GRAPHOPSYCHOLOGY

ABSTRACT

Today’s crime scenario and sophisticated crime type has put the investigators into most difficult situations of crime solving. Nowadays criminals are not only trained for executing crimes but are also trained mentally and physically to withstand any type of physical or mental torture if caught. The use of third degree on these sophisticated criminals has failed which was on first hand was unlawful and on the other hand was not an appropriate method of interrogation. The major challenge which the investigators face is of multiple suspects in a single crime. And exposure of all the suspects to multiple methods of interrogation is again a cumbersome process and definitely not a fool proof methods.

New techniques have been developed by scientists and researchers in terms of exposing the suspects to tests wherein their mental level, status and their motives can be known. In this due course various psychological tools has been developed which are now have become a major forensic tool for investigation which comes under the purview of forensic psychology. Being subjective in nature reports developed out of forensic psychological tools are only admitted as a corroborative evidence but has been taken up very well as an investigation tool.

A new type of science which has a very long history of existence has come up in few years known as graphology. Handwriting is as unique as a fingerprint. Graphology is studying handwriting, and how that handwriting ties in to a person's behavior. While graphology is not regarded as forensic evidence, it is still often used in combination with other techniques to profile criminals to aid authorities in their investigations.

Due to various types of critics, ambiguities and reliability in the use of graphology in isolation has been a question in near past. Although various researchers and scientists are working on the fact to prove Graphology as a fool proof method to understand a person’s behaviour, but a percentage of subjectivity will remain.

This paper puts forth an idea for the development and use of combination psychology and graphology in order to reduce the level of subjectivity in both the sciences. This innovative combination known as “Graphopsychology” on first hand can be used as an investigative tool. Graphopsychology is in its developmental stages and to be established as a science would be subjected to multiple validation tests. With a combination of neuro scientists, graphologists, psychologists this can come up as an innovative science with multi-fold usage not only in the field of crime but also other areas for a common man. In due course of time Graphopsychology may also be used as one of the corroborative report along with other evidences in the court of law.

INTRODUCTION

What’s handwriting ? Writing done with a pen or pencil in the hand; script. A style or manner of writing by hand, esp. that which characterizes a particular person;

UNIQUENESS IN HANDWRITING AND ITS DEVELOPMENT

From childhood to adulthood – three developmental phases

Avé-Lallemant’s statistical research (1970) resulted in norms for many handwriting indicators typical of individuals aged between 6 and 20 years. The developmental patterns that were found showed that youth could be divided into three distinct phases (Avé-Lallemant, 1994):

Phase I – Childhood (age 6-12)

Handwriting gradually overcomes clumsiness and becomes fluent during the “Pre-calligraphic stage” (the first 2-3 grades). In third grade the “Calligraphic stage” is achieved showing a childish, school form handwriting, generally maintaining stability. This reflects the stable period of “higher childhood”, or the “latent-period” of Freud. Disturbances found during this period are the result of health problems or the reflection of psychological problems, caused by external forces.

Phase II – Puberty (age 12-14):

A very unstable period. Signs of distress occur very frequently and change rapidly. It is a period of an endogenic- crisis, caused by imbalance in hormone-production and enhanced physical growth. Handwriting changes also reflect the fluctuating body-image and self-image.

Phase III – Adolescence (age 14-20):

The handwriting shows gradual re-stabilization. In this process frequent periods of artificial writing (“Role-writing”) occur, and typical signs of distress may constitute a second peak. This is typical for the identity-crisis, usually occurring around age 16.

Only at the end of phase III will a new stability, as known in adult handwritings, be achieved and maintained.

