Handwriting Angularity Tested against the NEO PI-R Personality Inventory

Copyright 2002 by Benjamin Thiry

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Abstract

Introduction

Whilst graphology can draw on a wide and varied body of theory, it still seems to experience difficulties in finding a solid basis at the experimental level. The study of a handwriting and its possible links with specific features of the personality is a complex undertaking that puts the researcher's skills to task. Many obstacles await the person who tries to relate a specific handwriting feature to a psychological variable: the problematic objectivity of the stimulus, the seemingly infinite number of variables (in addition to the possible classifications and measurements), complex data processing (how should variables be grouped?), the need to resort to appropriate, adapted and varied statistical tools (with unexpected theoretical traps), processing the results (the issue of statistical significance and "false correlations" due to methodological artifacts), multiple interpretations underpinned by the researcher's expectations linked to the initial hypothesis (not confusing correlation with causality), comparing the results with the basic theory both being complex. Finally all of this against an emotional scientific backdrop which is divided: those who are "pro-graphology" and those who are "anti-graphology".

The logical outcome of this situation is that the number of experiments addressing the current criteria of research in psychological sciences that centre on graphology can be counted on the fingers of one hand. All this opens the door to a field that is already busy but which still requires some digging. The present research arises from a wider-ranging study (Thiry, 2001) aimed at linking specific graphological features with psychological variables derived from a personality questionnaire (the NEO PI-R). This research was based on a sample of 67 subjects mainly "all-comers", volunteers who completed the questionnaire and provided a writing specimen on a white A4 sheet. The results obtained on this occasion allowed us to consider the links that exist between angularity of our writings and certain variables in the personality inventory.

From this research we summarise the results  relating to handwriting angularity. We are fully aware that the study of  a handwriting species such as angularity reduces graphological methodology. Indeed, methodology demands that the deduction of psychological features is done after an overall observation of handwriting or at least taking into account "groups of variables" commonly called "syndromes" by graphologists. Furthermore, an experimental tool implies a reduction of the data likely to emerge a second time with a reorganization of the tool.

The aim of this research is by no means to propose a theory nor to give credit to any given graphological idea but to open new pathways for future exploration.

The graphology of angularity & roundedness

An angular writing is one within which graphic gestures taught to make a curve are changed a linear appearance. The angle is a sudden change in the direction of the stroke.

Crepieux-Jamin (1930, p. 113) places so-called "angular" handwriting into the category called form and gives "rounded" as the antonym. He defines angular handwriting as follows: "Angular handwriting is characterised by accentuation of the normal angles of the copybook or the replacement of the normal curves by angles. It proceeds in a hard, breaking movement, which gives the main meaning"

The motor skills needed to produce an angle require more energy because handwriting rhythm is stopped in its stride in order to change direction suddenly. The angle can be found anywhere in the writing but it is most common and obvious in the letters m and n, in addition to the connections between letters.

Peugeot et al (1997:104) specify that: "the angular gesture corresponds to a definite change of direction. It is more intersection than continuity; it is a movement of retraction, which may be firm, but soon becomes affected by stiffness, and it belongs to the signs of constraint and tension "

With regard to rounded writing , Crepieux-Jamin (1930:125) defines it for us in these terms: "Rounded handwriting is when normal copybook curves are accentuated or when normal angles are replaced by curves. Rounded writing is the extreme degree of this species; writings in garlands and arcades are derivatives " The term "curvilinear" is used as the graphological synonym of rounded handwriting. The extreme forms of this curvilinear species lead us to the species: "plump", "inflated", "on the surface".

Copybook handwriting includes both curved and straight strokes. However the subjective evolution of writings enable us to note that some writers favour one or the other type of stroke. Other people keep a balance of the two.

Psychological interpretations of angular and round.

Here are the psychological interpretations of angular and round handwritings.  Let us recall that in the teaching model (the copybook), writings appear to be mixed, i.e. they reconcile straight and curved strokes. In graphology only  the evaluation of the degree of the presence of a handwritten feature allows us to put forward hypotheses about an individual.

Angular writing

Authors gravitate around Crepieux-Jamin's interpretations (1930:113-119), removing his moral considerations and somewhat moderating the position.

