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The way we cross our t’s and dot our i’s may say more about us than we realized.  In fact, there is an entire field of study dedicated to the subject called graphology.  The field is somewhat controversial and is often called “pseudoscientific” by some, but there has been some evidence pointing to its validity.  At the very least, you will be able to see if the research is accurate for your own handwriting.

 

What Is Graphology?

Graphology is the study and analysis of a person’s handwriting to help uncover personality traits and behavior.  It has been around in some form as far back as 4500 A.D. when the Roman historian known as Suetonius analyzed Emperor Augustus’ personality based on his handwriting.  Our modern methods of analyzing individual strokes in a person’s handwriting were developed in 1915 by Milton Bunker.

 

Who Uses Graphology?

You might be surprised at who uses graphology today.  Law enforcement, courts, and potential employers have all been known to analyze handwriting.  A 1988 report published in the Wall Street Journal revealed that in Spain, France, Holland, and Israel, approximately 80 percent of the top 500 companies use a handwriting analyst to screen potential employees before hiring them.

 

What Can Your Handwriting Say About You?

Handwriting analysts examine differences in slant, spacing, shape, size, strokes, and patterns to analyze the writer’s character or disposition.  The study of handwriting is more complex than most people realize, which is why the following may not apply to everyone:

 

Personality

 

Slant:  A slant to the right is associated with those who enjoy meeting new people and who also like spending time with only close family and friends.  A slant to the left could indicate that the person enjoys working with things rather than people and is more introverted.  No slant is often associated with pragmatic individuals who use logic over emotions.

Size of Letters:  Small letters are usually associated with introverts, while large letters are associated with people who want to be noticed or feel important.  Average-size letters are associated with those who are well-adjusted and easy-going.

Shapes of Letters:  Those who write rounded letters indicate that an individual is more artistic or creative, while pointed letters could be a sign of intelligence or aggression.  Writers who connect their letters may be more logical.

Pressure:  Heavy pressure is associated with people who are good about commitment and taking things seriously.  However, if the pressure is exceptionally heavy, it could also mean that the person is uptight and quick to anger.  Light pressure might mean that the individual is sensitive and empathetic.

Line Spacing:  Wide spacing indicates that the writer enjoys their freedom and does not like to be confined.  Narrow spacing may reveal that the writer doesn’t like to be alone often and can sometimes be intrusive to others.

Dotting Your i’s:  Those who slash their i’s may be more self-critical and do not have tolerance for those who don’t learn from their mistakes.  People who make a dot perfectly above the “i” are detail-oriented and organized, while those who put a circle are visionary and childlike.

Crossing Your t’s:  Crossing the “t” at the very top indicates someone who is confident and ambitious, while those who cross them in the middle may also be confident, yet comfortable at where they are at in life.  Short crosses may indicate laziness, while long crosses could mean that the writer is enthusiastic and determined.

 

Health

 

Even hospitals and mental health professionals have used handwriting analysts, and there are some claims that a person’s handwriting can reveal details about a person’s health.

Parkinson’s:  People with this disease tend to write in a very small, cramped manner.

Schizophrenia:  Schizophrenics are associated with writing that switches direction from left and right slants.

High Blood Pressure:  Those with high blood pressure tend to switch pressure while writing, going from light pressure to heavy pressure.

Alzheimer’s Disease:  People with Alzheimer’s may have writing that changes to irregular letters or trembles in their writing.  This is because writing ability often deteriorates as the disease progresses.

 

Is Someone Analyzing Your Handwriting?

 

If you are now worried that your handwriting is spilling all your secrets, relax.  Analyzing handwriting in the United States is not nearly as common as it is in Europe, and the chances of randomly running into a graphologist is pretty slim.  Unless you have a family member that is a graphologist,  the stationery that you write on will probably reveal more about you to others than your handwriting will.

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