Handwriting analysis is a tedious and methodical process that relies on extensive knowledge of the way people form letters, which characteristics of letter formation are unique and the physiological processes behind writing - the ways in which a person's fine-motor skills can affect his or her handwriting and leave clues about the author's identity. The primary basis of handwriting analysis as a science is that every person in the world has a unique way of writing. When we were all kids in primary school, we learned to write based on a particular copybook - a style of writing. Which copybook our handwriting is based on depends on when and where we grew up. So at first, we all probably wrote in a similar way to kids of our own age and location. But with the passing of time, those writing characteristics we learned in school - our style characteristics - became only the underlying method of our handwriting. We developed individual characteristics that are unique to us and distinguish our handwriting from someone else's. Most of us don't write the way we did in first or second grade. And while two or more people may share a couple of individual characteristics, the chance of those people sharing 20 or 30 individual characteristics is so unlikely that many handwriting analysts would say it's impossible.

Handwriting is affected by several physiological factors, including handedness and age. Children and older people will demonstrate differences in fine motor skills compared to healthy adults. Children's letters tend to be more clumsy until they master the skill, and older people often develop muscle or joint issues that can make their writing look trembly.

STUDY OF HANDWRITING FROM VARIOUS ASPECTS

1. GRAPHONOMICS a. Graphonomics is the interdisciplinary field directed towards the scientific analysis of the handwriting process and the handwritten product. b. Researchers in handwriting recognition, forensic handwriting examination, kinesiology, psychology, computer science, artificial intelligence, paleography and neuroscience cooperate in order to achieve a better understanding of the human skill of handwriting.

2. FORENSIC HANDWRITING ANALYSIS

Handwriting Examinations

The examination of handwriting to assess potential authorship proceeds from the above principle of identification by applying it to a comparison of samples of handwritten material. Generally, there are three stages in the process of examination. In brief, they are:

1. Analysis: The questioned and the known items are analyzed and broken down to directly perceptible characteristics. 2. Comparison: The characteristics of the questioned item are then compared against the known standard. 3. Evaluation: Similarities and differences in the compared properties are evaluated and this determines which ones are valuable for a conclusion. This depends on the uniqueness and frequency of occurrence in the items. 4. Optionally, the procedure may involve a fourth step consisting of verification/validation or peer review.

Certainly the most significant shortcoming of handwriting analysis as a science is the fact that it is ultimately subjective. This means that its acceptance in the scientific community and as evidence in court has historically been shaky. Only recently, as the training of analysts has become more standardized and certification procedures have been put in place, has handwriting analysis started to gain more acceptance as a reproducible, peer-reviewed scientific process. The results of a handwriting comparison are still not always accepted as evidence in a court case, partly because the science has a few more hurdles to clear, including determining a reliable error rate in analysis and setting standards for the comparison process. The addition of computerized handwriting analysis systems to the process, including the FISH (Forensic Information System for Handwriting) system, which allows examiners to scan in handwritten documents and digitize the comparison process, may speed up the process of general acceptance of handwriting analysis as a science and as expert evidence in court.

3. GRAPHOLOGY

Etymologically, graphology means the science of the study of graphisms (graphos: writing / logos: science). The various graphological specializations arise as a result of the direction, or discipline, given to said study. In some of these specializations (graphophysiology, medical graphology, forensic handwriting analysis, etc.) the neuter graphological method is used; that is to say, graphic aspects and sub-aspects are analyzed using graphological terminology, without necessarily needing to make any psychological interpretation thereof.

Graphology is the study of graphisms, handwritten graphic symbols that represent words and ideas; from the graphological point of view, writing (a neuromuscular and psychic act) is understood to be a convergence of voluntary physical gestures that, via a semiconscious-learning process, become internalized, automatic and personalized due to a series of biological factors and to the sum of socio-cultural experiences.

While graphology is not regarded as forensic evidence, it is still often used in combination with other techniques to profile criminals to aid authorities in their investigations. Handwriting is as unique as a fingerprint. Graphology is studying handwriting, and how that handwriting ties in to a person's behavior.

Graphology is the science of Handwriting analysis; it uses a combination of Common sense concepts, generalized concepts, psychology, scientific deduction and Intuition.

The scientific principles of graphology can be applied to analyze handwriting in any language since the analysis does not depend on content but on characteristics found in the writing. The foundations of graphology lie in psychology, which is the study of the human mind and behavior. It is a scientific method of identifying, evaluating, and understanding personality via the strokes and patterns revealed by handwriting.

