Graphology is much like palm reading and astrology when it comes to its practical applications: the lines of the hand, a birth chart, and an individual's handwriting can all provide empirical insights into oneself and others; it can reveal personality characteristics that may otherwise go unspoken. Whether consciously or unconsciously, we are all reacting to and making assumptions about others based on their handwriting. That includes employers, dates, and teachers—anyone in a position to judge others will invariably take handwriting into account.
Now that we have covered the basics of handwriting analysis, let us see how a professional might use the system. Here is the story of two women who answered an advertisement for a job.
Candidate A and Candidate B are waiting to be interviewed by a specialist at their local hospital. They have been short-listed to attend an interview for the post of personal assistant. Part of the job description is to communicate with patients in person, by letter, and on the telephone, regarding appointments and general inquiries.
In terms of qualifications and experience, there is little difference between the two applicants, as they have both worked in busy medical practices for a number of years. Faced with the challenge of choosing between the two candidates, the specialist gives a sample of each woman's handwriting to a graphologist for analysis. Both candidates are married, and they are both in their forties. To distinguish between them, we will call Candidate A Beryl and Candidate B Joan. By reading through the analyses of the two handwriting samples, it should be possible to ascertain which candidate was selected for the position.
Beryl's sample reveals evenly spaced margins with a slight right-handed slant, and her script is of medium size, with her small letters predominantly in the middle zone. Her baseline is relatively straight, and the spacing between her words is neat and even. Also, the distance between the lines is basically normal. Her letters are mostly connected and her style of writing is garland.
This sample shows a woman who has good planning skills. She is friendly and has an outgoing disposition, and she enjoys human contact. Her social instincts are well developed, and she can leave her ego aside and focus on others when she interacts with them.
Beryl's handwriting indicates a person who is practical, flexible, and adaptable and has good organizational abilities. She is a thinking person who keeps her own emotions in check. She is orderly, methodical, and responsible and feels genuine concern for her fellow human beings. She is a clear thinker with inner balance and harmony, and she has a logical approach to solving problems as they arise.
This woman's writing reveals that she is expressive, cooperative, and usually at ease with most people and with the environment, and she normally avoids conflict.
Joan's handwriting sample shows a wide upper margin with a more pronounced right-handed slant. Her script is small and most of the letters are within the middle zone. The baseline is descending, and her words are widely spaced. Also, her letters are narrowly divided within the words, and her style of writing is arcade.
Joan's writing shows that she is respectful of her employer and elders and tends to live in the present with little thought for the future. She can be irresponsible and overly sentimental. Although she is sympathetic, she can be embarrassingly demonstrative. She has a tendency to analyze everything, including her thoughts and feelings. She is a thinking person, and she uses an analytical approach to the problems of life. Her writing indicates that she can be prone to fatigue if she is overworked and that she is unable to labor under pressure. This tendency can lead to a pessimistic attitude, and she can become depressive.
Although her writing shows intelligence and independence, she may take time and effort to think through her problems carefully before making a decision. She has a tendency to be introverted and overly cautious, and she lacks faith in her own abilities. Joan prefers to keep her own counsel, and she rarely lets others know her true thoughts and feelings, at least until she has worked them out for herself.
She can mix and communicate well with others when necessary, although she likes to keep her personal life private.
Which candidate do you think was offered the position? In this particular situation, given the requirements of the job, the successful applicant was Beryl. Joan went on to pursue another successful career that was in perfect harmony with her personality.
