How Trendy Are You? Right and Left Trends
The Swiss psychologist Max Pulver taught us that the right represents the future and the left, the past. Any horizontal movement toward the left side of the page is called left trend; any movement toward the right side of the page is called right trend.
What do we mean by movement? Right trend movement entails elements such as a rightward slant, letter loops that pull to the right, crossing t’s and dotting i’s on the right, long ending strokes, and margins that move to the right side of the page. Left trend movement entails elements such as a leftward slant, letter loops that pull to the left, crossing t’s and dotting i’s, and long beginning strokes.
Right Trend and Left Trend
A left trend represents an emphasis on oneself, withdrawal from others, yearning for influence, and resistance to authority. A general left trend indicates a need for the support of the mother and the past, while a general right trend represents adventure, challenge, the values of the father, and the future.
I’ve Got Rhythm
The rhythm in handwriting reflects the writer’s impulses—the unique contraction and release pattern. Movement, form, and space all work together, to create a rhythm pattern in writing.
Strong Rhythm
Qualities
• Self-control
• Stability
• Steadfastness
• Discipline
Weak Rhythm
Qualities
• Disorganization
• Fickleness
• Changeability
• Lack of self-control
• Nonconformity
Regular Guys—and Gals!
Having perfect regularity (i.e., consistency) in an overall handwriting style is impossible, but there are general consistencies that indicate regularity.
Regularity
Regularity is demonstrated by maintaining consistent slant, pressure, and height in letters. There is also a consistent return of strokes to the baseline. These characteristics indicate that the writer is stable, disciplined, and able to control impulses. He or she also has a strong sense of duty, reliability, concentration, and willpower.
Irregularity
Fluctuation in slant, pressure, and height in letters shows irregularity, indicating that the writer is apt to have little control over impulses—at times exhibiting rebellious, undisciplined, or careless behavior.
Regularity Versus Rhythm
What’s the difference between regularity and rhythm? you ask. According to Felix Klein, the constancy of size, width, pressure, and straightness of lines characterizes regularity. Both regularity and rhythm are reflections of movement. It is the elastic “to-and-fro” movement of the writing—the interchange of movement release and movement contraction—that forms the rhythm. Everyone has individual rhythm.
Faster Than the Speed of Write
Writing speed is an important feature, but it’s also one of the most difficult elements to assess accurately. Unless you observe a writer in action, there’s no immediate way to know how much time she or he took to write! And the fact that speed can vary from document to document—or even within the same document—poses another challenge. The pace used to take notes during a lecture will likely be different from the pace used to write up a thoughtful letter to a boyfriend or girlfriend. Because you probably won’t have more than one handwriting sample from any individual, you won’t have the ability to make comparisons and draw a well-rounded conclusion.
Speed in handwriting is a characteristic of great interest to professional graphologists. As noted in Chapter 1, Robert Saudek studied speed, and many graphologists believe it is a crucial element because so many other characteristics are affected by how fast or slow the writing is (and vice versa).
Here are some guidelines for distinguishing slow and fast writing:
S-L-O-W Writing
Basic Elements of Slow Writing
• Disconnected writing
• Angular or arcade connective forms
• Heavy pressure on the page
• Elaborate or decorative writing style
• Regularity
• Upright or left slant and left trend
• Descending baseline
• Narrowing left margin
Common Personality Traits of Slow Writers
• Lacking spontaneity
• Inhibited
• Liking familiarity
• Deliberate
• Formal and reserved
• Contemplative
• Accurate and thorough
FAST Writing
Basic Elements of Fast Writing
• Use of garland or thread connective forms
• Light pressure on the page with a thin stroke
• Irregularity
• Right slant and right trend
• Ascending baseline
• Widening left margin
Common
