Traumas and the Troubled Personality.

Advanced Handwriting Analysis Advanced Silver HU Member's class NOV 2024

The discussion primarily explores how specific strokes, such as the placement of loops in letters like "y" and "g," can serve as indicators of past trauma or trust issues. Baggett shares personal anecdotes from his experience as a courtroom expert witness, highlighting the neurological connections between physical handwriting traits and personality. Participants also contribute by analyzing specific samples for signs of resentment, self-esteem, and social selectivity.

Bart Baggett discussed the significance of handwriting analysis in understanding trauma and personality traits. He shared his courtroom experience where he had to argue against a forensic examiner who claimed ink dots in handwriting had no relationship to identity. Bart emphasized the importance of measuring handwriting slants accurately using a gage, which he used in a recent trial in the Bahamas. He also highlighted the connection between certain handwriting traits and potential traumas, such as a lower zone y or g indicating trauma at a specific age.

 The conversation included detailed analysis of specific handwriting samples, exploring traits like resentment, trust issues, and emotional openness. In the conversation, Speaker 6 reflects on their childhood, where they were criticized by their mother for their elaborate, flowery handwriting, which they used to express creativity. Bart Baggett relates this to a friend's unique handwriting style in college.

The conversation ends with nostalgic reminiscences about cassette tapes and childhood memories, including Bart Baggett's experience with a radio show and Speaker 6's role in school announcements.

Action Items

• Bring handwriting samples to the next class for analysis.

• Review the 501 course materials on advanced handwriting interpretation techniques. Purchase the course here: https://handwritinguniversity.com/products/mastery/index.html

Outline

Handwriting Analysis and Court Testimony

• Bart Baggett discusses the upcoming advanced psychology class focused on handwriting analysis and its application in changing lives.

• Bart shares an interesting story about testifying in court in Boston, emphasizing the importance of handwriting analysis in identifying individuals.

• Bart and Jean Hicks discuss the significance of ink dots in handwriting and their relationship to a person's identity.

• Bart recounts a court case where he had to argue against a forensic examiner who claimed a document was a forgery based on small neurological clues in the handwriting.

Trauma and Handwriting Analysis

• Bart explains his inability to mention trauma in his court testimony due to skepticism from the jury and judge.

• Bart and Jean discuss the possibility of mentioning a back injury in his testimony to explain repetitive handwriting traits.

• Bart introduces the concept of advanced handwriting analysis courses that explore the connection between handwriting and trauma.

• Bart shares his personal experience with a repetitive ink dot in his handwriting and its connection to a childhood injury.

Advanced Handwriting Analysis Techniques

• Bart introduces the 501 Mastery Course, which delves into advanced psychology and handwriting analysis.

• Bart discusses the theory that a lower zone y or G crossing the stem indicates trauma at a specific age.

• Bart explains the concept of selective emotionalism and its implications in handwriting analysis.

• Bart and Jean discuss the Menendez brothers' handwriting and the possibility of trauma based on certain handwriting traits.

Handwriting Analysis and Emotional Traits

• Bart explains the significance of different handwriting slants, such as FA, AB, and CD, in indicating emotional and trust issues.

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting traits and specific emotional or psychological conditions.

• Bart shares an example of a handwriting analysis demonstration where a person's handwriting changed after an NLP exercise related to trust.

• Bart emphasizes the importance of understanding the source of a person's emotional or psychological traits to provide accurate analysis.

Handwriting Analysis and Sexual Preferences

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting traits and sexual preferences, such as the triangle-shaped y or g.

• Bart shares his experience with gay men in West Hollywood and their handwriting traits related to sexual curiosity.

• Bart explains the historical context of clannishness being associated with homosexuality in older handwriting analysis books.

• Bart and Jean discuss the possibility of other people having similar handwriting traits related to sexual curiosity or preferences.

Handwriting Analysis and Trauma

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between certain handwriting traits and specific types of trauma, such as fear of success or fear of failure.

• Bart shares his theory that fear of success is often linked to a reward system where failure is more emotionally fulfilling.

• Bart and Jean discuss the importance of understanding the context and background of a person to accurately interpret their handwriting.

• Bart emphasizes the need for consistent and accurate measurement of handwriting traits to avoid misinterpretation.

Handwriting Analysis and Personality Traits

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting traits and specific personality traits, such as resentment or sensitivity.

• Bart shares his experience with measuring handwriting slants and the importance of using the correct tools and techniques.

• Bart and Jean discuss the significance of certain handwriting traits, such as the oval-shaped y or g, in indicating openness and honesty.

• Bart emphasizes the importance of understanding the overall context and background of a person's handwriting to provide accurate analysis.

Handwriting Analysis and Emotional Intelligence

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting traits and emotional intelligence, such as the ability to empathize with others.

• Bart shares his experience with journaling and how it can provide insights into a person's emotional state and experiences.

• Bart and Jean discuss the importance of understanding the emotional context of a person's handwriting to provide accurate analysis.