Graphologists identify these strokes as they appear in handwriting and describe the corresponding personality trait. Handwriting is like body language, but is more specific and is frozen for a more detailed analysis of our unconscious movements. Compared to other personality assessment tools and tests, handwriting analysis is sometimes more accurate and much more revealing. When answering psychological questions in person or on paper, a person may consciously or unconsciously answer according to how he thinks he should answer rather than giving an honest reply.

Since writing is brainwriting, the individual character traits will still come forth, no matter how the pen is held. People do change over time, and so does their handwriting. Handwriting can fluctuate with someone‘s mood, but this does not decrease its validity, it increases it.

4. DYNAMIC GRAPHOLOGY

The “Dynamic Graphology” method was designed by Avé-Lallemant as an anti-thesis to the Klagesian principles of determinism and bio-centricity. It is designed to prepare constructive reports for the writer instead of judgmental ones on the writer. The assessment focuses on an active search of latent potentials and remnants of strengths, even if they cannot be fully be expressed, temporarily or habitually. Thus the bright side is extracted and stressed, and the personality is described “from within” and as having free choices.

The uniqueness of this system is its concentration on the dynamic growth of the personality, considering that assessment is usually performed during problematic periods. A general dynamic pattern is suggested, as a developmental process from childhood to old-age. The growing complexity and maturity of the personality is described in an original phenomenological-psychological model of seven evolving personality aspects. The theoretical model is supported by experimental results of a handwriting survey of various age groups. Moreover, individual dynamic changes occur throughout all phases of life, as periods of problems, crisis or re-organisation. These changes are revealed in the handwriting as temporary “signs of distress” and as rhythm disturbances. Their identification enables differentiation between “state and trait”.

The overall method involves a full analysis of a series of handwriting samples from different ages, according to the described guidelines, and integration of additional and supportive information, extracted from current graphic tests (The Tree test, the Wartegg Drawing Completion Test and the Star-Wave-Test).

The Basis of Dynamic Graphology

Avé-Lallemant believes that psychodiagnostics should never be based on one test only. Therefore a whole test-battery is needed, and she suggests that graphologists use the “Small Graphic-Test Battery”, including handwritten samples, the “Tree Test” (Avé- Lallemant, 1980), the “Wartegg Drawing Completion Test” (Avé-Lallemant, 1994) and her “Star-Wave-Test” (Avé-Lallemant, 1984). The drawing tests yield information on the deeper layers of the personality, and often sub-conscious material is expressed and symbolized. This should be integrated with the more conscious and socialised traits that are expressed in handwriting. Often one specific test will surprise us by providing a new piece of information that may give us a clue to the hidden problems or treasures repressed by wasted energies.

Avé-Lallemant claims that her method of handwriting analysis was not designed to be compared with other methods but rather to act as an auxiliary tool in individual- consultation. While most graphological methods were designed to produce a report on a candidate, this method strives to produce a report for the writer. We deal with the same graphological information, but our view-point is shifted from the critical, judgemental and clinical approach, based on outside-criteria, towards a more constructive and future-oriented attitude. It is an existential approach, forcing us to experience the candidate from within. Working with Dynamic Graphology therefore demands a prior reframing process: instead of looking at the half empty glass we turn our view to the half-full glass. Rather than speaking of weaknesses and faults, we are encouraged to consider temporary difficulties and current distress. Along this analytical process we are also instructed to actively search for hidden potentials, new possibilities and ways to eliminate negative environmental influences. The Dynamic Graphology can be considered as a revolutionary mile-stone in the development of graphology.

A dynamic view of both handwriting and personality

Unlike other graphological methods, the Dynamic Graphology entails a life-span developmental overview - from childhood to adulthood.

