What Does Handwriting Reveal?

1. What Does Handwriting Reveal?
Study Shows Handwriting Analysis Valuable in Detecting
Deception Special
Posted Sep 1, 2009 by ■ Carol Forsloff
For years handwriting analysis has been confused with occult practices, when some of
it has been found useful for determining identity for document examination. Now those
who use it to analyze deception have scientific foundation for their views.
In the recent November 2009 edition of Applied Psychology, a recent
research study shows how deception can be analyzed through handwriting
analysis. It is done through the use of a computerized tool that allows
handwriting characteristics to be measured more effectively than the usual
practice of eyeballing the material. Michael Cosgrove
I interviewed Kim Iannetta, who is a world renown handwriting analyst who Handwriting
specializes in assessing dangerousness in writing, about the recent research. She says,
“Handwriting can give people a lot of information about a person. That’s because it is brain writing
more than just handwriting. Furthermore, there are specific characteristics that reveal
inappropriate, dangerous or difficult behavior, including deception.”
Iannetta, who lives in Kailua, Hawaii, maintains close relationships with other noted handwriting
analysts and researchers around the world, so she is familiar with the recent study. Two decades
ago, Iannetta completed research through Hawaii Hospital, along with psychologists, to determine
characteristics of dangerousness in writing. Her evaluation of the criminally insane through
handwriting was observed to be as good as clinically trained psychologists, according to Heather
Cattell, wife of the late Dr. Cattell, creator of the 16pf, one of the foremost personality tests used
in the United States.
This new research on handwriting, completed by a team of experts and led by Gil Luria and Sara
Rosenblum at the University of Haifa, used a computerized tablet measuring physical properties
found in a subject’s handwriting that are considered difficult to consciously control. An example is
how long a pen rests on the page, or in the air, the length, height and width of writing strokes and
the pressure and variations of it on a given page. Researchers found that those who wrote
deceptive sentences had different handwriting characteristics than those who wrote truthful
sentences. Researchers hope using handwriting will replace or work with other lie detection
technologies such as the polygraph, given ease of administration and increased accuracy of
handwriting analysis.

2. In terms of identifying personality traits in general, research remains on handwriting analysis is
limited and tenuous at best in comparison with standard personality tests such as Cattell’s
16pf. ]A research study conducted at the University of Glasgow found correlation with handwriting
analysis and results of the 16pf to be only at chance level compared with the actual personality
test results given to a series of subjects. Despite arguments about limited research and lack of
reliability of handwriting analysis compared with traditional measures, certain well-known analysts
such as Sheila Lowe believe handwriting analysis to determine personality is accurate.
Despite the controversy over the use of handwriting analysis to determine personality features,
this newest research reveals that deception, a specific trait, can be measured through
handwriting analysis, which may mean a new diagnostic tool for investigators that can be helpful,
and as others have said, easy to administer.