GRAPHOLOGY
& FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY
By Dr.Fatema
Palgharwala
Report
submitted as part of Project
Graphology and Forensic Psychology
The day I went to the Institute to learn
graphology from our Master, he began the lecture saying ‘Graphology is my Life’
and today after practising graphology for more than 4years,I used it as my
thesis topic in Final Year Medicine and won awards for it, I use it with every
patient I meet and treat, have written many articles on the science, I cannot
thank my MASTER enough.
And this work will only make him happy.
I respect my science and have taken great
efforts to merge my new study with my subject of expertise.
Am happy about it.
I am putting under many examples and some scripts
of handwriting and a short note on FBI & Graphology
Also its sad our country does not have
special schools who teach graphology unlike UK and USA
Thank you.
Enjoy the read.
‘ANY SUFFEICIENTLY WELL DEVELOPED TECHINIQUE
IS NOT LESS THEN MAGIC’
Graphology
Graphology is a divination technique that studies handwriting and its connection
to behaviour, personal information and other human traits. Many graphologists
claim to be able to deduce personal information from handwriting. Police
Graphologers are called forensic document examiners.
Graphology is an ancient art that was first used by the ancient Chinese, the
Romans and the monks of the Middle Ages. In modern times, now writing has
become part of everyday life, graphology has come into its own. Originally an
occult art that searched for isolated signs and symbols within the script,
graphology has evolved from an intuitive practice to an exact science.
GRAPHOLOGY & PSYCHOLOGY
Max Pulver and Carl Jung were the first psychologists to propose that handwriting can pinpoint
the subconscious drives of the writer and today many big companies employ
graphologists to assess the character of job applicants or existing employees.
It also reveals the personality and the weaknesses and strengths of the writer
as well as his educational development and emotional traits. Tell-tale signs in
the script show important factors that could easily be missed in a short
interview. So be careful of job applications that require you provide a hand
written letter. The employer may be reading between the lines.
YOUR GRAPHOLOGY
Your handwriting is an insight into
your innermost self. Look at a sample of your own writing and notice which
words you emphasise most. Are any words written with heavy pressure, underlined
or the characters slightly bigger? These are the 'motive words'. They indicate
what's most on your mind at the time of writing. Perhaps you write with a big
'I' - watch out, you could be a bit egotistical. Or maybe you write another's
name with a lot of enthusiasm. This means you care for the person a lot. If you
write own name in a smaller style you may be a bit shy.
GRAPHOLOGY SIGNATURES
Your signature is important and will
show how you feel about yourself and the image you want to project to others.
It is the same size as the rest of the script this is usually a sign of
reliability and honesty. You are what you say you are. Large or underlined
signatures with a large initial capital letter show self-importance and a desire
to be admired, whereas flourishes that wrap around or enclose the name indicate
a protective and sometimes secretive nature.
Now have a look at the slant of the
text of your writing style. The more the writing slants to the right the more
outgoing you are. You need human contact and have a desire to give and receive
affection. But if your handwriting slopes at a very steep angle you may be too
emotional for your own good. Alternatively, a left slanting script indicates an
introvert character. You're guided by your head more than your heart. You may
need understanding to help you overcome your self-consciousness and can
sometimes be a little anti-social. Many people have a mixture of slants. This
indicates a versatile but sometimes moody personality. Changeable feelings pull
you between impulse and control.
The pressure and thickness of your
strokes also says a lot. Heavy pressure and thickness of line reveals a sensual
and energetic nature. Light pressure indicates a sensitive and sometimes
critical disposition. You may get tired easily. And a medium pressure, which is
most common, indicates a well--balanced personality.
Now study the size of your writing. A
large script shows that you love being in the limelight and need an exciting
social life to be really happy. But if it's really big watch out again for your
ego. A medium sized script shows that you are adaptable, polite and composed.
Small writing reveals a precise nature but if your writing is extremely small
you may feel inferiority too others.
The spacing between words and letters
tells how generous or mean you are. Also, it tells how outgoing you are. Narrow
spacing between words indicates a need for people and wide spacing suggests
caution in relationships. Wide spacing between lines is a sign of an inability
to plan and close line spaces the opposite.
