Graphology: The Psychology of Handwriting

Handwriting can be sweeping, beautiful, slanted, small, or illegible—it’s hard to find two people who write exactly the same way. By carefully studying a person’s handwriting, you can learn about their character, personality traits, and even get an idea of their appearance. Handwriting typically settles into its final form around the age of 20, making it possible to analyze handwritten text accurately from that point on. So, what should you pay attention to, and how can you analyze someone’s handwriting as precisely as possible?

General Information About Handwriting

Graphology is the science that analyzes handwriting and connects various characteristics to personal qualities. The analysis considers the slant of the letters, their width, height, placement of words, compactness, and other factors that indicate personality traits. The combination of all these qualities helps create an accurate portrait and individual profile of a person.

Graphology can provide a thorough and detailed analysis of a person’s qualities. In some cases, it can even reveal sexual preferences, tendencies toward addiction or suicide, and a propensity for personal growth or decline. That’s why many psychologists use handwriting analysis in their practice. Additionally, many companies are starting to use graphologists when hiring specialists. It’s a new kind of lie detector that can also reveal tendencies that may emerge in the future. There’s no need to worry if you’re asked to write on a blank sheet of paper, and it’s not wise to try to fake your handwriting—you might end up giving yourself a disadvantage by distorting your profile.

What Do You Need for Handwriting Analysis?

Graphological analysis is usually conducted in the presence of a specialist, but if you know some of the basics, you can do it yourself. You’ll need a pencil and a regular blank A4 sheet. The person being analyzed should write at least four sentences without rushing or feeling nervous. The more text, the easier it is to identify certain handwriting criteria and determine personality traits. A pencil is preferred because it makes it easier to assess pressure, which is harder to do with a pen.

Sometimes, for greater accuracy, the analyst may ask for a previously written text, but not just any text will do. For example, greeting cards or official statements aren’t suitable because people tend to be more careful when writing them. In some documents, handwriting may not reflect personality due to haste or uncomfortable writing conditions. The best samples are those written in a calm state and comfortable position. That’s why graphological studies often use texts written by the same person at different times.

What Handwriting Characteristics Should You Pay Attention To?

Graphologists believe that you need several samples of handwritten text for analysis. This helps determine the person’s true handwriting. With each page, people tend to put less effort into making their writing look nice, so their handwriting becomes more natural. The last pages are usually the best for analyzing personality traits. But what characteristics should you focus on?

Before looking at the main criteria, pay attention to the sheet of paper itself. Its appearance can reveal basic information:

• A clean, neat sheet without pencil or ink smudges suggests the person is careful and orderly, with a tendency toward neatness and precision.
• A small, crumpled sheet with stains or torn edges indicates the person doesn’t care about the appearance of the paper or the beauty of their handwriting. This is a sign of an anarchic personality and stinginess.

Letter Size

The first handwriting criterion for determining personality is letter size, which can change with age. Letters usually get larger as people get older or due to physical conditions like illness or fatigue. Because of this, it’s best to analyze handwriting in people aged 25 to 45, when writing habits are stable and less affected by physical factors. Also, don’t focus on average-sized letters, as this is the most common size and doesn’t provide specific information.

• Large letters written without emotional or physical tension indicate leadership qualities, emotional stability, openness, and ease in building relationships.
• Small letters suggest the person can sit and work in one place for a long time. They are usually goal-oriented and reserved, but may be introverted and have difficulty fitting into social groups.

Margins in Writing

Pay attention to the margins when analyzing handwriting:

• Narrow margins indicate frugality. The closer the text is to the edges, the more dominant this trait is. Words that almost touch the edges suggest stinginess and greed, and such people may also be envious or vindictive.
• Wide margins suggest generosity and a love for living without worrying about money. Lots of empty space indicates a person who likes to live large and enjoy luxury, though these qualities aren’t always valued by others.

Writing Pressure

The pressure applied while writing reveals not only personality traits but also the person’s emotional state at the time. The stronger the emotions, the harder the person presses the pen or pencil.

• Strong pressure indicates energy and diligence. Such people may have difficulty building relationships but lead a disciplined life and are confident and strong-willed.
• Light pressure suggests a calm, gentle character, a tendency toward solitude, and reluctance to interact with many people. These individuals are good at building personal relationships but may be intimidated by larger groups. Sometimes, light pressure also indicates a romantic nature.

Line Direction

The direction of the lines in handwriting is significant, as it can reveal key personality traits. The slant of the writing can not only identify qualities but also indicate future tendencies.

• Wavy lines suggest a changeable character and mood, with frequent mood swings or a tendency toward adventure. Wavy words or sentences may also indicate a tendency to deceive and be cunning, so caution is advised when dealing with such people.
• Straight lines (as if written along a ruler) are most common and indicate a calm, rational character. Graphology claims these people can realistically assess their abilities.
• Lines that rise upward indicate an elevated mood and high self-esteem.
• Lines that slope downward suggest low self-esteem and a pessimistic outlook.

Letter Elements, Shape, and Slant

For a more accurate picture of individuality, look at how letters are connected and their shapes:

• If all letters are connected, the person has logical thinking, straightforwardness, and can be stubborn.
• Separate letters indicate a person with developed thinking and imagination, a rare trait. Balanced people often write 2–3 letters together, then separate, then connect again.
• Angular or sharp letters suggest selfishness. These people are independent and rarely help others.
• Rounded letters indicate a compliant person who is always willing to help, though they may have trouble saying no, which isn’t always a good thing.

The slant of the letters also reveals much:

• Slight left slant indicates a critical nature, with the person seeing themselves as above others and disregarding other opinions. The stronger the left slant, the more stubborn and insistent the person is on their point of view.
• Strong right slant shows a strong-willed character, decisiveness, some jealousy, and the ability to fall in love.
• Straight letters (no slant) indicate stubbornness without selfishness, showing a balanced perspective and realistic self-assessment.

Determining Character and Temperament by Handwriting

You can also determine not just character, but a person’s temperament type by combining several handwriting categories:

• Choleric: Right-slanted text, uneven, twisted, or tangled letters, strong pressure, and varying spaces between words.
• Phlegmatic: Thick letters with varying thickness throughout the text.
• Sanguine: Beautiful handwriting with flowing, sweeping letters and wavy lines.
• Melancholic: Uneven margins, “dancing” symbols (varying slant and position), elongated letters, strokes, and dashes.

Identifying Personality Traits

• Sensitivity: Letters with a slant, unfinished symbols, and light pressure.
• Intelligence: Decorative or illustrative details in the handwriting, often with no slant.
• Willpower: Letters without decorative elements, written strictly according to the rules, with no extra strokes.
• Harshness: Bold, thick letters, underlining of certain symbols, and careful writing indicate a cruel character.
• Balance: Beautiful symbols with connecting elements between them. At first glance, the handwriting may seem illegible.