Graphology defined: Grapho is the greek for writing and logy means study.

It is the study of handwriting, and in particular in order to reveal character and personality traits. Graphology can not only reveal character traits, but many people believe that it can also help you to improve on negative ones. Graphotherapy is the use of graphological skills to remedy character faults and weaknesses and strengthen positive attributes. The theory behind graphotherapy is that in the same way your thoughts and moods affect your handwriting, the way you write has an impact on the way you think and feel. Therefore by changing the way you write, you can change the way you think. Character Traits in Graphology Character Traits Ablity to prepare themselves for a job or work Adaptability, sociability and attitude to other people Attitude of writer to others Attitudes based on past experiences Attitudes to the future Attitudes to the past Attitudes to the present Capacity of concentration Confidence in ability to make decisions Confidence in ability to succeed Current behavior of the writer Degree of determination Degree to which writer communicates feelings to others Depth of emotional responses DEsires Grasp of new situations How writer adapts to his or her environment How writer feels life will treat him or her Importance placed in the past Intellectual abilities Intensity felt for certain words and phrases Introversion and extroversion Lifestyle writer prefers Mental energy the writer puts into Look up Starting Strokes Spacing between letters, words and lines Connecting strokes End strokes Baseline and size of margins Baseline and size of margins Baseline Size of letters Baseline Baseline End strokes Evenness of pressure used Word slant Speed of handwriting Pressure used Starting strokes End strokes and letter size: both height and width Baseline Starting strokes Speed of handwriting Pressure used Size of letters Height of letters Baseline

reaching his or her goals Need for personal space Need to draw attention Personal vitality Personality traits Physical vitality Planning ability Preferences Public self image Relationships Self expression Social attitude of the writer Speed of physical reactions Speed of thoughts BASELINES: Slope of Baselines:

Width of letters Starting strokes Pressure used Doodles Pressure used Variations between the left and right and top and bottom margins Pressure used Signature The width of a margin The size of letters End strokes Speed of handwriting Speed of handwriting

1. Level Baseline a. Controls moods b. Even tempered c. Level Headed d. Stable e. Reasonable f. Reliable g. Realistc h. Well organized 2. Ascending Baseline a. Ambitious b. Energetic c. Excited d. Has faith in the future e. Invigorated f. Involved in many activities simultaneously g. Joyful h. May be unrealistic i. Optimistic j. Wants to stay busy 3. Falsely ascending baseline a. A Quitter the point at which the lines begin to fall indicates that point in a projects progress at which the writer quits 4. Descending Baseline a. Critical b. Depressed c. Discouraged d. Fatalist

e. Fatigued f. Pessimist g. Tired h. Unwell i. Weak 5. Varied Baseline a. Moody b. Temperamental 6. Convex Baseline a. A brilliant starter b. Begins projects enthusiastically and optimistically but tires and may not finish. 7. Concave Baseline a. A reliable finisher b. Likes beginnings and endings c. Lacks initial confidence but overcomes negativity and eventually becomes positive 8. Baseline falls and rises more than once a. Battles against continuous discouragement 9. Constant baselines, descending words a. Fights depression and lacks self confidence 10. Constant baselines, ascending words a. Enthusiastic b. Lacks stamina c. Over-optimistic attitude to life 11. Suicidal baselines a. Someone with suicidal tendencies b. May give up suddenly and unexpectedly Shape of Baselines: 1. Rigid Baseline straight like a typewritten line a. Good decision maker b. Never self doubting c. Does not permit himself or herself to be wrong 2. Firm Baseline fairly straight, slight or occasional irregularity a. Can visualize goals b. Occasional self doubts 3. Wavering some letters dip below the baseline a. Can visualize goals b. Occasional self doubts 4. Wavering some letters float above the baseline a. Conflicts with established guidelines b. Doubts, goals, lifestyle or profession 5. Jumping section of a line or an entire word jumps above the line a. A moment of elation raised words suggest happiness; the more , the happier the writer is 6. Sagging section of a line or an entire word sags below the line