Graphology
The graphologist's analysis would not
be complete without looking at the individual letters of the script. Each line
of text is divided into three zones. Letters that sweep upward into the upper
zone show the spiritual and intellectual aspirations, the middle zone is the
social and day-to-day attitude and the lower zone represents the subconscious
and emotional drives.
Graphology is a very precise science and the forms and shapes of every letter have
very exact meanings. Capital letters reveal your ego and public face and
inflated capitals show a desire to be admired and noticed. If you write like
this you may be a leader, conceited or both. When the capitals are scrolled and
over fancy, you may have bad taste. Small capitals, particularly if they are
smaller than the rest of the script, show a lack of self-confidence. Creative
people and artists use unique capitals and printed capitals can show your
ability to write well.
Open lower case letters, and
particularly the a and o, indicate that you are a talker. If your letters
overlap you are good at keeping secrets. However, if they become really knotted
together people better beware- you may be a liar. Even the dots over the i have
significance to the trained graphologist. Elongated dots reveal sensitivity,
thick ones bad temper and light dots high up show a refined character who may
be easily hurt.
The t's are also important. Strong lines
crossing the t reveal self-confidence and willpower. If it's really long you
will be very ambitious and may even try to put other's down. Small strokes show
a timid nature and a light bar at the top of the stem indicates you are a
dreamer.
These are the basics of Graphology.
Armed with this knowledge you can examine your own weaknesses and know your
strengths. By studying the handwriting of letters sent to you can now tell who
your friends are and know your enemies as well
CRIMINAL HANDWRITING CLUES
Criminal psychologists, popularised
recently by Robbie Coltrain in the TV series 'Cracker', (PHOTO) are employed by
the police to make character profiles of potential suspects. They will suggest
what the criminal's personality is like, their social standing, age, childhood,
eating habits, the model of car they would prefer, how they may dress and what
type of places they're likely to frequent. These profiles have proven to be
remarkably accurate. They are assembled from many sources one of which is the
analysis of handwriting.
Like a finger print, handwriting is
unique to its owner. From letter retrieved from the crime scene, kidnap or
black-mail notes, threats or letters sent to the press boasting of killing, the
graphologist is able to build a profile of the criminal and also distinguish
between the hoax letters and the real ones.
For example, a deceitful person will
often enrol their capital letters or leave an open baseline to the a's and o's.
Also they may draw the t bar in an unusual way. Small flat-topped m's and n's
reveal a bluffer and dishonest people may sometimes omit letters within words.
There are thousands of clues hidden in even the simplest of notes..
Instructions
Things You’ll Need:
Blank sheet of white paper; Ink pen;
Curiosity about people and an interest in handwriting and what it can reveal.
What your handwriting reveals
Step 1:
Hand the person that you’re
interviewing a blank piece of paper and an ink pen and ask him to write a
paragraph or two about himself. Ask him to sign it (using his signature) when
he’s completed the task. Leave the room while he’s doing this.
Step 2:
Afterwards, study what the person has
written. If he has overly slow handwriting this can indicate that he’s either
intellectually inferior or is trying to hide something. An adult with
reasonable intelligence does not write slowly most of the time. When slow
handwriting is evident (the opposite of swift, hurried handwriting which is
detectable) it can infer calculated behaviour or that the person is trying to
conceal something. A person who is writing from the heart, spontaneously, does
not have to carefully ponder each word that she writes down.
Step 3:
Check for big gaps between words. If
the person wrote: “I am thirty years old” he’s probably lying about his age.
Look at segmented letters. If a person prints, and the letters don’t touch,
this indicates stealth and deception.
Step 4:
Study to see if there are ‘cover
strokes’ (i.e., the tail of the last letter in a word swoops up and over a
portion of the word). This could indicate the person is feeling defensive and
has something to hide.
Step 5:
Look for the ‘felon’s claw’, which is
considered one of the most delectable traits in graphology. This shape is seen
when a person makes a straight down-stroke and then immediately goes into a
claw shape (comparable in shape to an upside down U but sharper). This
handwriting characteristic is associated with bitterness, bad instincts and
guilt. The higher the claw, the worse the situation is, and the more conscious
the writer is of her guilt and criminality.
