Handwriting Analysis--5 Misunderstandings Addressed

Handwriting analysis (graphology) shows how a
person thinks and acts, along with their emotional
balance, maturity, and much more. It denotes past
conduct and displays potential for future behavior.

The fascinating thing about handwriting analysis
is that you can interpret beyond the persona;
subconscious personality is revealed.

Common mistaken beliefs about handwriting
analysis abound, such as that it involves only
scrutiny of the signature or how attractive the
script appears.

Below we deal with five common concerns about
the science of graphology.

Concern:
"My writing looks horrible! Will this rule me
out?"

Answer:
No. How your writing actually looks (form, etc.)
is only one indicator of hundreds. Don’t worry.
There are highly skilled and talented people
throughout history who have messy-looking
handwriting. The world is also replete with
sociopaths who have very attractive-looking
handwriting.

Concern:
"What if I have a physical limitation, such as
arthritis that limits my handwriting?"

Answer:
Handwriting analysts take any physical limitation
into consideration. As we list on our handwriting
sample form, "Please explain any physical
limitation that affects your handwriting...If you
are using medication that you feel might alter
your handwriting in any way, please say so and
list the medication." We also state on our "How
to Prepare a Handwriting Sample" document,
"Please state if you have suffered any emotional
or physical trauma during the last year that might
affect your handwriting," and take such things
into consideration when doing the analysis.

Concern:
"What if my handwriting changes depending on
the writing instrument and the surface on which
I’m writing?”

Answer:
A well-trained handwriting analyst gives specific
directions to the person writing the handwriting
sample to avoid any such concerns. Please see
"How to Prepare a Handwriting Sample" on our
site. In this document, we ask that you use a
regular ball-point pen, unlined paper, be seated
comfortably at a desk or table, and write at least
a half page, among other advice:
http://tinyurl.com/4qhvzp

Also, most of the 300+ indicators of your
handwriting change far less than you realize
no matter with what or on what you are
writing.

Concern:
"If artists can alter their handwriting when
they want, doesn’t this mean it’s not a
useful personality assessment tool?"

Answer:
If a person is applying for a job and they are
told that as part of the hiring process they
will be asked to submit a handwriting sample,
and the sample directions list the following
(among other requests): "The writing sample
should be done in your normal writing style
while you are comfortably seated at a table
or desk. If you habitually print, then please
also include a paragraph of cursive writing. If
you normally have several styles of writing,
you may also include samples of each," then
chances are they will not attempt to alter
their usual script. Even if they do, a good
analyst can spot affectation and bluff. By
attempting to significantly alter his or her
writing, the writer also would risk
misrepresenting themselves to the detriment
of appearing to not be a match for the job.

Concern:
"According to the Americans with Disabilities
Act of 1990, handwriting analysis might seem
to be discriminatory since if anyone who has
a disability cannot take a test, then nobody
can; evaluations that can’t be adapted for
use by those who are disabled, such as a
blind person, can’t be used by a potential
employer."

Answer:
The U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity
Commission has stated, "We are not aware
of any evidence or cases which suggest that
graphology has an adverse impact on a
protected class."

Anyone who can write a few paragraphs of
spontaneous writing, even if it is with their
foot or mouth holding the pen, can have
their handwriting analyzed. Despite what
some might claim, a handwriting analyst
can’t distinguish sex, sexual orientation,
race, age, weight, height, religion, or
marital status from a handwriting sample.
Handwriting analysis might just be the
most non-discriminatory personality
profiling method in existence. Firm
correlations between specific protected
classes and handwriting analysis
indicators have not been identified.

An employer should make sure that every
job applicant submits a handwriting sample,
whether or not that applicant’s handwriting
sample is to be analyzed, if the employer
plans to analyze handwriting as a form of
evaluation for the job.

We advise the utilization of graphology as
one of the most valuable forms of character
analysis available.

Copyright © Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo