Theory

Incomplete

Dimensions

The six basic dimensions that Elaine Quigley BA Hons uses are: 

• the average size of letters
• the pressure to the paper
• they rhythmic repetition of the strokes
• the slant of the letters
• the spacing, regular or irregular
• the roundness or sharpness of the letter's shape

Slant -

• Right slant indicates a response to communication. The writer may wish to be friendly, manipulative, responsive, etc.
• Upright generally means independence.
• Left slant shows emotion and reserve.

Size - 

• Small, under 9mm, can indicate a thinker or an academic.
• Small and delicate handwriting may indicate this person is not a good communicator and may be introverted.
• Large, over 9mm, can indicate the person is outgoing, and extrovert or the person acts as if they are confident.

Pressure -

• Heavy pressure indicates commitment, taking things seriously
• Excessive pressure could mean the writer gets uptight at times and can react quickly to what they see as criticism. They react first and ask questions afterwards
• Light pressure indicates sensitivity and empathy.
• Uneven pressure could translate to a lack of vitality

Zones -

• Upper Zone- Tall upper strokes are reaching towards goals and ambitions or, if they are very extended, there may be unrealistic expectations of what the person feels they must achieve.

   

  • If there are reasonably proportioned upper zone loops, this indicates someone who likes to think things through and use their imagination in a sensible way. 
  • Wider upper zone loops indicate more of a tendency to dream up ideas and mull them over.

   

  If the up-stroke goes up and then returns on top of itself, the writer may be squeezing out imagination and keeping to the basic requirement of getting down to the job in hand.

• Lower Zone- Lower loops are also varied and have different meanings.

   

  • For example, a straight stroke shows impatience to get the job done.
  • A 'cradle' lower stroke suggests avoidance of aggression and confrontation.
  • A full loop with heavy pressure indicates energy/money-making/sensuality possibilities, subject to correlation with other features.
  • A full lower loop with light pressure indicates a need or wish for security.

   

  If there are many and varied shapes in the lower zone, the writer may feel unsettled and unfocused emotionally. Again the handwriting analyst would look for this to be indicated by other features in the script.

• Middle Zone- These middle zone shapes can give some particularly interesting information.

   

  • The middle zone in the script represents the ego - from it, we get a lot of information as to how the writer feels and acts in public settings - what makes them tick socially and at work.
  • Some people's handwriting consists of only one single style, but many people will have a mixture of two handwriting styles or more.

   

  Again this provides useful information.

  All of these features have potentially positive and negative connotations; the analyst uses the flow and facility (ease, smoothness) of the script to infer a positive or negative interpretation.

Spacing -

• Word Spacing- The benchmark by which to judge wide or narrow spacing between words is the width of one letter of the person's handwriting.

   

  • Wide spaces between words are saying - 'give me breathing space'.
  • Narrow spaces between words indicate a wish to be with others, but such writers may also crowd people and be intrusive, notably if the writing lacks finesse.

• Line Spacing- Handwriting samples are always best on unlined paper, and particularly for exhibiting line-spacing features.

   

  • Wide-spaced lines of handwriting show a wish to stand back and take a long view.
  • Closely spaced lines indicates that that the writer operates close to the action. For writers who do this and who have writing that is rather loose in structure, the discipline of having to keep cool under pressure brings out the best in them.