Step 6:
Study the person’s signature. If the
person’s signature is significantly different from the text that she's written
this reveals that what you see is NOT what you get. This person is probably
pretentious and arrogant but not necessarily a crook. She may not behave in
public as she does in private, indicating duplicity.
Tips & Warnings
Learning graphology insights can give
you the edge if you’re in a position where you must hire people or, for
instance, if you’re an attorney and trying to pick a jury. Subtle, and
sometimes not so subtle, clues and cues can be picked up from a person’s
handwriting.
Handwriting is as unique as a
fingerprint. Our handwriting reveals our true selves.
Forensic Graphology is the study of handwriting
especially that found in ransom notes, poison pen letters or blackmail demands.
Forensic Graphology and Crime Solving
Although this is a recognised and called upon
scientific technique Forensic Graphology cannot tell a person's age or sex from
the handwriting. What it can do however is give indications as to the person's
state of mind at the time of producing a particular document, be it a blackmail
letter, a poison pen letter or a suicide note.
A Graphologist looks for insights into some of the
following:
Mood
Motivation
Integrity
Intelligence
Emotional Stability
A Graphologist will examine an individual's
handwriting for signs of some or all of the above and there may be other
factors that interest them as well, depending on the reasoning behind their
involvement in a particular investigation.
During the course of an investigation a
Graphologist will be called upon to offer advice as to how the individual was
feeling at the time of writing their document and how they wrote the document.
Examining The Writing
Aspects of the writing process include examining
slants and size of the writing, how the writing was put onto the paper - was it
written softly or heavily scrawled - and how the individual writing the letter
might speak. This may not sound important but
you can tell a lot about a person by the way they write - or more importantly -
in the words they write. It has become commonplace now for us as individuals to
write in the same manner as we speak, using abbreviations, slang and
colloquialisms that vary from person to person and indeed place to place. These
are important and a Graphologist can make good use of these things during the
investigative process.
Also they may be called upon to examine what may be
suspicious - or fraudulent - documents as is sometimes the case with insurance
claims and indeed in some rare instances, police statements where there have
been allocations of corruption.
How Graphologists Work
A Graphologist will employ the use of what is
called an ESDA test: Electrostatic Development of Indented Writing Impressions.
This test is used to bring to the fore evidence on paper that is not visible to
the naked eye. For example an ESDA test can determine whether or not a document
has been altered by being rewritten on top of another document or if there any
fingerprints on the paperwork, which might not be visible.
Working Together
Another important aspect of a Forensic Graphologist
is to help provide a usable profile in conjunction with a forensic psychologist
that police can use in order to draw up a list of suspects.
Profiling an individual's writing can prove
immensely valuable and can throw up evidence as to their state of mind, their
education, their intellect and also their egotistical tendencies. Some writers
of poison pen letters or ransom demands may make outrageous claims or
disparaging remarks which when directed at the person receiving the letters can
lead to a name being given as a possible suspect.
It is important to note however that no two
individual's handwriting is the same and also you cannot tell their sex or race
from their handwriting but it can give interesting clues as to their mental and
emotional state.
GRAPHOLOGY
in PSYCHOLOGY
Elaine describes graphology is
'brainwriting' - the handwriting comes directly from the writer in a uniquely
personal and individual way, irrespective of how the person has been taught to
write: an expert graphologist understands the styles of the different countries
and languages and makes allowances for 'taught' influences. Also largely
irrelevant to the actual analysis is the content of the written text. The
science of graphology uses at least 300 different handwriting features in its
investigative approach. The graphologist's interpretation skill is in the
psychological art of understanding the particular blend of handwriting features
- an expert is able to see the writer 'step off the page'.
Graphology theory and history
A person's handwriting - the script - and its placing on the page express the unique
impulses of the individual: logically, the brain sends signals along the
muscles to the writing implement they control. By examining a handwriting
sample, an expert graphologist is able to identify relevant features of the
handwritten script, and the way the features interact. The features, and
interaction between them, provide the information for the analysis. (No single
handwriting sample will exhibit all 300 different features of course - a
typical analysis will involve far less).