From childhood to adulthood – three developmental phases

Phase I – Childhood (age 6-12) Phase II – Puberty (age 12-14) Phase III – Adolescence (age 14-20) It presents different considerations for every age-group, according to well defined developmental stages. The great advantage of this method is that the theoretical aspects are based on empirical research of over 2000 handwriting samples, establishing the norms for the relevant handwriting indicators from grade A to age 20. The combination of unique psychological ideas with their empirical validation meets the highest standards of a serious scientific method.

The main issue of the method is its dynamic nature. Klages (1917, 1974) was the first to define the dynamic nature of handwriting evaluation, speaking of the “expressive movements” in terms of contraction and release. He also suggested that graphic indicators could only be interpreted in light of their dynamic quality, namely as constituents of the holistic “Formlevel”. The interpretation of size, width, concave margins and fine strokes, as of all other indicators, depends on possible rhythmic processes of letter-formation and placement through movement. Every indicator is since considered in light of the Gestalt.

Avé-Lallemant, on the other hand, stresses the well-established fact that the personality is dynamic. Not only does it change throughout life, but also every little change in one aspect may cause a series of changes and a whole new inner-balance. We should therefore not confine ourselves to one point at a person’s life span, but rather consider where he came from and look for the possibilities open for further development. A consulting graphologist has to check samples from many periods in order to be able to help his client. It is of special importance to find out how previous crises and periods of distress were overcome. This is a humanistic theory, it deals with personal growth and with a person’s ability to change, overcome hard periods and grow as a result of crises. Moreover, a person might change even due to outside-changes in his surrounding, as a change of neighbourhood, class, parents’ attitude, etc.

5. GRAPHOPSYCHOLOGY

Psychological analysis of handwriting, or grapho-psychology, 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 grapho-psychology 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.

Grapho-psychology, used as a projective technique, fits within the general framework of psychiatry as a way of diagnosing a criminal’s /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 (grapho- physiology, medical graphology, etc.) or of mental exploration (grapho-pathology, grapho-psychology, 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 systematized knowledge acquired through rigorous application of the scientific method. Graphology itself is not a test, but rather a science made up of various specializations. 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.

The many similarities between the Rorschach test and graphology (laws of interpretation: symbolism related to space, area, shape, etc.) are the results 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".

The author 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).

GRAPHOPSYCHOLOGY & ITS UTILITIES

Forensic Graphology is the study of handwriting especially that found in ransom notes, poison pen letters or blackmail demands. Although this is one of the investigative tools used by the law enforcements agencies but its subjectivity remains in question if taken in isolation.

The appropriate execution of Graphopsychology may 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. Graphopsychology can assist police department in solving crimes related to the burglary thefts, suicides & even murders. Graphopsychology can expedite investigation via writing, signature and exposing the suspect to various psychological tests and solve Cases.

Handwriting is not only a way of communicating with other people, but also tells us a lot about our personality and our likes and dislikes. The police use graphology to help identify the sort of person they're looking for in connection with a crime. From the common man’s perspective Graphopsychology may be used in multiple areas where graphology or psychological tools were used in isolation. Like recruitment process, understanding child behaviour, Loans and advances by financial institutions, Marriage Compatibility, Career Guidance etc.

Although this is a recognised and called upon scientific technique Forensic Graphology cannot tell a person's age or sex from the handwriting. A Graphopsychologist looks for insights into some of the following: • Mood • Motivation • Integrity • Intelligence • Emotional Stability

A Graphopsychologist will examine an individual's handwriting and mental status 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 and other aspects of psychology. Graphopsychology can give interesting clues as to their mental and emotional state of the suspect.

Examining the Writing

Another important aspect of a Forensic Graphopsychologist 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. But this is just not the use of Graphopsychology; it should also be used to prevent crimes. This is useful for the society in general.

CONCLUSION

The use of various graphopsychological tests and technique may prove to be a powerful tool and first hand tool which would be a boon to the investigators in solving crime

Ref:

 By Professor Francisco Viñals Carrera and Professor María Luz Puente Balsells

 The “Dynamic Graphology” of Ursula Avé- Lallemant, Dafna Yalon