Forensic Graphology Topics
1. What is Graphology?
Graphology is the study of the psychological structure of the human being through his/ her handwriting. Graphology is a social science and like all such sciences, depends on research and experimentation. As a science, Graphology has its rules and regulations, from which we cannot deviate without running the risk of error.
The written movements are under the direct influence of the central nervous system, which comprises of the brain, the cerebellum and the spinal liquid. The form of the written movement is not modified by the written organ, i.e. the hand, and therefore cannot be influenced by the conscious will, but the unconscious mind. That is what makes each individual’s handwriting unique and personal, just like a fingerprint. As such, any attempt to forge a person’s handwriting is doomed to failure under the eyes and equipment of the expert graphologist.
Handwriting consists of about 60 individual characteristic variations that are sent as brain impulses to the hand. Incidentally, altogether there are about 300 different signs. The correct interpretation of these signs can clearly indicate the writer’s current emotional well-being, as well as his usual / normal temperament, attitude and behaviour. Past experiences, such as traumas and abuses, can also be identified as each (negative) experience leaves its mark in the writing’s impulses.
2. Can anyone become a Graphologist?
Everybody can study Graphology, in the same way that anybody can study art or psychology. However, studying art doesn’t automatically make you an artist, just as studying psychology doesn’t make you capable of counseling people. Like any other profession, being a Graphologist involves a natural ability and affinity for Graphology, as well as a sound understanding of the relevant knowledge and scope of science in mind – both the emotional and thought aspects of the science. It is, therefore, part knowledge (studying) and part natural ability.
Graphologists who advise companies and corporates have to have a knowledge of organizations, management and operations in order to accurately interpret Graphological findings. The relevant background is extremely useful in the same way that it is useful in other disciplines such as medicine, physics, accountancy, economics law and etc. Graphologists must know and understand all the characteristics and features that emerge in the handwriting, in order to know how to cross reference between so that the correct and relevant interpretation can be reached. For example, a determined accountant may be interpreted by his surroundings as ‘just’ stubborn, whereas an alcoholic background may generate a ‘loyal’ but not necessarily committed individual.
It is important to portray your knowledge and findings in a relevant and appropriate manner according to the requirements of each client. The use of the correct jargon (words, terms), language and terminology is, therefore, extremely significant.
Remember, Graphology is not about producing data but rather submitting relevant information according to the needs of the recipient, whether it be an individual or a company.
3. What are the career options for Graphologists?
Individuals, companies and organizations use Graphology for different reasons and purposes. The three main aspects that Graphology is used for are: Industrial Graphology; Private Graphology; and Document Examination.
Graphology is not, by any means, a new science and it has already proved to be extremely advantageous in its utilization worldwide. In USA (especially in New York , California and Texas ), Germany , Italy and Switzerland , 60% of companies make use of Graphology as a tool to select and promote its employees. In Holland the figure is as high as 70% and 85%-90% in France and Israel . Business decisions that involve determining company compatibility before establishing any kind of industrial partnership are greatly influenced by Graphological input.
4. How reliable and useful is a Graphology assessment?
Graphology examination is non-comparative and, therefore, non-discriminative. In a single examination, graphologists can achieve a more accurate, reliable and comprehensive, not to mention quicker, assessment than a series of other personal assessment techniques. The examinee submits a page of handwriting and need not be present during the evaluation. Graphology is not based on questions and answers and, subsequently, gives way to no results based on the examinee’s discretion to withhold or manipulate information. Graphology evaluates the electrical impulses that are generated in the brain and passed on to the paper through the writing hand and the pen. It is under no conscious control by the examinee, which results in a far more profound and comprehensive evaluation.
In the follow-ups, to check long term suitability, that I carry out in the organizations with whom I work, I have established the following:
- Employees that were found suitable by me stayed longer within the company than those who were selected by other (psychometric) techniques.
- The Graphological reports accompany the organization as a useful tool long after the candidate/s were accepted and started working.
- The candidates that were accepted by the company according to Graphological assessments have been found to be more content within their workplaces.
5. Can Graphology identity “good” and “bad” traits?
My personal motto is that there is no such thing as ‘Good and Bad’ or ‘Positive and Negative’ traits. The idea ‘Good and Bad’ traits is a social misperception. There are only two conditions which are evaluated as ‘bad’: a) bad feeling that one may experience and; b) any kind of pain (emotional, physical or other) that one may inflict on another person without the recipients concession. All the other traits must be evaluated according to the environmental reality.