No single handwriting feature proves anything specific or absolute by itself; a
single feature alone can only identify a trend. It is the combination of
features, and the interaction between them that enable a full and clear
interpretation.
Graphology is actually a very old and respected science - the study of
handwriting and its analysis was first developed by the Chinese 3,000 years
ago. The Romans used graphology, and through the centuries since then various
civilisations and cultures have analysed handwriting to identify the essence of
the person who produced it.
The modern approach to handwriting analysis was established by a group of
French clerics, led by Abbe Michon, who defined key aspects of the science in
the 1870s, after 30 years of study. This work formed the basis of modern
graphology, although the science is still being researched and expanded today
.
Professional graphologists operate to a strict code of ethics, and these
experts are constantly in demand; those who use it recognise its value in the
workplace as an additional method of understanding character. It is therefore
an extremely useful tool in identifying the quality and capacity of an
individual's talents and potential, particularly in career guidance and
improving relationships. Like other powerful behavioural or intuitive models,
it is not easy to explain how and why graphology works, nevertheless it continues
to be used, respected and appreciated by many because it achieves a high level
of results
PSYCHOLOGICAL ANALYSIS OF HANDWRITING
Psychological analysis of handwriting, or graphopsychology,
consists in the study and practice of advanced graphological techniques which
offer a scientific interpretation of an individual’s personality based on
handwriting and, in part, on doodles and drawings. Like psychiatry and
dualistic psychologies, it looks at graphic-motor representations (writing) of
mental activity as indicators of psychological states, as opposed to
materialistic psychology which rejects the idea of mind.
The term graphopsychology was coined by the
Italian graphologist Marco Marchesan and it is the term that has gained the
greatest acceptance among professionals, although there are also other names
used to refer to the discipline, such as psychographology, coined by
Father Girolamo Moretti, and psychology of writing, by Wilhem Preyer,
Robert Saudek and Jean Charles Gille. The layman tends to equate
graphopsychology with graphology, believing them to be synonymous; this
confusion is easy to understand if we consult the dictionary of the Real
Academia Española, which defines graphology as “the science or art of
ascertaining someone’s character through graphisms” (ciencia o arte de
averiguar el carácter a través del grafismo). There is, in any case, a
close relation between the two; graphopsychology is a specialisation within the
field of graphology – not the only one, but certainly the most well known.
Graphopsychology, used as a projective technique,
fits within the general framework of psychiatry as a way of diagnosing a
patient’s state of mind. It is considered one more personality assessment tool
within a scientific protocol which psychiatrists follow exactly, step by step,
called the exploration of psychological or psychopathological symptoms.
Exploration of psychological or psychopathological
symptoms is carried out by interviewing the patient as well
as their family members, friends and colleagues; then there are “diagnostic”
interviews, various medical tests, batteries of tests, and even the qualitative
analysis of writing, all of which offer data and direct information concerning
the person’s state or mental processes. Most of this method can be applied to
criminology, especially in interviewing suspects.
GRAPHOPSYCHOLOGY AND PSYCHOLOGICAL TESTS
Humans invented writing as a way of putting down
anything that could be expressed – events, ideas or feelings – and not as a
means of psychomotor exploration (graphophysiology, medical graphology, etc.)
or of mental exploration (graphopathology, graphopsychology, etc.) or of
identifying the writer (handwriting analysis); rather, all of these were a
later result of observation, experimentation and the discovery of correlations.
Graphology is, then, a body of systematised knowledge acquired through rigorous
application of the scientific method. Graphology itself is not a test, but
rather a science made up of various specialisations. Nevertheless,
distinguished scholars have created tests ("tools which have been
painstakingly and scientifically designed to statistically measure certain
psychological aspects of the complicated human personality”, J. Paricio)
based on graphological premises, that is to say, on aspects and sub-aspects of
the graphological method. Notable examples are Dr Malespine’s graphe test,
Salvador Escala’s test palográfico (palographic test), and Dr Emilio
Mira y López’s myokinetic test (PMK), which is currently being developed by Dr
Josep Maria Tous Ral.
