Analyze Your Handwriting

You look at a sample of your own handwriting and wonder, how can I tell anything about myself from this? Well, there are some basic ways to interpret the various styles, slants, loops, sizes and spacing that reveals truths about our personality and character. I think of it like a projective psychological test. As a psychologist, I can tell a lot about a person from a drawing, a sandbox configuration, and even their handwriting. This is because we project ourselves in everything we do. Your handwriting is just an extension of your brain, and if you know what to look for, you can get a pretty good idea about how a person ticks from how and what they write. According to handwriting analyst Gary Thomas, in addition to creating a complete personality profile from a handwriting sample, you can learn a slew of other things about a person, such as health issues, morality, past experiences, hidden talents, and mental problems.

The first thing to look for when analyzing someones handwriting is the big picture. Look at the entire piece first before breaking it down. When you look at the big picture, notice the things that stick out to you. Does the person dot the letter "I" with a circle? Do they start sentences in lower case? Does their writing slant to the left? What are the things that stand out?

Pictured is a etter written in England in 1894, showing a handwriting style of the period.

The second thing to look for is evidence of their emotional energy, which is a combination of physical and mental energy levels. This is revealed by the amount of pressure that is used when writing. Writers with heavy pressure are usually highly successful. They have a lot of vitality and their emotional experiences last for a long time. Writers who write with average pressure are usually moderately successful and usually have enough energy to make it through the day. Those with light pressure try to avoid energy draining situations.

Reference
Thomas, G. (2008). Your handwriting: What does it tell about you? Retrieved from:
http://www.viewzone.com/handwriting.html

The third step in handwriting analysis is to determine the baseline of the writing. The baseline is the real or imaginary line where the small letters rest. This is an indicator of the emotional control and reliability of the writer.

The baseline can be straight, wavy, erratic or sloped. A normal baseline should be slightly wavy. A person with a straight baseline is tense and over disciplined. A very wavy baseline signals a person who is on an emotional roller coaster.

An ascending baseline means optimism. A descending baseline means pessimism, tiredness or depression. A level baseline indicates a healthy balance between optimism and pessimism.

http://www.viewzone.com/handwriting2.html

The fourth thing to look for is the size of the writing. Handwriting size is an indicator of an individual's ability to concentrate. For example, small writing indicates a person who is able to concentrate on the minor details of a task for long periods of time, such as bookkeepers, scientists, and researchers. People who write small like to work alone and are usually conservative and thrifty.

On the other hand, large writers are easily distracted. They have trouble concentrating and easily get "off-track." At work, these individuals should be given varying duties and assignments that are quick to complete.

Most people write in an average size, neither large nor small. This would suggest that most people have an average ability to concentrate, and have to make a concerted effort to concentrate on minor details, especially over extended periods of time.

Pictured is a handwriting sample from Albert Einstein. Though it is written extremely small, each letter is perfectly formed and according to handwriting analyst Gary Thomas, "is a beautiful piece of art".

http://www.viewzone.com/handwriting2.html

The letter "t" has the largest number of interpretations. For example where the horizontal "bar" of the t is placed on the vertical "stem" indicates where one places their goals, while the height of the t stem indicates the potential to accomplish those goals.

* A low "t" bar indicates goals set lower than what can be accomplished.
* A "t" bar high on the stem indicates goals set high.
* A "t" bar that is above the stem indicates setting goals higher than can be accomplished.

If a small "g" is drawn like a figure 8, it indicates a strong sense of humor.

An indented "notch" in the upper oval loop of a small "h" is the result of an arrhythmic heart beat.

A small "r" with a square shape indicates someone who is good with their hands

A small or capital letter E which is drawn with rounded edges like a reverse "3" is known as a "Greek E" and indicates someone who is well read.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphology#_note-1

The slant is the second indicator to look for. The slant indicates the writers emotional response to external forces. A right slant (////) signals one who responds strongly to emotional situations. They are caring, warm and outgoing-- their heart rules their mind. A vertical slant (llll) writer tries to keep their emotions in check-- mind rules their heart. A left slant writer (\\\\) will conceal their emotions and is observed as cold and indifferent.

Reference
Thomas, G. (2008). Your handwriting: What does it tell about you? Retrieved from:
http://www.viewzone.com/handwriting.html

Here are some examples of handwriting characteristics and their interpretations according to experts Ruth Gardner and Karen Armend.

Slanting letters

* A forward slant indicates an emotional enthusiasm
* Straight up and down indicates a logical nature
* A left slant indicates introspection.

Angle of Lines on Unlined Paper

* An upward slant indicates optimism and higher energy.
* A downward slant or lines with trail off the page
indicate depression or physical exhaustion.

General shape of the stroke

* Circular handwriting indicates a highly emotional
nature.
* Angular handwriting with sharp points indicates
aggressiveness, directness, and high energy
* Square handwriting indicates a real world, practical based approach
* Squiggles and irregular strokes indicate an artistic and non standard approach

References

Gardner, Ruth (2002), Instant Handwriting Analysis: A Key to Personal Success (1st ed.), Llewellyn Publications

Amend, Karen (1980), Handwriting Analysis (1st ed.), Newcastle Publishing Company