Although Graphology can determine almost any personal / behavioral quality, it is not up to Graphology or to the Graphologist, and they must not determine and attribute any moral value to their findings. Shy, slow, ‘snob’, impulsive, poor planner, for instance, are not bad or negative qualities, in the same way as versatile, organized, skeptical, or practical are not necessarily positive. In addition, it would be very difficult to draw the line between agility and hastiness, informal and tactless, kind and flatterer. For example, a good planner that cannot follow through on his own plans is ‘useless’. In particular, honesty is a trait that should never be determined or established by a Graphologist.
To sum up, a Graphological report, should be descriptive and not be a collection of definitions, as individuals cannot be defined but they can be described according to a set of traits and tendencies that are revealed through their handwriting.
6. What about changes in handwriting?
Our handwriting changes in response to and in accordance with any changes in ourselves: age; experiences; events; mood; illness; weather; using medication etc. In the same way that your behaviour today is not the same as it was ten years ago, your handwriting changes to reflect this. Feeling under the weather does not alter your personality or affect other qualities pertaining to your identity. Your organizational skills at the workplace would not be affected if you left home angry and irritated. You would be no less ‘stingy’ if you inherited a large fortune from your father in law – it would not make you a better person or affect how you relate with your family, friends or colleagues.
It is advisable however, to submit some examples of your earlier handwriting in order to be able to better understand the natural development of the writer.
An expert Graphologist knows how to remove the present-time elements and go deeper with the analysis. There are times when the Graphologist should say that the sample that was submitted is non-diagnosable due to the presence of too many unoriginal features. (This is discussed further in Question 8 )
7. Can I make changes to my handwriting that will affect my results?
The answer is no, even on the philosophical level, for at least two obvious reasons: First of all you cannot change your handwriting. You can change a little bit the style of the writing and the slant of the writing but for a very short period of duration – about 3 – 4 lines. Any change that you may make will show artificially, lack of neutrality and lack of spontaneity that may bring the opposite results from what is desired and hoped by the writer. The second reason derives from the ‘definition’ point of view: What ‘better’ means? And why one should want to appear different than what he / she really is? And for how long a ‘lazy’ person can hide his indolence from having been emerged? And if the ‘friction’ with the workplace is inevitable in any case, why should one stimulate and catalyze it? And if one is aware of his / her inability to be a successful salesman (in particular company, and for a specific product) for instance, why should he / she tries to push themselves towards the position? And why one is not foreseeing and respect their feeling of disappointment when will be asked by the company to leave and their inability to live with the pain?
We must bear in mind that Graphological assessment is not against the examinee by discriminating or depriving him, on the contrary, the all idea is to match ‘successfully’ between the candidate personality and his future workplace.
8. How can I get my handwriting analysed?
Generally, an analysis can be done: using either many samples of writings, or very few; with an original sample, or a photostatted copy, fax or computer scanned sample; on a clear and recent sample, or on an old and shabby one; on writing scribbled in a haste on a rough surface using a leaking pen, or on a neat and organized sample. However, in order to get the best, most reliable, comprehensive and eliminating results, questions must be posed that result in responses which use phrases with the words: as; probably; maybe; perhaps; possibly; I’m not sure; “ask the writer if he…”, etc. The following instructions will give a reliable analysis that leave very little room for uncertainty or doubt about the results, in fact they often yield results of unquestionable accuracy.
To have your handwriting analysed, you can submit a sample by printing the Handwriting Analysis Form and following the instructions on it. Please use the blank area at the end of the form to write your responses to the questions.
In addition, especially for private analysis, you are required to submit some recent samples of writing, which can be any memorandums, notes, doodling and etc. If possible, it would benefit the analyses if you could submit older samples of your handwriting. Please make a note at the top of each submitted sample, of your approximate age at the time of writing it.
9. What is drawing analysis?
It is said that a picture paints a thousand words, and so it is with a doodle (which is done subconsciously) and drawing (which is done consciously). A doodle is a graphical manifestation associated with tangible or intangible problems, an expression of the ‘unconscious’ state while conscious attention is paid elsewhere. A doodle helps relieve tension, stress and anxiety, and as a result may reflect relief, pain, pleasure, or sadness.
Drawing analysis is based on quite ‘similar’ indications that handwriting analysis is based on. Style and shape are just one of the hundreds of factors that are taken into consideration.
From as young as two years of age, the child’s inner dynamic comes about in his graphic expression. The infant, in his first scribbles already expresses his development, his emotional functioning and behaviour, as well as his feelings in general, towards himself and his close surroundings in particular. A picture of some tangle of circular strokes that he draws reflects and utters the child’s feeling within the colossal universe: surrounded by the ‘infinite space’. The same is expressed when an adult draws a person, as it always reflects his perception about himself within the world – his environment.
The number, shape and style of doodles are far too many to describe in detail here, but most fall into a category which can be studied.
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