Handwriting Analysis – 5 Misconceptions Answered
Handwriting analysis (graphology) shows how a person thinks and acts, along with their emotional balance, maturity, and much more. Denotes past behavior and shows potential for future behavior.
The fascinating thing about handwriting analysis is that you can interpret beyond the person; the subconscious personality is revealed.
Common misconceptions about handwriting analysis abound, such as that it only involves scrutiny of the signature or how attractive the script looks.
Below, we address five common concerns about the science of graphology.
Concern:
“My handwriting looks horrible! Will this rule me out?”
Answer:
No. The actual appearance of your writing (shape, etc.) is only one indicator out of hundreds. Don’t worry. There are highly skilled and talented people throughout history who have messy looking handwriting. The world is also full of sociopaths who have very attractive handwriting.
Concern:
“What if I have a physical limitation, such as arthritis, that limits my writing?”
Answer:
Writing analysts take into account any physical limitations. As we listed on our sample handwriting form, “Explain any physical limitations that affect your handwriting… If you are using medication that you think might alter your handwriting in any way, please say so and list the medication.” We also indicate in our document “How to prepare a handwriting sample”, “Indicate if you have suffered any emotional or physical trauma during the last year that may affect your handwriting”, and keep these aspects in mind when conducting the analysis.
Concern:
“What if my handwriting changes depending on the writing instrument and the surface I’m writing on?”
Answer:
A well-trained handwriting analyst gives specific instructions to the person writing the handwriting sample to avoid such concerns. See “How to prepare a handwriting sample” on our site. In this document, we ask that you use a regular pen, unlined paper, sit comfortably at a desk or table, and write at least half a page, among other tips.
Plus, most of the 300+ indicators of your handwriting change much less than you think, no matter what or what you’re writing with.
Concern:
“If artists can alter their handwriting whenever they want, doesn’t that mean it’s not a useful tool for assessing personality?”
Answer:
If an individual is applying for a job and is told that, as part of the hiring process, they will be asked to submit a handwriting sample, and the instructions for the sample list the following (among other requests): “The sample Your writing should be done in your normal writing style while sitting comfortably at a table or desk. If you usually print, also include a paragraph of italic writing. If you normally have multiple writing styles, you can also include samples of each”, then chances are they won’t try to alter your usual script. Even if they do, a good analyst can detect affectation and swagger. By attempting to significantly alter his writing, the writer would also risk misrepresenting himself to the detriment of appearing unfit for the job.
Concern:
“According to the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990, handwriting analysis can appear discriminatory in that if someone who has a disability can’t take a test, then no one else can; assessments that can’t be tailored to fit used by people with disabilities, such as as a blind person, cannot be used by a potential employer.”
Answer:
The US Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has stated, “We are not aware of any evidence or case to suggest that graphology has an adverse impact on a protected class.”
Anyone who can write a few paragraphs of spontaneous writing, even if it’s with their foot or mouth holding the pen, can analyze their handwriting. Despite what some may claim, a handwriting analyst cannot distinguish the gender, sexual orientation, race, age, weight, height, religion, or marital status of a handwriting sample. . Handwriting analysis might be the least discriminatory personality profiling method out there. No strong correlations between specific protected classes and indicators of handwriting analysis have been identified.
An employer must ensure that each job applicant submits a handwriting sample, whether or not that applicant’s handwriting sample is tested, if the employer plans to test handwriting as a form of job evaluation. .