Show #382 Airing Sunday, 4/8/07
Do you always dot your i's and cross your "t's" or are you as loopy as the cursive letter L? Today, we've lined up an expert to give us the "write" stuff (that's w-r-i-t-e) about your penmanship. Barbara Miller is a certified graphoanalyst.
Question: What is graphoanalysis? How did you get involved with this?
Answer: Graphoanalysis is a science devoted to the study of the individual strokes of writing to disclose the character and personality of the writer.
In the past, graphoanalysis has been looked at like palmistry or astrology but that's not the case. It meets the criteria of science. It's not an exact science, like math, but rather a social science, like psychology.
While on vacation, I met a man who was a graphoanalyst. He looked at my handwriting and I was amazed at what he was able to tell me. Since I was always interested in why people say and do what they say and do, I did some research and eventually started taking courses (two-year process).
Studying graphoanalysis gave me the confidence to go back to school, after which I worked for years as a counselor. But after retiring in 1994, I decided to get back into graphoanalysis.
Question: I understand there are two main handwriting features that can tell us about ourselves. The first is slant.
Answer: Yes. The farther one's handwriting slants to the right, the more strongly a person holds on to their views. These people are typically very excitable; they feel emotions strongly and immediately. They are often impulsive, warm, and outgoing. Their emotions show on their face-not good poker players!
For example, my handwriting slants right. I love animals, and when people don't respond the same way to them, it does bother me.
Those with vertical writing are more poised, objective, and head-ruled. They do not easily show how they feel, but rather appear calm. They are good in emergency and often take charge. They are not moody.
Those with a left-slant are even more restrained.
Question: And the second is weight. What does that refer to?
Answer: Weight refers to how hard a person presses the pen to the paper.
The harder you write, the deeper you feel and the more affected you are by your emotions. Also, the feelings last for a long time.
Light writers can get into a fight.and then be fine minutes later.
As you can see, relationships between heavy writers and light writers can be challenging. The light writer may say something hurtful, and then forget it minutes later. But the heavy writer will remember it for a very long time.
Question: But analyzing handwriting is more than just slant and weight, right?
Answer: Yes, there are many, many ways to look at and interpret strokes-much more than we can cover in this segment. Handwriting is looked at as a whole, and then the strokes are evaluated. But here are a few more examples:
- Those who dot their i's close to the stem are detail-oriented
- Talkative people often do not completely close their circles (o's, d's, a's, etc.) More reticent people will. In fact, a looped o (a tie, like a knot) can often show a secretive side to a personality.
- Look at your t's. If they are not completely crossed, that's the sign of a procrastinator. Those with long, sweeping crossbars are enthusiastic. If the bar slants upwards, that is the sign of an optimist.
- Big loops in your d's and t's is shows that a person is sensitive.
- Small writing is indicative of someone capable of great concentration.
- Someone with strong down strokes is determined to finish tasks they begin.
- And many, many more.
There's no "write" (w-r-i-t-e) or wrong handwriting. But graphoanalysis can be used as a tool to learn more about ourselves and our relationships. For more information, don't write back, but give Barbara Miller a call.
