5 More Handwriting Analysis Concerns Addressed

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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”. 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.

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 © 2008 Scott Petullo, Stephen Petullo

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