CHAPTER 1

Graphology is the generic term for handwriting analysis and dates back to several hundred years of history. Graphoanalysis is the patented term for a particular school of handwriting analysis. The International Graphoanalysis Society has been a handwriting analysis school since 1927 and is headquartered in Chicago, Illinois. The research and study they have done along with their conservative approach gives their members assurance that the precepts taught are accurate.

An empirical approach is used to validate this tool as it is used in other subjective fields, such as Psychology. It has been accepted as a professional tool for over fifty years in Europe. Courses in Universities include the study of handwriting. Companies routinely have handwriting analysts on their staff who analyze potential employees' writing to assess the personality and choose the right candidate. They also use it in evaluating internal promotions.

In the United States, Graphology has gone from being considered entertainment to being accepted as a professional tool. Universities and Colleges have begun teaching it in their undergraduate as well as graduate curriculum. It has been used by many companies in the personnel selection field, by police departments in assessing the personality of potential criminals, by attorneys in choosing their jury, by teachers in assessing and understanding their students, by genealogists for better understanding of our heritage, and by the general public in obtaining a better understanding of their personality.

Graphology has also been accepted by our government. In the Dictionary of Occupational Titles, (a Government publication containing every job title in the United States), Graphology is listed under Miscellaneous Professions. Our Federal library, The Library of Congress, lists Graphology in the Psychology section. It is also listed in undergraduate Psychology textbooks as an aid in assisting students to better understand personalities.

Graphoanalysis can be very helpful to companies in choosing employees for job openings. Education and experience can be checked, but personalities are more difficult to determine. An experienced interviewer can pick up some aspects of the personality, but handwriting analysis detects many more traits which can describe the entire personality. It has been stated that 85-90% of job failures are due to personnel problems or misplaced employees. At the current cost of training personnel, it is imperative that the right candidate be chosen for the job. Confidentiality in all cases of handwriting analysis is routinely followed.

Generally, Graphoanalysis helps people to better understand themselves as well as their partners. Marriage compatibility as well as business compatibility are other ways to assist people through the use of handwriting analysis.

Handwriting is brain writing, as it is the brain that directs your hand, feet or mouth how to write. (People without limbs often use feet or the mouth to hold the writing implement.) Since each individual is unique, so is the handwriting. There are no two writings alike, just as there are no two fingerprints alike. That is why we are able to do fraud cases and determine whether or not the specimens were written by the same writer.

The writing specimen is called a "frozen personality" because the sample contains traits that the writer has at the time of the writing. Most of the time, the major traits will be in the writing, but there are times when unusual and unique minor traits show up. This usually occurs when the writer is in an uncommon situation.

Graphoanalysis uses stroke identification to analyze traits in handwriting. There are approximately 125 traits and many other evaluated traits (combinations of strokes) to analyze. The traits, themselves, are not judged good or bad. It is how the writer uses the traits that is important. Carrie Nation displayed many hostile traits in her writing, such as temper, irritability, defiance, and strong independence. In order to accomplish what she had set out to do, these traits were needed.

The emotional makeup of an individual is seen in the slant of the up strokes in the writing. The slant of the writing is considered a GLOBAL trait (one that affects all of the other traits in the personality).

The slant is measured from where the writing leaves the base line to where it stops ascending. The slant is then measured with a gauge. The results offer an insight on the objectiveness or emotionalism of the writer. The more slanted to the right, the more the emotional capacity. There are traits that control extremely emotional people, such as pride and dignity, so that their expressiveness can be controlled. Sales people and politicians do best having a right slanted writing. This emotional capacity allows the individual to express feelings to others and this conveys warmth and caring. People are naturally attracted to people who share their feelings.

People who do not slant to the right but have a vertical appearance to their writing are motivated by their thought processes They tend to think through a situation and can appear cool and unemotional. Of course, these people do have emotions, but they are not motivated by them. Scientists do better with a more vertical slant than a far-right slant. They need to think through a problem and not be swayed by emotions.