Graphology and Personality: 5 main writing traits

With the analysis of handwriting, graphologists try to find out aspects of the personality that the analyzed person does not want to present to us., either because it is not convenient for him to do so, because he is not aware of them or simply because they seem irrelevant to him.

In addition, graphological analysis is also used to contrast the information obtained by other techniques, such as self-reports or a personal interview. The latter is common in personnel selection processes.

What can graphology provide us?

These techniques are currently used in Spain. In France its use is greater, it is estimated that between 50 and 75% of companies use it. In the year 1991 (date of the last independent study) 90% of French companies directly or indirectly used the information provided by writing.

How is a writing analyzed?

To explain how handwriting analysis works, I always use the same example, graphology is like putting together a puzzle.

If you look at a piece, it is likely that you do not know anything about it, nor where it goes, nor what is represented in it, it can also that you vaguely recognize something in that piece, by connecting this piece with the four that correspond you may already appreciate something family, it is likely that with little poise but as you connect pieces your perception of the matter will adjust more to the reality. You may notice a piece that is very characteristic, for example the eye of the tiger that is embodied in the puzzle, then you will already know the meaning of that piece, and more or less where it will be located.

5 variables with interpretations shared by the vast majority of graphologists

Continuing with the puzzle metaphor, now I am going to write about some pieces in which the graphologists look to derive meaning from them with little or no need to connect them with others.

Because, within all the scriptural variables from which interpretations are generated, there is a group of them whose associations with the corresponding personality traits to which they refer. They are generally stable signs that can be interpreted in a simple way, however, graphologists contrast more data. In other words, in graphology these variables generate fairly stable conclusions about the subject's personality in most cases.

1. mix of lowercase and uppercase

This situation occurs when we see a text in which, with lowercase letters being predominant, there is also the presence of capital letters (ignoring those necessary for correct spelling). Capital letters are interspersed with lower case.

this sign has been related to the typology of the unfaithful cashier. It would be a sign of a tendency to daily robbery and disloyalty. However, graphologists pay attention to the other variables that the text presents and verify that there is no reasonable confrontation in aspects related to loyalty. That is, they check that the other variables in the text are not indicating the opposite with certainty.

(Sample of mixed case writing)

2. Mid zone boost

What is boost? Quickly, that the text (for example, in a signature) is taller than it is wide. And the middle zone? All that area that is framed between the upper and lower limit of the oval of a writing, (p. ex: the letter -o-; the oval of -d-, -g- or -p-) that is, it encompasses the area in which all the letters that do not have a superior or inferior projection (hamps or jambs respectively, in graphological jargon) are written.

In graphology, the over-elevation of the middle area is considered a negative sign in most cases, can suggest a certain arrogance in personality, arrogance, exaltation of the self... A haughty, proud, conceited person and not very pleasant to deal with because of how 'superior' they feel, surely present this variable in the writing, in the signature or in both. I remember another golden rule of graphology: the fact that a sign is not present does not indicate connotations contrary to those presented if it were.

As examples, the signature of Himmler (powerful Nazi commander) and the signing of donald trump (candidate for the US presidency).

(The two signatures on the left of D. Trump, the two on the right of Himmler)

3. the filiformity

Filiformity refers to the type of writing that takes the form of a thread. It is typical to see this in cartoons when a card appears, normally they have not bothered to represent legible words and simply make a line with brief oscillations and gaps resembling the course of a actual writing. Fineness is printing a line (or almost a line) where there should be a shape, for example, it is typical in the -m- or -n-, the mountains are diminishing until on some occasion due to the dynamism a simple line is traced stripe.

It is necessary to distinguish between general filiformity and partial filiformity. It can be a threadlike whole word (fil. general), it can be threadlike only the end (very common) or certain combinations of letters (fil. partial). In graphology, the general filiformity will have a more positive interpretation than the partial one, being the partial related to insincerity, lack of authenticity of the person either neurotic conflicts.

It is also mandatory to establish differences between the filiform writing executed with dynamism and high speed of the slow filiform, the first has connotations positive, it would be attributable, as a tendency, to a person with good social skills, with negotiation skills, with a good strategic sense or skills diplomatic. About the slow filiform it is necessary that we realize, that we reproduce, that we think about how this type of writing has been executed. Threadiness is normal when writing speed is accelerated, it is a trait indicative of speed, however, someone who is producing threadiness at low speed he is doing it deliberately, that subject is intentionally producing slow and illegible writing, and he usually gives the situation that who writes filiforme has a high graphic culture with which the hypothesis of the lack of ability to write is generally discarded. Illegible handwriting expressly, in the words of Manuel J. Moreno: "[...] we can be faced with snobbish attitudes and inauthenticity"

The writing of the following image is from the politician Alfredo Perez Rubalcaba, slow and extreme filiformity.

(Samples of filiform writings. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba left, unknown samples on the right)

4. Dissociation

The graphic phenomenon by which the oval is separated from the stroke is called dissociation. This can occur in letters such as -d-, -g- and -p-. It happens when the oval is executed on one side and the stroke on the other, in which case we have dissociation in writing. It is a very easy sign to notice, it is quite shocking to the eye, and even depending on the pattern of spaces it maintains that writing can confuse us in reading by taking the oval for an -o- and the stroke for an -L- (in the letter -d-)

This sign, in the words of Manuel J. Dark, and connecting with the psychoanalytic theories, "could be symbolic externalization of a tendency to split or conflict between the ego and the id (the unconscious)". For his part, Augusto Vels relates it to the quality of the family relationship in childhood "[...] The mere fact of both elements being separated is a excellent sign of conflict or disagreement, a common sign in people who have lived a childhood with parents who did not agree and who have felt marginalized [...] affectively"

(Dissociated writing sample. "Dignity" and "Degraded")

(Dissociated writing sample. word "Córdoba")

5. The enveloping rubric

Going into terminology, the signature is the scribble when signing, the illegible part, and the signature is the legible part, naturally it can there can be any combination between them in the autograph of a person, there can be only signature, only signature, both, etc... The graphics whose layout surrounds the signature is called an enveloping signature. It is very common, surely you know someone who signs like this.

In graphology it is associated with the desire to be taken care of, the need to feel protected within the family or marriage. In a positive graphic environment it is related to prudence and caution. Mauricio Xandró explains: "It corresponds to an introversion movement and the manifestation of a feeling of youthful inferiority. [...] Almost unanimously among graphologists they see a gesture of protection and isolation, which is also correct".

(Writing sample: enveloping rubric, signature "Pedro Jiménez")

Graphology is a complement, one more technique in the repertoire

In the analysis and interpretation of scriptures there is a rule that is present from the first moment. If you ask a graphologist, your question will most likely be similar to: "and... What does it mean when I lean to the right?" or "What about those who sign with a scribble that never looks the same from one time to another?" and the most It is normal for the doubts presented to be resolved, at least initially, but later the most likely thing that the professional you have asked will do is that Mention the need to contrast this particular fact that you have raised with the other variables present in the writing for a correct and firm interpretation.

The need to contrast with the other variables comes from the differentiation between a positive graphic environment and a negative graphic environment., and the same writing variable may have different interpretations depending on the graphic environment in which it is found. The graphic environment is determined by a series of aspects whose evaluation must be made separately due to the extension.