How Handwriting Communicates?: Amity Business School
How Handwriting Communicates?: Amity Business School
How Handwriting Communicates?: Amity Business School
Introduction
Graphology - the study of handwriting and handwriting analysis - is now an accepted and increasingly used technique for assessment of people. Handwriting analysis is an effective and reliable indicator of personality , behaviour and abilities. also known as 'brainwriting' - the handwriting comes directly from the writer in a uniquely personal and individual way. Indicates more than 5000 personality traits. the study of handwriting and its analysis was first developed by the Chinese 3,000 years ago. various civilisations and cultures have analysed handwriting to identify the essence of the person who produced it.
Basics of Graphology
Slant
Right slant indicates a response to communication, but not how it takes place. For example, the writer may wish to be friendly, manipulative, responsive upright, this indicates independence. A left slant tendency shows emotion and reserve.
Size
Large size handwriting can mean extravert and outgoing. Small size handwriting can also indicate a thinker and an academic, depending upon other features in the script.
Pressure
Heavy pressure indicates commitment and taking things seriously Light pressure shows sensitivity to atmosphere and empathy to people. if the pressure is uneven, show lack of vitality.
Continued..
Word spacing
Wide spaces between words are saying - 'give me breathing space'. Narrow spaces between words indicate a wish to be with others.
Line spacing
Wide-spaced lines of handwriting show a wish to stand back and take a long view. Closely spaced lines indicates that that the writer operates close to the action.
Example
Interpretation
This writer is dogmatic and dictatorial, emotionally unstable, bad tempered and possibly even violent! It's even possible to find the underlying reasons for the danger signals and to understand why the writer has so much personal conflict in his life.
Managerial implications
Employment profiling
A company takes a writing sample provided by an applicant, and proceeds to do a personality profile, matching the congruency of the applicant with the ideal psychological profile of employees in the position. A graphological report is meant to be used in conjunction with other tools, such as comprehensive background checks, practical demonstration or record of work skills. Research in employment suitability has ranged from complete failure to guarded success. The most substantial reason for not using handwriting analysis in the employment process is the absence of evidence of a direct link between handwriting analysis and various measures of job performance.
Business compatibility
This is an additional service offered by some handwriting analysts. The focus of these reports can be one, or more of the following: Company-wide This is a report that describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the company. For this report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point, for the entire company are used, to create three hypothetical employees. The individual is then compared to these three employees, with the focus being how good a fit the individual is.
Contd..
Division wide
This is a report that describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the division. The average division employee For this report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point, for the entire division are used, to create three hypothetical employees. The individual is then compared to these three employees, with focus being how well the individual will fit into the existing company psychodynamic profile. This is a report the describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the unit. The average unit employee For this report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point, for the entire unit are used, to create three hypothetical employees. Those are then compared to the applicant, with a focus on how good a fit the individual is. The unit manager / Co-worker This explores the differences in personal style between a manager/co-worker and potential employee. The end result is on how each can maximize productivity and minimize personal friction.
Unit wide
Applications
Composite reports
This explores the difference in personal style between every employee in a group. The idea is for each member of the group to learn not only their own strengths and weakness, but also those of their co-workers, and how they can more harmoniously work together. The resulting reports not only deal with the individual on a one-to-one level within the group, but also each individual as a part of a group of three, four, five, etc. people within the group. The content of these reports can range from a simple perspectograph, to a four wheel Wittlich Diagram and accompanying twenty five thousand word analysis.
Marital compatibility
In its simplest form only sexual expression and sexual response are examined. At its most complex, every aspect of an individual is examined for how it affects the other individual(s). The basic theory is that after knowing and understanding how each other is different, any commitment that is made will be more enduring. Typically done for couples, it is not unknown for a poly-amorous group to obtain a report prior to the commitment ceremony of a new individual. In cultures where arranged marriages are common, graphology can be used as an additional checkpoint on the compatibility of the couple prior to the elders giving their consent for the marriage to take place.
Contd..
Psychological analysis
Graphology has been used clinically by some European counselors and psychotherapists. When it is used, it is generally used alongside other projective personality assessment tools, and not in isolation. It is often used within individual psychotherapy, couples' therapy, or vocational counseling. Medical graphology is probably the most controversial aspect of handwriting analysis. Strictly speaking, such research is not graphology as described but an examination of factors pertaining to motor control. Research studies have been conducted in which a detailed examination of handwriting factors, particularly timing, fluidity, pressure, and consistency of size, form, speed, and pressure are considered in the process of evaluating patients and their response to pharmacological therapeutic agents. The study of these phenomena is a by-product of researchers investigating motor control processes and the interaction of nervous, anatomical, and biomechanical systems of the body. The Vanguard Code of Ethical Practice, amongst others, prohibits medical diagnosis by those not licensed to do diagnosis in the state in which they practice
Medical diagnosis
Contd..
Jury screening
A graphologist is given handwriting samples of a prospective jury and determines who should be struck, based upon their alleged personality profile. After the trial has begun, the graphologist advises counsel on how to slant their case, for the most favorable response from the jury. This is the practice of changing a person's handwriting with the goal of changing features of his or her personality. It was pioneered in France during the nineteenthirties, spreading to the United States in the late fifties. The therapy consists of a series of exercises which are similar to those taught in basic calligraphy courses, sometimes in conjunction with music or positive self-talk. There have been anecdotal reports of these exercises curing everything from drug addiction to anorexia nervosa and back to borderline personality disorder. The discipline of forensic document examination is also known as questioned document examination within the judicial system. With respect to handwriting examinations, the discipline tries to address the question of whether or not a document was written by the person who is thought to have written it.
Graphotherapy
Use by Corporates
In France, an estimated 70 percent of companies use graphology when making hiring decisions. (Between 5 and 10 percent of U.S. and UK companies do so.) Law enforcement authorities sometimes turn to graphology and kindred techniques when profiling criminals. Corporate America has a lot to gain through the combination of handwriting analysis and technology. Through the science of graphology, companies of all sizes can improve their hiring and recruiting ability, reduce costs, improve productivity, minimize employee turnover, and increase employee morale.
Contd..
Handwriting Analysis can provide companies with personality profiles of potential employees and a risk assessment of the applicant allowing an employer to determine if a job fits the individual BEFORE hiring and if the individual is compatible with the rest of the office team. The procedure is private, non-invasive and concentrates only on the position the writer is applying for. Lie detectors or polygraphs are a thing of the past; federal law has restricted the use of them for employee screening since the 80s. The best alternative is Handwriting Analysis or Graphology.
Contd.
Handwriting analysis can show you a great deal about your personality. There are many traits involved in analyzing your handwriting as well as many letter formations used to determine these traits. How you communicate your ideas to other people is shown in your handwriting by looking at the small letters a, o, d, and g.
Limitations of Graphology
Handwriting cannot identify the medical problem affecting the physiological function. It is dependent upon the affects of drugs, disease, situation anxiety,, electric shock treatment, traumatic experiences, maturity, hypnosis, and fatigue. Cannot explain the "why" or give the past root-cause for a particular action or condition. Cannot identify caste, creed and race of a person.
Conclusion
Thus, handwriting analysis ( graphology) has a wide scope and domain. Its application range from being used in forensic analysis to industry analysis and medical diagnostics. It is a beneficial methodology of providing a detailed analysis of a persons personality and behaviour. Thus, graphology is valuable tool and is being used in wide variety of fields.
THANK YOU