Calligraphy offers window into human behaviour
Talking to The Tribune, DAV College principal Rajesh Kumar and Associate Professor Seema Sharma give insights into their research ‘Calligraphy: Revealing Human Traits’
Human beings are believed to be the ‘supreme creation of God’, blessed with the power of thinking and logical reasoning. On the other hand, human nature is deemed to be the most complex to understand and predict. However, behavioural characteristics help in differentiating one person from another up to some extent. Over the years, studies have been conducted to analyse the psychological and emotional aspects of human behaviour.
Among the unique characteristics, handwriting carries the richest information to gain the insights into the physical, mental, emotional and psychological state of human beings. The branch of science dealing with the study and analysing handwriting to determine a person’s personality is called graphology.
However, the art of handwriting is referred to as calligraphy which is combination of two Greek words ‘Kallos’ meaning beauty and ‘Graphein’ meaning to write, thereby making calligraphy an art of beautiful writing.
When we write something, our brain guides our hand, and this is because of the connection between the reflex muscles of our brain and hand. The graphical features of handwriting examined by experts reveal more or less similar traits or qualities of a person. The features of calligraphy found to reveal human traits may include variations in the movement, shape, size, pen pressure, slant, word space, signature of the writing gestures. For example, if we consider the slant of the letters as a graphical attribute, it can either be left inclined, right inclined or vertical. The personality traits deciphered by graphologists to be linked with Left Inclined Slant (LIS) include independent, non-sympathetic, difficulty in adapting, expressing emotions, tends to live in past and slightly afraid of future.
On the contrary, Right Inclined Slant (RIS) is indicative of being expressive, confident in convictions, freedom of thoughts, extrovert, future oriented and love for learning new things. The Vertical Slant (VS) in writing is suggestive of control of head over heart, independent working, emotional nature, logical thinking and expect discipline in all works.
The other attribute of handwriting that reveals human traits is the shape that letters take while writing. The shape can be rounded, pointed or connected. The personality traits unmasked with round shape of letters include artistic personality and good at maintaining relationships. On the other hand if letters are pointed in shape then the person is considered to be very intelligent, curious and has logical thinking. Connected letters are indicative of being systematic and simultaneous thinking personalities.
Another graphical feature of handwriting that reveals human personality traits is pen pressure. Heavy pressure on the sheet depicts that the person takes things seriously, is passionate, determined and self-motivated. The person may forgive but not forget and feels the situation intensely. The medium pressure exhibits that the person is emotional for a moderate amount of time whereas light pressure on sheets depicts that writer can endure traumatic experience without being seriously affected, is deterministic to break barriers and mental resilience.
Letter size also provides vital clues about human behaviour. Large letter size describes a person to be extrovert, socially confident, outspoken and craving to be the centre of attraction. Small letter size symbolises timid, introvert, meticulous, shy, loves to work behind the scene persons, whereas an average letter size writing depicts traits like easily managing situations and well adaptable.
Word spacing is another aspect that also helps to comprehend human behaviour as it is variable with different persons as per their style of writing, thereby, differentiating from others in nature and temperament. Wide word spacing represents excellent taste, exclusivity, independent, clear mind and capacity to arrange ones work. Conversely the narrow word spacing describes inability to live alone, bad taste, friendliness and nosiness.
In essence, calligraphy analysis offers a fascinating window into human behaviour, revealing subconscious traits through strokes, pen pressure, slants, spacing, signatures, etc.
Punjab