"Associated to regressive strokes, the angle is the sign of a character which is an objector, is restive or is aggressive. In disharmonious writings, it expresses an opposing and obstinate spirit . The angle stroke lends itself to express resistances, that is not doubtful. [? ]
The meanings of angular handwriting vary according to the number of angles, their position, their direction and the graphological context"

Peugeot et al (1997:104) state their assumptions in these terms: "Hence the meanings of combativeness, courage, sense of duty, obstinacy and therefore of an adaptation involving struggle, because more energy is needed to produce angles than curves. But this energy is costly in terms of effort and there comes a time when resistance is what prevails.   This is why angles also have the meaning of abruptness, stubbornness, intransigence, pigheadedness, contradictoriness and aggressiveness, especially if the overall context happens to be a disharmonious one [ ...] What is specific to angles, when they are part of a dynamic script, is the resolute and willful aspect of a writer who reasons things out and makes choices for which he takes responsibility [ ... ] It seems that more often than not (with the exception of writings of the above type), one finds that angles originate in a combined feeling of intensity and dissatisfaction; this can be a motivating force, provoking challenge and successful compensations"

Klages (1953:128) confirms part of these interpretations in saying: "The gradual slowing that is needed comes from constant restraint in the writer and this is why the positive meaning of the angle is "force of resistance".

He determines two poles in the characterological interpretation of angular connection:

1. A "positive" pole: firmness, decision, safety, constancy, uprightness.
2. A "negative" pole: indifference, of lacking attention, lack of support, coldness.

Round writing

As regards this handwriting species, Crepieux-Jamin (1930:125) emphasises its "auxiliary" action , i.e. that the likely psychological interpretation is strongly dependent on the handwritten context than on other graphological variables.

Peugeot et al (1997:104) advance the following ideas: "In adults, rounded writing is closely related to affective demands, femininity, narcissism, captivation, as well as to the world of fantasy and, more particularly, that of childhood. It correlates with the idea of good social behaviour, and sometimes with a helpfulness from which not all secondary personal advantages can be excluded;  it also goes with a taste for life".

Just as he distinguishes two poles for angular connections, Klages (1953:132) does the same for the garland (curvilinear connection):

1. "Positive" pole: benevolence, "affirmativity", approbativity, respect, tolerance, condescension, conciliation, softness, sympathy, attention, "naturalness", ease, unconcern, opened character, confidence, frankness.
2. "Negative" pole: deviability, influenceability, indecision, weakness, lack of reserve, lack of restraint, fickleness, idleness, negligence, nonchalance, lack of initiative.

Working Hypothesis

Numerous hypotheses have been put forward by authors. Nevertheless they allow for two types of different function depending on whether a writing has a curvilinear or rectilinear appearance. Our hypothesis is therefore as follows:

Writers whose handwriting is angular show certain psychological characteristics which differ from those of writers with curvilinear writing.

Methodology

The sample consisted of 67 subjects nearly all "self-selected" in that they had agreed to produce a handwriting specimen (on a white sheet of A4 size paper see note 4) and to answer a personality questionnaire (the NEO PI-R  see Costa & R. McCrae 1996). Each writing was classified into one of five categories defined by Gilbert and Chardon (1989:33) and shown in Figure 1.

Figure 1 Classifications of Angularity (Gilbert & Chardon 1989)

 

Degrees of angularity	Graphological description
Degree 1	Writing on the surface Exaggeration of the curves and transformation of straight strokes into curved strokes: written in a way to embrace all white surfaces, circular shaped letters, dilated, inflated loops in the upper and lower extensions, inside letters are spread out thereby giving broad words.
Degree 2	Curvilinear Handwriting   Predominance of curves over straight strokes. Softening of copybook angles to take the form of garlands, arcades or of loops.
Degree 3	Semi-Curvilinear, Semi-Rectilinear Handwriting  No clear transformation towards the angle or the curve or absence of one or the other being predominant..
Degree 4	Rectilinear or Linear Handwriting   Predominance of straight strokes: angular connections, tight loops, round letters become oval-shaped.
Degree 5	On-the-Line or Very Linear Handwriting  Suppression of curves and exaggeration of the rectilinear stroke: stick-like appearance, as if the stroke falls as rain, triangular movements (in extensions, t-bars and the letter "s"), inside letters are narrow.