The many similarities between the Rorschach test
and graphology (laws of interpretation: symbolism related to space, area,
shape, etc.) are the result of their common projective focus, even if (as Bohm
points out) the two differ in terms of the reactive mechanism:
"impression" versus "expression". That is, the Rorschach
test offers information via perceptive channels (visual stimuli) as
opposed to action channels (expressive movements) in graphology, or instinctive
channels (the representation of desires) in the Szondi test. For this
reason E. Bohm stated that the Rorschach technique “can be rounded off with
the Szondi test (a combination which is also used in the Menninger Clinic) or
with graphology".
I insists that a background in psychology is
indispensable if one hopes to gain a correct evaluation through these tests,
whether used separately or together: What
graphology and the Szondi test have in common with the Rorschach test is that
they are all only tools and that mere mastery of the technique is not
sufficient to guarantee results: what is most important is knowledge of
psychology.
This is so because all these tests follow the same
general rules of interpretation: 1) overall perspective, 2) scientific study of
its components (statistics), and 3) critical synthesis of the whole
(diagnosis).
As far as graphology is concerned, there is no one
specific criterion – nevertheless, one can combine the following steps used in
establishing a graphodiagnosis:
1. General recognition of the graphic aspects and
sub-aspects
2. Recognition and interpretation of basic graphic
signs (the most significant ones, those with greatest strength)
3. Recognition and interpretation of secondary
graphic signs
4. Recognition and interpretation of type-gestures
5. Interrelation of the various interpretations of
graphic signs (basic, secondary and type-gesture) This is the most complicated
phase, whose difficulty is not associated with recognising the graphic components
(technique/science), but rather with correctly interpreting and evaluating
(intuition plus knowledge of psychology) their merger and the potential
combinations. It is the same way with an architect, who raises solid,
stable buildings (engineering/mathematics), and yet does not forget the
artistic sense, the expressive and aesthetic wealth of the parts.
To do this, the following guidelines must be
followed:
1. The writing sample is to be interpreted as a
whole, based on the study and understanding of its parts.
2. There are no absolute values: the signs in and
of themselves are ambiguous and lack any meaning taken alone.
3. The meaning of a sign will change depending on
the meaning of the others.
Graphology or handwriting analysis is
based upon the interpretation of certain signs and symbols to be found in a
specimen of handwriting. In the view of a graphologist, the complicated mental,
physical, and psychic machinery known as human beings betray so much detail
about themselves in their handwriting because the actual process of handwriting
begins in the mind, with thought. All handwriting is first an idea that becomes
a desire to communicate that thought to paper. Graphologists perceive
handwriting analysis as a doorway to the subconscious. As such, not only
conscious but subconsciously formed habit patterns and personality traits show
up in an individual's handwriting.
Because handwriting reveals the inner
person through his or her subconscious, graphologists believe that there are
universal symbols that are evident in handwriting, beginning as early as a
child's first attempts at writing. For
King Faria, a water witch, holds a
divining rod made of weeping willow. (
CORBIS CORPORATION
)
example, if in a child's handwriting
analysts were to observe angular patterns formed like the points of arrows or
spears, they would have little difficulty recognizing such formations as likely
symbols of aggression. There has been some conflict within the ranks of
graphology on the question of whether or not pre-writing scribbles may indicate
personality traits in children. A scribble, as defined by graphologists, is a
spontaneous discharge of energy. It is not meant to convey a message, and
children make them for the sheer joy of it. To children, scribbling is simply a
means of expression. They leave on the paper, therefore, a record of their
prevailing mood, whether joy or unhappiness. Likewise, if they are angry, they
may sit down and make motions on a piece of paper resembling the slashing
actions of a knife.
Graphologists are convinced that
handwriting analysis can reveal an individual's innermost thoughts,
motivations, and desires. The handwriting of individuals with an advanced
psychosis and extreme neurosis would differ from that of an "average"
person. In psychosis, the analyst would see traits that are considered normal,
but they would be exaggerated, amplified, carried to such lengths that they
would become, then, undesirable traits. For example, in the case of a
schizophrenic, where the personality has separated itself from the everyday
world and formed another world of its own, a graphologist would expect to see
the handwriting symbols for imagination exaggerated to a tremendous degree. In
the case of the extreme neurotic, the differences are again quantitative,
rather than qualitative, dealing with a blown-up effect on one trait, and
perhaps, a diminished, or totally absent, symbol trait which could balance the
overemphasized qualities of the other.
