With the analysis of handwriting, graphologists try to know aspects of the personality that the person analysed does not want to present to us , either because it is not convenient for him/her to do so, because he/she is not aware of them, or simply because they seem irrelevant to him/her.

In addition, graphological analysis is also used to contrast information obtained by other techniques, such as self-reporting or a personal interview. The latter is the usual practice in personnel selection processes.

What can graphology give us?

These techniques are currently used in Spain. In France their use is greater, it is estimated that between 50 and 75% of companies use them. In 1991 (date of the last independent study) 90% of French companies directly or indirectly used the information provided by the deed .

How do you analyze a handwriting?

To explain how handwriting analysis works, I always use the same example .

If you look at a piece you probably don’t know anything about it, or where it goes, or what is represented in it, you may also vaguely recognize something in that piece, when you connect this piece with the four pieces that correspond you may already appreciate something familiar, probably with little aplomb but as you connect pieces your perception of the matter will adjust more to reality. You may notice a piece that is very characteristic, for example the eye of the tiger in the puzzle, then you will know the meaning of that piece, and more or less where it will be located.

5 variables with interpretations shared by the vast majority of graphologists

Continuing with the puzzle metaphor, I’m now going to write about some pieces that graphologists look at to get a meaning from them with little or no need to connect them to others.

Because, within all the scriptural variables from which interpretations are generated, there is a group of them whose associations with the corresponding personality traits to which they refer. These are generally stable signs that can be interpreted in a simple way, however, graphologists contrast more data. In other words, in graphology these variables generate fairly stable conclusions about the subject’s personality in most cases.

1. Mix of lower and upper case

This situation occurs when we see a text in which lower case letters are predominant and capital letters are also present (ignoring those necessary for correct spelling). Capital letters are interspersed with small letters.

This sign has been related to the typology of the unfaithful cashier . It would be a sign of tendency to daily robbery and disloyalty. However, graphologists pay attention to the other variables presented in the text and contrast that there is no reasonable confrontation in the aspects related to loyalty. In other words, they check that the other variables in the text are not indicating the opposite with certainty. .

(Mixed case writing sample)

2. Middle zone overhang

What is overreach? Quickly, that the text (e.g. in a signature) is taller than it is wide. And the middle area? The whole area that is framed between the upper and lower limit of the oval of a writing, (e.g. the letter -o- ; the oval of the -d-, -g- or -p-) that is, it includes the area in which all the letters that have no upper or lower projection (hampas or jambs respectively, in graphological jargon) are written.

In graphology, the elevation of the middle zone is considered a sign in most cases negative, may suggest some arrogance in personality, arrogance, elevation of self … A person who is proud, conceited, and not very pleasant to deal with because of how ‘superior’ he feels, will probably present this variable in the writing, in the signature, or in both. I recall another golden rule of graphology: the fact that a sign is not present does not indicate connotations contrary to those presented if it were.

Examples are the signature of Himmler (powerful Nazi commander) and the signature of Donald Trump (candidate for the U.S. presidency).

(The two signatures on the left by D. Trump, the two on the right by Himmler)

3. Filiformity

Filiformity refers to the type of writing that takes the form of a thread. It is typical to see this in cartoons when a letter appears, usually they have not bothered to represent legible words and simply make a line with brief oscillations and separations resembling the course of a real writing. Filiformity is to print a line (or almost a line) where there should be a shape, for example, it is typical in the -m- or -n-, the mountains are decreasing until sometime due to the dynamism a line is simply drawn.

It is necessary to distinguish between general filiformity and partial filiformity. It can be a whole filiform word (general fil.), it can be filiform only the end (very common) or certain combinations of letters (partial fil.). In graphology, general filiformity will have a more positive interpretation than partial filiformity, being the partial one related to insincerity, lack of authenticity of the person or neurotic conflicts.

It is also mandatory to establish differences between filiform writing executed with dynamism and high speed from the slow filiform, the first one has positive connotations, it would be attributable, as a tendency, to a person with good social skills, with negotiation capacity, with good strategic sense or diplomatic skills. Regarding the slow filiform, we need to realize, to reproduce, to think about how this type of writing has been executed. Filiformity is normal when the writing speed is accelerated, it is an indicative feature of speed, however, someone who is producing filiformity at low speed is doing it deliberately, that subject is producing, with intention, a slow and illegible writing, besides, normally there is the situation that who writes filiform has a high graphic culture so the hypothesis of the lack of writing skills is generally discarded. Writing illegible ex profeso, in the words of Manuel J. Moreno: “[…] we can be faced with snobbish attitudes and inauthenticity”

The following image is written by the politician Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba , slow and extreme filiformity.


(Samples of filiform writings. Alfredo Pérez Rubalcaba left, unknown samples right)

4. Dissociation

Dissociation is the graphic phenomenon by which the oval is separated from the stick. This can occur in letters such as -d-, -g- and -p-. It happens when the oval is executed on one side and the palote on the other, in which case we have dissociation in writing. It is a very easy sign to notice, it shocks the eye quite a lot, and even according to the pattern of spaces that this writing keeps, it can confuse us in the reading by taking the oval for a -o- and the palote for an -L- (in the letter -d-)

This sign, in the words of Manuel J. Moreno , and connecting with psychoanalytic theories, “could be a symbolic exteriorization of a tendency to split or conflict between the self and the it (the unconscious)”. For his part, Augusto Vels relates it to the quality of the family relationship in childhood “[…] The mere fact of being separated from both elements is an excellent sign of conflict or disagreement, a frequent sign in people who have lived a childhood with ill-disposed parents […] and who have felt emotionally marginalized”

(Dissociated writing sample. “Dignity” and “Degraded”)

(Dissociated writing sample. Word “Córdoba”)

5. The wrap-around heading

Entering into terminology, rubric is the scribble when signing, the illegible part, and the signature is the legible part, naturally any combination between them can be given in the autograph of a person, there can be only signature, only rubric, both, etc… It is called rubric wrapping to the graphics whose trace wraps the signature. It is very common, surely you know someone who signs like this.

In graphology it is associated with the taste for being cared for, the need to feel protected within the family or marriage . In a positive graphical environment it is related to prudence and caution. Mauricio Xandró, explains: “It corresponds to a movement of introversion and the manifestation of a feeling of youthful inferiority. Almost all graphologists see a gesture of protection and isolation, which is also correct.

(Writing sample: wrap-around rubric, signature “Pedro Jimenez”)

Graphology is a complement, another technique of the repertoire

In the analysis and interpretation of scripture there is a rule that is present from the very first moment. If you ask a handwriting expert, chances are your question will be similar to: “y… What does it mean when I lean to the right” or “What about those who sign with a scribble that never looks like anything else” and the answer will most likely resolve the doubts presented, at least at first, but then the professional you have asked will most likely mention the need to contrast this particular fact you have raised with the other variables present in the writing for a correct and firm interpretation.

The need for contrast with the other variables comes from the differentiation between positive and negative graphic environments , with the same variable of the writing being able to have different interpretations depending on the graphic environment in which it is found. The graphic environment is determined by a series of aspects that must be evaluated separately due to their length.