Statistically speaking, we thus obtain an ordinal variable from which it is possible to link to the variables of the NEO PI-R by calculating Kendall's tau, the coefficient of correlation using non-parametric scales. The study is exploratory, meaning that we are going to calculate the correlation between the variable "angularity" and all the variables of the NEO PI-R, a questionnaire that estimates a great number of psychological variables (in line with the Big Five Model, the five important  personality domains identified by current psycwwwtrics).

Results

The degree of angularity of handwritings in the sample (N=67) was distributed as shown in Figure 2. It seems that most subjects in the sample fall into a balance between the curve and the straight stroke which shows itself by a strong representation of the middle category. This distribution is very similar to that obtained by Gilbert and Chardon in their full sample (N=346). A slight tendency towards the curvilinear aspects of the handwritings is found in the present study of writings.

Figure 2 Distribution of Angularity (n=67)

 

Writing on the surface (1)	4%
Curvilinear Handwriting  (2)	31%
Semi-Curvilinear, Semi-Rectilinear Handwriting (3)	51%
Rectilinear Handwriting (4)	12%
On-the-Line Handwriting (5)	2%

Correlations with NEO PI-R variables

Here are the variables where correlations were significant at the point to reject the null hypothesis level 0.01 (for the first) et 0.05 (for the second) of Kendall's tau. (see note 5)

 

	E1 (Warmth)	C4 (Achievement-Striving)
Angularity	-	+

The first reading of these results prompt us to think that:
·       The more a handwriting is angular, the more the writer shows a lack of human warmth preferring a certain formalism, reserve and distance in his social relations.
·        The more a handwriting is angular, the more the writer will work hard to achieve his aspirations. He will apply himself and reflect on his task.

Further research would be useful in order to discover what lies beneath these results.

Angularity  and Warmth

We can place our 67 subjects into five groups according to the  degree of angularity in their handwriting. What are the means for E1 obtained by these five groups?

Figure 3 enlightens us in spite of the prudence with which we must interpret it. In fact the five groups are not made up of the same number of subjects. A single subject is placed into the 5th category. The mean for E1 of Linear Handwriting is thus equal to the E1 Score for this subject.

Anyway the graph allows us to observe that the highest E1 scores are obtained by the two first groups where the handwriting is (very) curvilinear (see Note 6). However, we don't seem to be able to perceive the difference of the E1 scores in regard to semi-rounded semi-rectilinear handwritings as compared with more angular handwritings.

Figure 3 Angularity and Warmth

Let us rationalise these results and create two new groups:

1.  Subjects with handwriting on the surface or curvilinear (N=24);
2.  Subjects with "mixed" or rectilinear handwriting (N=43).

Here are the results obtained when the obtained means are compared to the E1 variable (see note 4) in these two new groups:

 

	Group 1 (mean)	Group 2 (mean)	t	df	p
E1	55.083	48.326	2.570	65	.012464

We have almost less than one chance in a hundred to be mistaken if we find that the two means are different. This is what we can take from these results:

• Writers with handwriting that is (very) angular or made up of angles and curves in a similar way cannot be distinguished, by the mean, from those people in relation to the E1 variable. They will be neither warm nor very distant in their social relations.

• As for writers where handwriting is (very) curvilinear, they will be more inclined to retreat to intimacy with others, to show themselves as affectionate and friendly rather than knit close relationships with people they meet. 

Our first interpretation of the correlation coefficient  was therefore too approximate because it led us to think that angularity was linked to an aptitude towards human warmth whilst a single curve in handwriting doesn't seem to apply in this connection.

Angularity  and Achievement Striving

Here we find Kendall's Tau allows us to reject the null hypothesis at the acceptable level of 0.05, so we find a significant relationship between the degree of angularity of a handwriting and  achievement striving in the NEO PI-R. We can therefore advance the idea that the more a handwriting shows angles, the more the writer will share "high aspirations and work hard to reach his goals". These people are "very applied and reflective and know where they are going" (Costa and  McCrae 1996:18).

 Below we reproduce the distribution of the means for the C4 scale for our five experimental groups. We can see that the scores obtained from the  NEO PI-R C4 scale are lower for rounded handwritings than for  rectilinear handwritings. (see Note 8) The scores obtained for semi-rounded or semi-rectilinear  handwritings are less.

