There are many ways to analyze the personality of a person, but one of the most curious and interesting is through writing. Graphology is a technique used to analyze handwriting to understand people's behavior and personality, and it is often useful in legal proceedings.
Each person writes in a different way, whether in uppercase, lowercase, in a more curved, less curved way, or with specific features when writing. These aspects can contrast other information, and also, the strokes of the writing reveal the mood of the individual when writing.
According to Nauzet Betancort, a graphology expert, "through writing, traits such as self-esteem, security, stress level, impulsivity, or concentration capacity can be seen." Also, it "reveals how we relate to others and to what level of creativity we handle because writing is a reflection of our brain, so there is no way to hide what we are when we write," he says.
Analysis of writing
When analyzing a written text or phrase, various factors are used, such as the size of the letter, the inclination, the pressure, the speed, the continuity of the stroke, the margins, or the distance between words, among others. "All this tells us what the person who wrote is like because it is not the same as someone who writes with quick and loose strokes as someone who does it with a very measured and careful letter. Each detail provides information, and the analysis consists of observing those patterns and understanding what they mean," declares Betancort.
To be able to carry out this analysis, in addition to using the graphologist's own sight and experience, various tools are used that facilitate the work. "I use magnifying glasses, measuring templates, ultraviolet light to detect alterations, and, in some cases, graphic analysis software," he says.
However, in many cases such as forgery, "this is noticeable at first sight, like when you see someone with a badly placed wig... there is something that does not fit," the expert points out.
Regarding the time it takes to analyze a phrase, it depends a lot on the objective, that is, what is being sought. "If it is a general observation, in a few minutes you can already draw some basic features, but if it is a detailed analysis, contrasting with other samples and preparing a report, it can take from 30 minutes to several hours. Graphology, like good coffee, is done calmly so that it turns out well," he points out.
Use and reliability
Because this technique helps to know traits of a person without needing to talk to them, it can be useful in many contexts and situations. "It is used in personnel selection, in legal proceedings to verify the authenticity of documents, in private investigations and in criminology to analyze profiles. It can also help to better understand a person in areas such as vocational guidance," assures Betancort.
"It is a tool with many applications, although sometimes it is not given the recognition it deserves," continues the expert.
However, "it is not an exact technique like mathematics can be, but it is not a matter of chance either. It is based on observation and pattern analysis, and when it is done well, it has a high degree of reliability. However, it is not magic or divination, it is a technique that requires training and experience. In the hands of a professional, the results are quite accurate," he explains.
True and false signatures
One of the most important functions of graphology is its usefulness when identifying if signatures are true or false. "An authentic signature has naturalness, fluidity, and its own features that the person repeats without realizing it. On the other hand, a forgery usually presents tremors, strange pauses, and a more clumsy stroke," he declares.
"To analyze it, we observe the pressure of the stroke, the inclination, the speed, and the shape of the graphic gestures characteristic of each person. Suspicious signatures are also compared with other authentic samples because an imitation made in a hurry is not the same as a real signature made automatically and naturally," he says.
The undoubted (true) and the doubted (false) signatures are differentiated. The undoubted ones, for example, have an agile and continuous stroke, with good coordination between the movements, which indicates that the person is used to signing in this way.
On the other hand, the doubted ones have some interruptions in the flow of the stroke, which suggests that the signature was made with greater effort and less naturalness, among other aspects.
Regarding calligraphers, they "have a control of the stroke that is noticeable. They know how to handle the pressure, the speed, and the proportion of the letters with great precision and, in addition, they understand how the different writing styles are formed and can adapt to them. It is like when you see someone who knows how to dance for real: the difference is in the technique and in the mastery of the movement," concludes Betancort.