Normal handwriting would, therefore,
have to show the balance missing in neurotic or psychotic handwriting. A
balanced handwriting would be the outward manifestation of a balanced mind.
Leftward movement of the handwriting indicates a writer who has a tendency to
live in the past and to be of a passive disposition. Rightward movement usually
reveals a writer who is future-minded and somewhat aggressive.
The degree to which individuals have
balanced their tendencies and personality traits is an invaluable clue to a
prospective employer, and many companies and businesses have begun employing a
graphologist on their staff. Graphologists maintain that an employer can get an
indication as to how an individual will react under stress and determine
whether or not a person in their employ would act in a violent, antisocial
manner in moments of excitement in dealing with customers. To illustrate the
above point, graphologists have shown how prospective embezzlers would give
themselves away by their handwriting. The oval letters—the "o," the
"a," and in certain cases, the oval formations on the small letters
"p" and "d"—would be opened up at the bottom. It would
appear as though someone had come along and erased the bottom of these letters,
suggesting that the embezzlers want to fill up the holes with some money.
The above signs constitute a general
rule and should not be regarded as universal or absolute. A cautious and
discreet graphologist would be careful never to make a definite finding on the
basis of only a few signs, but many handwriting analysts believe that company
executives in charge of hiring could gain helpful information about prospective
employees by looking for such signs as the following.
Small writing shows either the
ability or the potential for a high degree of concentration. Narrow, peaked
connecting strokes between words are an expression of withdrawal.
Introverted people are likely to sign
their names far to the left of the main body of a piece of writing, continuing
a general leftward trend.
Graphologists believe that even a
glance at the white spaces to the left and right and above and below the
written matter provides instant insight into the writer's personality. For
example, if a left margin starts out narrow and widens as the lines of writing
proceed down the page, the body of the writing should normally reveal, among
other things, indications of enthusiasm, optimism, and generous spending
habits. The left margin represents the beginning point for the writer's
activities. If the lines of writing are begun far to the right of the page's
left edge, the writer's pen had to make a considerable "leap" before
tracing the first word. Individuals who begin writing in this way are also
prone to "leap" enthusiastically into their undertakings.
If the left margin of the writing is
overly wide, the writer may have erected a facade to conceal true feelings.
Since the hand must travel from left
to right to execute a line of writing, a narrow left margin indicates a
reluctance to move into the realm of action. The complete absence of a left
margin may symbolize the writer's subconscious desire to return to an infantile
state of dependency.
Individuals who set themselves apart
from others because of snobbishness or pride leave inordinately wide left
margins, but the graphologist must be careful, for such margins are also
characteristic of the writing of shy persons.
If the left margin widens as the
writing proceeds down the page, it is a sign of haste and a nervous nature. If,
on the other hand, the left margin narrows as the lines descend, it shows that
the writer suffers from fatigue, physical weakness, or perhaps, illness. Such a
margin is also the sign of psychological or physiological depression.
The right margin symbolizes
destinations reached, goals achieved, and the writer's attitude toward the
future. In contrast to the left margin, which corresponds to the false front
individuals may use to hide their feelings, the right margin reveals a genuine
desire to be close or distant to the other people they contact in the course of
living life. A wide right margin shows that the writer actually prefers to
remain distant, while a narrow right margin shows a genuine desire for close
relationships.
The idea of graphotherapeutics began
in the early part of the twentieth century when a number of psychologists,
psychiatrists, doctors of medicine, and graphologists cooperated in a study of
the reciprocal effects of personality and handwriting. They interpreted symbols
in handwriting as having been formed by a sort of feedback process. Not only
does the mind influence or shape handwriting, but handwriting can also shape
the mind. The flow of electrical energy in the form of nerve impulses
throughout the nerves and various nerve endings also returns to the mind along
other neural pathways. Working under this premise, when people see what they
know to be an undesirable trait appearing in their handwriting, they can change
the trait by changing their handwriting.
