Handwriting Analysis (hobby)
Handwriting analysis is a multifaceted hobby that encompasses two main disciplines: forensic handwriting analysis and graphology. Forensic handwriting analysis involves examining writing samples to determine authorship and document authenticity, making it a valuable tool in legal contexts. This discipline is widely recognized and taught at institutions globally. In contrast, graphology is concerned with interpreting handwriting to gain insights into a person's psychological traits, although its scientific validity remains debated. Hobbyists in this field may explore various writing characteristics, such as size, slant, and pressure, to assess personality and emotional states. Historical roots of handwriting analysis trace back to ancient cultures, and the field has evolved significantly since the 17th century. While professional training is beneficial, many enthusiasts engage in handwriting analysis for fun, often participating in community workshops or research groups. Despite mixed acceptance in the scientific community, handwriting analysis continues to attract interest for its unique blend of art and science.
Handwriting Analysis (hobby)
History
The term "handwriting analysis" is broadly applied to two separate disciplines that share a common origin.
Forensic handwriting analysis, or questioned document examination, is the comparison of writing samples to determine if they were created by the same author. This discipline is used to evaluate a document's authenticity and has been admitted as evidence by state and federal courts.
Graphology is the analysis of writing samples to gain insight into the psychology of the author. Graphologists believe that handwriting is an expression of brain activity and can be used to evaluate mental characteristics. The scientific merits of this discipline are still in question and it is not generally admitted as evidence by the legal system.
While some practitioners specialize in either graphology or forensic analysis, there are a growing number of hobbyists and professionals who practice both disciplines.
The study of graphology dates back to ancient China and Japan, where it was believed that handwriting indicated a person's noble origin. In early Greek, Roman, and European societies, handwriting analysis was practiced by fortune tellers.
The first known book on handwriting analysis was published in 1622 by Camilo Baldi, a professor at the University of Bologna. The term "graphology" was coined by Jean Michon, who derived it from the Greek "graph" ("to write") and "logos" ("theory"). Michon published the first serious text on the subject in the early 1870s. During this period, graphology began to diverge from questioned-document examination.
Following Michon's work, Jules Crépieux-Jamin further developed graphology and created the basic tenets of the practice that are used today. Crépieux-Jamin published "Handwriting and Expression" in 1888, which is still used for basic instruction by many graphology students.
In the late nineteenth century, graphology was considered a subfield of psychology, and gained credibility in educational institutions. By the early twentieth century, graphology was taught at universities across Europe.
Thousands of research texts and papers have been published on graphology, though most research comes from Europe. Graphology was introduced to Great Britain after World War II and quickly gained popularity, leading to the formation of the Graphology Society in 1982.
In 1979, a group of American graphologists formed the Handwriting Research Corporation and began developing a computer-aided system for graphologists. Despite advances in technology and a growing body of research, graphology is not accepted by most scientific organizations. However, some European businesses and professional organizations rely on graphologists to evaluate potential employees.
After diverging from graphology, forensic analysis evolved into a widely-used legal tool. Questioned-document examination is taught at many international universities, and has become a standard technique for forensic scientists.
Techniques
Graphology
The underlying theory in graphology is that handwriting is a direct expression of brain function and can be used to determine personality, mood, relationship compatibility, and even medical health.
There are several schools of graphology that differ in their techniques and theoretical framework. Some graphologists use only writing examples, while other graphologists believe that watching a subject write is also informative.
Most graphologists utilize a number of common writing characteristics such as slant, size, pressure, use of upper- or lower-case letters, line and word spacing, and line curvature.
The difference between graphology schools lies in the way that information is interpreted. Graphologists may use the overall appearance of a subject's writing samples, a combination of characters, or a method by which certain characteristics are ascribed to specific personality traits.
Forensic Writing Analysis
Forensic specialists examine characteristics such as the size and shape of letters, connecting strokes between letters and words, up and down stroke placement, retraces, curvature, distortion, smearing and hesitations. From these characteristics, specialists can verify the authorship of a particular document.
Some forensic specialists are also versed in analyzing typewriting samples and can determine, based on individual characteristics, if the same machine was used to produce different documents. Some forensic specialists may also study techniques for dating paper samples, which can be helpful in verifying the origin of historical documents.
Trends
Current trends in handwriting analysis include the use of digital scanning and computer mapping to enhance accuracy. Forensic specialists now use digital photography to examine microscopic details of penmanship and can determine if the same writing instrument was used for multiple samples.
Graphologists are also using computerized systems in an attempt to define and enhance their art. Some theorists hoped that computer-aided systems will help to convince the scientific community of the validity of graphology.
Handwriting Analysis for Fun vs. Profit
Professional forensic experts are usually required to hold degrees from accredited institutions in forensic science. Occasionally, dedicated hobbyists have become established professionals due to their ability to evaluate signatures or documents.
Training in forensic sciences will greatly enhance the practitioner's skill at document comparison, and professionals often spend years perfecting their discipline.
Individuals wishing to become professional graphologists should consider seeking an apprenticeship with a well-known graphology association or a working graphologist. After completing training, professional graphologists can market themselves as personality consultants. In some European nations, graphologists can also work for businesses conducting employee evaluations.
Experienced graphologists may also find lucrative employment by hosting seminars or classes at organizations and schools.
Learning More
Organizations
American Academy of Forensic Sciences <http://www.aafs.org>
American Handwriting Analysis Foundation <https://www.ahafhandwriting.org/>
American Society of Questioned Document Examiners <http://www.asqde.org>
Books
Amend, Karen, and Mary Ruiz. Handwriting Analysis: The Complete Basic Book. England. Newcastle Publishing Company, 1980.
Morris, Ron. Forensic Handwriting Identification: Fundamental Concepts and Principles. Academic Press, 2000.