Graphology - do you believe in it as a way to determine personality traits? (vindictive, passive)

[robertpolyglot]

Do you believe in handwriting analysis as a window into someone's head? I do. Mine "reads" me to a tee.

Sure, every knows their basic astrological sign. It's entertaining. Rarely, if ever, do professionals use it for profiling or employment purposes. On the other hand, handwriting analysis is used for forensic profiling. I've even seen ads, about 20 years ago, asking for the typical resume package that included a hand-written statement in major newspapers.

What do you think of handwriting analysis/graphology? Do you think it holds any validity?

[jasper12]

No. I don't. The issue is the person who is the "Graphology" expert. Where did they get their training? How long have they been doing this job? Did they receive other incidental information about the person?

It is too complex to make characterizations about someone by merely looking at handwriting samples. Handwriting varies due to age, time of day, stress, disabilty and event context of the handwriting sample. In addition to factoring in variance due to paper and writing medium used.

[Grandstander]

It is indicative of the absense of an empirical supporting base for graphology that postulating it as superior to astrology is used as an argument in its favor.

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

It is indicative of the absense of an empirical supporting base for graphology that postulating it as superior to astrology is used as an argument in its favor.

GULP.

I like your handle - grandstander!

[imcurious]

Originally Posted by Grandstander

It is indicative of the absense of an empirical supporting base for graphology that postulating it as superior to astrology is used as an argument in its favor.

Punctuation might have helped, but interesting sentence.

[Grandstander]

Originally Posted by imcurious

Punctuation might have helped, but interesting sentence.

Very well, here, I present a bouquet of early blooming punctuation marks. Please select the ones which you wish to employ and apply them in the spaces which you deem appropriate.

""""""""""""""""
^^^^^
.................
!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
????????????????
{{{{{{{{
[[[[[[[[[[}}}}
}}{{}}{{[[[[]]]
*************
((())))((()))
////////::::::
;;;;;;;;;;

[Gudra]

If that's all you have on that person and you had to male a quick decision, then yes. I often ask people to write down their telephone numbers or em@il so I can study their writing a bit instead of just buzzing their cellphones.:-)

[robertpolyglot]

Back to graphology - a couple of key features, for cursive writing:
1 - Relation of capitals to lower-case: self-esteem
2 - Slant in writing: assertiveness
3 - connectivity of letters: linear and organized through process versus insight
4 - closed nature of vowels (a,e,o): keeps some information back
5 - baseline of writing: stability
6 - lower stem loops on f, g, y, z: how demonstrative
7 - the letter t: how high, how hard you put the t-stroke is about ambition and determination

These are the few I recall.

[jasper12]

I really love looking at "graphology" analysis, of say, Ted Bundy, the "expert" looks at handwriting and proclaims..."All the halmarks of a psychopath.". Wow! But when given unidentified samples, there is no direct coorelation that the analysis is concrete. It is all very generalized, no unlike circus fortune tellers, "you will meet someone in the future".

[robertpolyglot]

Originally Posted by jasper12

I really love looking at "graphology" analysis, of say, Ted Bundy, the "expert" looks at handwriting and proclaims..."All the halmarks of a psychopath.". Wow! But when given unidentified samples, there is no direct coorelation that the analysis is concrete. It is all very generalized, no unlike circus fortune tellers, "you will meet someone in the future".

I don't know. I think the effort one puts into cursive writing is something someone expends energy to do, and each does it differently.

My analysis is spot on:
- Mid-size capitals to lowers = mid-size self-esteem/ego
- Slant, somewhat forward = more assertive than passive
- connected letters = linear thinker and organized, you bet
- closed vowels = more private
- lower stems neither sticks nor loops = medium demonstrative
- t-stem at midpoint = mid-range ambition
- clarity = you like to be very clear and exacting, check

I will tell you that every time I've seen the following traits, it's exactly what you see in the person:
- one exec whose capitals were enormous had an ego the size of Mt. Everest and was more of a megalomaniac than a true leader
- one supervisor had a "hooked t," where you take the ending stroke and hook it back to cross the "t" - it's supposed to mean angry and vindictive - he was indeed, and nobody liked him.

Bottom line: if I see some glaring attributes in the writing, I will make a mental note of it, otherwise I don't pay as much attention. BTW, I heard people don't write in cursive anymore.