When handwriting experts in police
laboratories examine a suspected forger's signature or an alleged note left by
a suicide victim, the first problem they face is to determine the writer's
special characteristics. Even skilled forgers may not be able to see the subtle
marks, pressures, slanting, and shading that an expert graphologist will
perceive almost at a glance. The FBI Laboratory and laboratories of state and
city police departments keep on file all extortion and ransom notes, all
threatening and defamatory letters, and all messages that threaten bombings,
arson, or personal attacks on individuals. As strange as it may seem, criminals
of all kinds who once put their demands or threats in writing will most often
do so again.
Although handwriting analysis may
provide valuable leads that in some cases may lead to the discovery of the
perpetrator of a crime and that person's subsequent arrest, the testimony of
graphology by itself has not been accepted by appellate courts in the United
States. In spite of the claims made by graphologists, the courts have ruled
that it does not meet the requirements of the kind of science
Woman consulting with the book I Ching and using fortune sticks. (FORTEAN PICTURE
LIBRARY)
that may be relied upon in a court of
law. In those instances where a person's employment may have hinged upon a
graphoanalytical evaluation, plaintiffs may sue an employer who used graphology
in an employment decision.
Crime solving is one of the most
exciting areas for the handwriting analyst. Information provided by a
professional graphologist can help investigators compile a profile on the
culprit as well as provide insight into a criminal’s mental state.
The most commonly requested graphology service would be determining forgeries
or falsehoods in written statements. Possible suspects are asked to write
statements describing where they were on the day in question, everything they
did, and to finish the statement with a declaration that they did, or did not,
commit the crime.
The results
are revealing, narrowing the scope of the investigation, and lead to the arrest
of the true perpetrator.
The FBI Laboratory, an organization
which now has almost unlimited scientific resources for criminal investigation
at its disposal, started in 1932 with one microscope and one examiner. However, the main purpose of the Laboratory –
to be of service not only to our own Special Agents in their investigations,
but also to city, county, State and Federal law enforcement agencies all over
the United States – has remained unchanged.
“There has been great progress made in
the scientific study and analysis of handwriting during the past century. Out of this gradual accumulation of knowledge
has come the realization that each person’s writing – like each person’s
fingerprints – contains certain individual characteristics. This is the fundamental principle on which
handwriting comparisons are based, and on which testimony is given in and
accepted by courts of law.”
-- Excerpt from “They Write Their Own
Sentences”
The FBI Handwriting Analysis Handbook
FORGING A SIGNATURE
The basic methods to forging a signature are:
Freehand drawing by copying an
adjacent example
Freehand drawing from memory
Tracing from a genuine copy using a
transparency, superimposition, or transfer of a genuine signature.
|
Not all crimes are solved by looking for changes to
the body during a post-mortem examination or gathering trace evidence at the
scene. Sometimes, a careful study of documents, especially legal
documents, can reveal changes that point the way to a likely suspect.
For example, a greedy son may change the will of his mentally impaired father
to benefit from a greater inheritance. This is done by creating a new will
or trust and forging the individual’s signature. Normally, such cases come
to the attention of law enforcement agencies after the reading of the will when
other family members become suspicious.
In these cases, a document examiner is called in to assist the
detectives. This criminalist’s role is to make a critical examination of
the document in question and compare it with other documents to:
1) Establish that it
is genuine
2) Expose forgery in
the forms of alterations, additions, or deletions.
3) Identify
individuals through documents showing the authorship of handwriting.
“No one can get out of his own skin. We act
out our psychological past. For this reason, we are bound to expose
ourselves in the association experiment in exactly the same way as we do in our
own handwriting.”
-- C.G. Jung
YOUR DOCTOR IS MEDICAL PRACTITIONER
a CONSULTING GRAPHOLOGIST,
MEDICAL LAWYER AND ETHICS CONSULTANT,
FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGIST at HAPPY HOMOEOPATHY CLINIC.
09762688352
0971557863353
TWEET @ffspp
drfatemapalgharwala@gmail.com
