Slant reveals the degree to which you express your real emotional feelings to others.

Emotional Expression. The slant of handwriting reveals the degree to which a person expresses their emotions. Rightward slant indicates expressiveness, affection, and passion, while leftward slant suggests repression, self-orientation, and a focus on the past.

Vertical and Unstable Slants. Vertical slant indicates suppression of emotions and a "head over heart" approach. Unstable slant, where the writing constantly changes direction, suggests emotional instability and a lack of control.

Slant Chart. Graphologists use a slant chart to measure the degree of slant, ranging from acutely reclined (emotionally ill) to acutely inclined (carried away by emotionalism). The ideal slant is considered to be between vertical and very inclined, indicating a balance of emotional control and expressiveness.

5. Baselines: Charting Moods and Goal Orientation

By looking at our baselines, graphologists can see a number of things such as general moods; attitudes about reaching our goals; attitudes toward the past, present, and future; and the kind of mental energy we apply to life's situations.

Imaginary Line. The baseline is the imaginary line upon which we write on a blank piece of paper. It reveals our moods, attitudes toward goals, and mental energy.

Types of Baselines. Different types of baselines include straight (stable), ascending (healthy mental energy), descending (negative), and erratic (moody). Each type provides insight into the writer's emotional state and approach to life.

Suicidal Baseline. A sudden and unexpected drop in the baseline can indicate suicidal feelings and a tendency to give up. This is a serious trait that requires attention.

6. Margins: Defining Boundaries and Social Interaction

A blank piece of paper represents life itself, and what you do on that blank page represents how you interact with other people and with life around you.

Life on Paper. Margins represent how we interact with our environment and other people. The left margin symbolizes the past, while the right represents the future.

Types of Margins. Different types of margins include even all around (interested in aesthetics), wide left (fleeing the past), wide right (putting up barriers), and uneven left (waywardness). Each type reveals a different aspect of the writer's personality and social interaction.

Crushed Right Margin. A crushed right margin indicates dangerous impulsiveness and a failure to plan ahead. This is a warning sign that requires attention.

7. Spacing: Measuring Interpersonal Distance and Thought Flow

Spacing tells how the writer feels toward other people, about his social behavior, and whether or not he thinks fluidly—his intelligence.

Interpersonal Relationships. Spacing between letters, words, and lines reveals how the writer feels toward others and their social behavior. It also reflects the writer's thought process and intelligence.

Types of Spacing. Different types of spacing include overly wide between words (paranoia), overly narrow between letters (uptight), and uneven spacing (uneven thinking). Each type provides insight into the writer's social interactions and mental state.

Tangling Lines. Tangling lines indicate confusion and overlapping thoughts. This can be a sign of mental derangement.

8. Pressure: Gauging Mental Energy and Intensity

Pressure reveals the amount of mental energy the writer is currently using in his life.

Mental Energy. Pressure reveals the amount of mental energy the writer is using. Heavy pressure indicates intensity and assertiveness, while light pressure suggests passivity and a lack of vitality.

Types of Pressure. Different types of pressure include heavy (intense), too heavy (profound frustration), light (passive), too light (spinelessness), and uneven (nervousness). Each type provides insight into the writer's mental and emotional state.

Healthy Pressure. Healthy writing pressure is even overall, with the downward movements being slightly heavier than the upward movements. This indicates a balanced and energetic approach to life.

9. Size: Reflecting Extroversion, Introversion, and Self-Importance

So the size of the writing reveals whether a person is feeling socially extroverted or introverted, and how that person relates to his or her environment.

Social Orientation. The size of handwriting reflects whether a person is feeling socially extroverted or introverted. Large writing indicates extroversion and a desire for attention, while small writing suggests introversion and a focus on the inner world.

Types of Size. Different types of size include large (extroverted), overly large (exhibitionistic), medium (balanced), small (introverted), and overly small (microscopic). Each type provides insight into the writer's social orientation and self-perception.

Innate Intelligence vs. Functioning Intelligence. "Innate" intelligence refers to the intelligence a person is born with, as opposed to ''functioning" intelligence, which is how intelligently the person is behaving.

10. Speed: Revealing Thought Tempo and Spontaneity

The speed of a writing tells how quickly an individual thinks and acts, the person's intelligence level, and his degree of spontaneity and honesty.

Thought and Action. The speed of handwriting reveals how quickly a person thinks and acts. Fast writing indicates quick thinking and impatience, while slow writing suggests guarded behavior and calculated responses.

Signs of Speed. Signs of speed in handwriting include sloppiness, large size, rightward slant, and omission of details. These traits indicate a fast-paced and spontaneous approach to life.

Loss of Spontaneity. Whenever someone slows down, he has lost spontaneity and begun calculating his responses to a greater degree.

11. Zones: Mapping the Id, Ego, and Superego

When you pick up a pen to write something, you are using all three of these aspects.

Freudian Model. The three zones in handwriting correspond to Freud's concepts of id (lower zone), ego (middle zone), and superego (upper zone). Each zone represents a different aspect of the personality.

Time Model. The three zones can also be interpreted in terms of time: the lower zone represents the past, the middle zone represents the present, and the upper zone represents the future.

Body Image Model. The three zones can be mapped to the body image: the upper zone represents the head, the middle zone represents the torso, and the lower zone represents the legs.

12. Doodles: A Glimpse into the Subconscious

Graphology is the study of all graphic movement; it is not simply "handwriting analysis."

Expressive Movement. Doodles are expressive movements that provide insight into the personality and mood of the doodler. They can be consciously or unconsciously drawn.

Conscious vs. Unconscious Doodles. Consciously drawn doodles reveal attitudes, interests, and moods, while unconsciously drawn doodles provide a glimpse into the subconscious mind.

Doodle Analysis. Doodles are analyzed using the same principles as handwriting, including size, slant, pressure, and spacing. These elements provide clues to the doodler's thoughts and feelings.

Last updated: February 28, 2025