Figure 4 Distribution of Means for Achievement Striving (C4)

An increase in the degree of angularity is thus accompanied by an increase in the scale related to this striving for social and personal success. Writers with curvilinear handwriting show themselves to be somewhat nonchalant and express less ambition. They are quickly satisfied by the level of success that they have reached. Their level of aspiration is low, which can give the impression that, compared with other people, they have fewer aims or none at all. Angular handwriting seems to drive a continual need to prove something, to achieve goals, to work hard in order to fulfill their aspirations.

Angularity and other NEO PI-R variables

Clearly the abovementioned strong correlations are of interest but the absence of a correlation between angularity and some other NEO PI-R variables must also be noted. Thus, the degree of angularity will not be linked to the following personality traits (see note 9):

• Angry hostility;

• Self-consciousness;

• Impulsiveness ;

• Assertiveness;

• Activity;

• Positive emotions;

• Confidence in others;

• Frankness and sincerity;

• Self discipline

These results allow us to accept the original hypothesis. Indeed, some psychological traits appear more frequently in individuals where the handwriting is rounded than in those where it is angular. As regards writers with rounded handwriting, we note that they were more inclined towards affectionate and amicable relationships and that they show evidence of a greater nonchalance to life that they can show themselves as less ambitious than most people. As regards people using angular writing  we observe a single idea: to achieve their goals they develop more energy than others. These aims are ambitious and go together with application and eagerness. 

Conclusion

The results from this exploratory study prompt us to open several lines of enquiry. As we expected, these results should be subject to scrutiny:

• The sample of 67 subjects is too limited to attempt any generalisation.
• The method of classifying handwritings into five degrees can be questioned since it sometimes involves a subjective judgement by the graphologist. If there are cases that are hardly recognisable some can be the object of debate;
• A graphologist graded the handwritings alone; establishing an inter-rater reliability could be pertinent in view of the work of classification, which was sometimes hard-going;
• The NEO PI-R is a self-report questionnaire. It offers us conscious and behavioural psychological data. It doesn't have supposed scales of validity to estimate the representativeness of the profile with regard to the subject;

 In the event of any future study, it can be envisaged to:

• Increase the number of subjects and move further towards representativeness;
• Establish an "index of angularity" (to add the number of angles on 5 lines of text from the main body?) which will allow a parametric analysis of the data. This will give greater emphasis to the strength of statistical tests. The scoring becomes less subjective.
• Carry out a double grading of the handwritings to further allow a reduction in this subjectivity.
•  Compare the studied variable with other indices produced by other tests (aptitude, questionnaires, projective, etc.). In fact, what is the best-fit relationship between the "self" of writers with rounded handwriting and those with angular handwriting? What intra-mind dynamic underlies the propensity to intimacy in the former?
• Encourage the circulation of these results and invite interested parties to debate them.

Thus each new finding opens the door to new questions. It is up to us to try to find answers which are never just provisional.

Notes

1.Benjamin Thiry lives in Belgium. Email bthiry@skynet.be

This article is based on a thesis submitted to the Belgian Graphology Society( la société Belge de Graphologie) Brussels, Belgium. The full thesis is available HERE 

2. Paper submitted in French. English translation and editing by Nigel Bradley, December 2002

3. Editors note. The Big Five Model is a model of personality with five factors.  Studies have found relationships between these five dimensions and job performance.  The factors are: Extroversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Emotional Stability and openness to experience. See Costa P. & McCrae R.(1992) Revised NEO Personality Inventory (NEO PI-R), and NEO Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI) Professional Manual Odessa, FL. Psychological Assessment Resources

4. The text in question was reproduced freely, inspired by the panche 18GF of the TAT

5.We note a Kendall's Tau of -.160323 (p=0.055) for the correlation between "Angularity" and Altruism (A3) which is not significant but which deserves further attention. The idea would be that the more the writing is rounded, the more the subject has the tendency to be worried about the well-being of others and to help people in need.

6. The NEO PI-R is made up of T - scores which have a mean of 50

7. The T- Test for independent samples

8. Significant Difference at 0.05 in the test for comparing means for independent samples (t = 2.16484, df =27 et p =.039406).

9. These variables could have been linked in the light of the interpretations given by above-mentioned authors.

References