a. A moment of unhappiness or depression sagged words suggest depression; the more often they occur, the more depressed the writer. 7. Erratic Baseline a. Confusion b. Insecurity c. Emotional ups and downs d. Self doubt CONNECTING STROKES Connecting strokes are lines that join letters together in cursive script. There are no strokes in the handwriting of people who use capital letters only. Connecting strokes reveal the attitude of the writer towards others. There are FOUR types of connecting strokes: ARCADES, GARLANDS, THREADS and ANGLES. Most people use a combination of strokes with one of the strokes predominating. Predominating strokes determine the character. 1. Angular letters are connected using angles a. Aggressive b. Cold c. Competitive d. Conscientious e. Decisive f. Determined g. Disciplined h. Dissatisfied i. Domineering j. Egotistical k. Energetic l. Enthusiastic m. Excitable n. Firm o. Goal oriented p. Hardworking q. Idealistic r. Initiating s. Intolerant t. Irritable u. Logical v. Persistent w. Quarrelsome x. Reliable y. Rigid z. Slow aa. Strong minded bb. Strict

cc. Stubborn dd. Suspicious ee. Tense ff. Thorough gg. Uncompromising hh. Unsociable ii. Unyielding 2. Garland (normal) As taught in most schools, letters are connected using a rounded cup like underhand stroke. Deeper the garland, the more receptive the writer. a. Adaptable b. Affectionate c. Avoids conflicts d. Careless e. Confident f. Fickle g. Friendly h. Good communicator i. Good listener j. Hospitable k. Indolent l. Informal m. Kind n. Lacking self discipline o. Lazy p. Natural q. Open to influence r. Outgoing s. Peace loving t. Receptive u. Responsive v. Sincere w. Spontaneous x. Superficial y. Sympathetic z. Tactless aa. Talkative bb. Thoughtlessness cc. Tolerant dd. Uncalculating ee. Warm 3. Garland (deep) a. Contemplative b. Depressed c. Feels deeply for others d. Sympathetic 4. Garland (shallow) a. Amiable b. Elusive

c. Obliging d. Reckless e. Superficial f. Unrestrained 5. Threads Letters are connected with almost flattened thread like lines, usually making the words difficult to read. a. Adaptable b. Changeable c. Clever d. Creative e. Deceitful f. Diplomatic g. Easily influenced h. Elusive i. Insincere j. Instinctve k. Intelligent l. Intuitive m. Lacking conscience n. Lacking stamina o. Manipulative p. Opportunistic q. Perceptive r. Rebellous s. Resentful t. Spontaneous u. Talented v. Versatile 6. Arcade (normal) Letters are connected using an umbrella like, overhand stroke,. The flatter the arcade, the more the writer tries to cover things up. The higher the arcade, the more artistic the writer is likely to be. a. Altruistic b. Artistic c. Balanced d. Bigoted e. Deceptive f. Desire to cover up g. Desire to control h. Diplomatic i. Dissembling j. Emotionally isolated k. Formal l. Concerned with appearances m. Hypocritical n. Independent o. Individualistic p. Inscrutable q. Kind r. Lacking spontaneity

s. Meditative t. Modest u. Protective v. Proud w. Reserved x. Scheming y. Secretive z. Shy aa. Trustworthy 7. Arcade (flat) a. Defensive b. Hypocritical c. Pretentious d. Secretive CONNECTED AND DISCONNECTED WRITING 1. Connected Writing letters are connected in a progressive movement a. Adjustable b. Cooperative c. Dependent d. Good memory e. Lacking initiative f. Logical g. Organised h. Persistent i. Systematic Thinker j. Tenacious 2. Whole words are connected adjoining words are connected a. Highly creative b. Intelligent c. Logical d. Fondness for solving provlems 3. Disconnected Writing letters are not connected a. Detached b. Individualistic c. Intuitive d. Inventive e. Isolated f. Observant g. Poor adaptor h. Unsociable 4. Combination of connected and disconnected script a. Creative b. Independent c. Intelligent d. Intuitive e. Occasionally irritated f. Sensitive g. Tense

5. Disconnected first letters a. Cautious b. Observant c. Procrastinating 6. Disconnected last letters a. Ambivalent b. Hesitant c. Reflective of decisions END STROKES These are called finishing strokes and are the last strokes the writer makes while making a letter. End strokes reveal the following: The social attitude of the writer The speed at which the handwriting sample was made How the writer adapts to the environment The current behavior of the writer The attitudes of the writer based on past experience