Ask Anything: 10 questions with handwriting expert Regina Undorfer

Judith, I studied graphology from two great masters. The work of Felix Klein (deceased) in Gestalt Theory of Graphology and Dr. Erika Karohs, in Advanced and Contemporary Graphology of California.

I continue studying through my organization the American Association of Handwriting Analysts, Inc. I became a certified member with that organization. Handwriting analysis is an interpretive exercise; so the interpretation is only as good as the interpreter’s skill and background.

Catherine, the fact that your handwriting changes is absolutely normal. Handwriting is a neuromuscular action we have been taught to put our communication down on paper. Just as with our speech or our gait (two other physical actions very unique to individuals) our emotional state influences the outcome.

If you are upset, despite your ability to control your tone, a professional will pick up variances in the verbal expression; next time you are upset, notice how your step may be different too. Our bodies react to our feelings, so handwriting equally is affected by mood. If it wasn’t, you would be mechanical.

In handwriting, we look at the most predominant patterns, we allow for the emotional component, and best we like to see several samples of handwriting to compare if there is an overwhelming show of emotional extremes of traits or elements.

Carey, my best advice is to resist that urge. There is danger in a little knowledge, especially if it is shared with others and it is about them. The most important ethical consideration that handwriting specialist have to respect is “do no harm." Giving a “quickie” interpretation of someone’s writing can cause harm.

I suggest you study handwriting and join a good organization that can support you and help you grow in understanding of the benefits of analysis. Here is a free tip for you: Never believe that a person can tell you about your personality from looking at just your signature ... impossible.

That would be like me looking at your nose and describing your whole body ... very mistaken. You need to examine a body of handwriting, a good sample of handwriting and in addition the signature to truly evaluate personality traits in handwriting.

Denise, this is a good question. What we have seen in handwriting is that personality traits that are shared by family members are reflected in handwriting. For example, your father is extroverted and you are extroverted, both your handwritings will show the elements of extroversion.

The “hard-to-read” style tells the analyst something specific, but needs to be taken in context with the writing sample and having not seen your writing, I cannot address it. What we also see though, is that children can forge (or replicate) their parent’s handwriting easier than a stranger; many successful forgeries are done by family members.

Handedness does not bias handwriting analysis. Handedness, gender, age, and race are not distinguished by writing, so a good analyst will ask the handedness, age, and gender of the writer for an accurate analysis. The left-handed writer has had to make adjustments to write in a conventionally right handed world. When we see a sample of well-adjusted handwriting, we give that writer an extra plus for desire and accomplishment.

What we have seen with stereotypes is that there are individuals who are conventional. Those who will not depart from the expected manner so will stick to the format. Handwriting that departs from the schoolbook model (what you are taught in school) shows a writer whose evolution has allowed facets of their personality to show up in the writing. Why do all doctors (stereotype) write illegibly? Partly because they have been told this is how they write, giving them permission to write illegibly. If medical school demanded that they must write legibly or cannot become doctors, I guarantee you they would

Barbara, the simple answer is yes. The stroke has changed your writing skill understandably. An analysis would be difficult but not impossible. It would be limited to only certain elements and would be best compared to some old writing before your stroke. There is study and good research being done with handwriting and stroke victims in the handwriting community.

Yes, I have colleagues in my organization who have testified in court for handwriting analysis. Not all States in the U.S. allow this. I believe it is maybe 10 states that allow testimony of handwriting analysis regarding an individual’s mental status.

Jennifer, that is idiosyncratic to the writer. Any eccentric trait in handwriting should be evaluated with the entire body of writing; finding reductive or intensifying traits to support what it may implicate.

In the trait-stroke theory, attention to detail comes into question. In this case, parts are missing; I would be curious to see what else is left out or repressed in the overall writing.

Again, studying one trait is not a good analysis. You need to study traits in the total context of the writing taking into account all the other elements of writing (movement, arrangement, form, to mention a few).

I was hoping someone would ask this question ... YES! Penmanship has gone the way of “home economics” classes of yester year. Children are taught to print before or instead of cursive writing and now computers have even jeopardized the little writing exercise students get. It is a tremendous loss at so many levels (physical, emotional, developmental). We are seeing new trends in writing micrographia (small and diminishing writing) that will demand research for causal effects. Much analysis done with handwriting of low skill level reflect a deficiency of fine motor development and execution; what you are referring to “decrease in the quality of handwriting in general” is seen as low skill level.