• Bart emphasizes the need for consistent and accurate measurement of handwriting traits to avoid misinterpretation.

Handwriting Analysis and Relationship Dynamics

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting traits and relationship dynamics, such as trust and intimacy issues.

• Bart shares his experience with analyzing handwriting samples from clients and the insights it provides into their emotional and psychological states.

• Bart and Jean discuss the importance of understanding the overall context and background of a person's handwriting to provide accurate analysis.

• Bart emphasizes the need for consistent and accurate measurement of handwriting traits to avoid misinterpretation.

Handwriting Analysis and Personal Growth

• Bart and Jean discuss the connection between handwriting analysis and personal growth, such as overcoming trauma and emotional issues.

• Bart shares his experience with clients who have used handwriting analysis to gain insights into their emotional and psychological states.

• Bart and Jean discuss the importance of understanding the overall context and background of a person's handwriting to provide accurate analysis.

• Bart emphasizes the need for consistent and accurate measurement of handwriting traits to avoid misinterpretation and provide meaningful insights.

Briefing Document: Advanced Graphology, Trauma, and Personality Analysis

Executive Summary

This document synthesizes key insights from a discussion led by handwriting expert Bart Baggett, focusing on advanced graphological concepts for students and practitioners. The central theme is the identification of trauma in handwriting and its correlation with personality traits and defense mechanisms. A significant portion of the analysis is dedicated to Don Lehu's theory, which posits that the age of a traumatic event can be identified by the crossover point on the stem of lower-zone 'y' and 'g' loops.The discussion also explores the practical challenges of presenting such advanced psychological interpretations in a scientific or legal context, as highlighted by Baggett's recent court testimony. Key graphological traits are examined in depth, including the "fear of success" loop, triangular lower loops indicating alternative sexual preferences, the resentment stroke, and emotional slants. The session emphasizes the dynamic nature of handwriting, which can change instantaneously in response to traumatic events or therapeutic interventions. Finally, the analysis of specific handwriting samples provides practical application of these complex theories, demonstrating how to interpret traits related to trust, anger, self-esteem, and communication styles.

1. The Intersection of Graphology and Legal Testimony

A core challenge for handwriting analysts is bridging the gap between scientific document examination and the deeper psychological interpretations of graphology, especially within a legal framework.

1.1. Scientific vs. Psychological Interpretation in Court

During recent court testimony in a $6 million case, Bart Baggett faced the challenge of defending the significance of subtle neurological cues against an opposing expert.

• The Ink Dot Debate:  The opposing attorney quoted a textbook stating, "ink dots in the handwriting have no relationship whatsoever to the person's identity." Baggett countered this by arguing that a dot appearing consistently in the same part of a letter over a 20-year period is a repetitive, unconscious individual trait, not merely a "faulty pen."
• Presenting Trauma Indicators:  Baggett noted that while he intuitively connected these repetitive dots to a past injury or trauma, he felt "hog tied" and unable to present this theory on the witness stand for fear of being seen as "kooky" by the judge and jury. The legal setting demands reference to scientific literature, making it difficult to introduce advanced grapho-analytic concepts.

1.2. The Analyst's Role

The session underscored the analyst's duty to provide objective, evidence-based insights. Baggett contrasted his approach with the opposing examiner, who he believed had misrepresented data—specifically, by selectively measuring slants to create the false impression of two different writers—in order to defend a predetermined conclusion that a document was a forgery.

2. Identifying Trauma in Handwriting

A primary focus of the discussion was the advanced and sometimes controversial field of identifying past traumas through specific handwriting indicators. The core psychological premise is that unusual personality traits are often defense mechanisms developed in response to a root cause or trauma. The guiding question for the analyst is:  "What must have happened to that person so that this way of being is the safest way they could be?"

2.1. Don Lehu's Theory on Trauma Timing

A theory from graphologist Don Lehu proposes a method for estimating the age at which a significant trauma occurred.

• Mechanism:  The theory applies to lower-zone letters like 'y' and 'g' where the upstroke crosses over the downstroke stem.
• The Timeline:  The length of the downstroke represents the writer's life. The bottom of the loop signifies birth, and the baseline represents the writer's current age.
• Identifying the Age:  The point where the upstroke crosses the stem indicates the approximate age of the trauma. A crossover point halfway down the stem would suggest a trauma occurred when the writer was half their current age.
• Application:  When analyzing, it is recommended to frame this as a research question rather than a definitive statement. For example: "A theory suggests a significant emotional event may have occurred in your life around age 14 or 15. Does that resonate with you?"

2.2. Handwriting Changes as a Reaction to Trauma

Handwriting can change dramatically and instantaneously in response to a significant emotional event.

• The FA (Backward) Slant:  An extreme backward slant is a powerful indicator of emotional withdrawal and self-preservation, often adopted as a safety mechanism after witnessing a traumatic event.
• Case Study:  A participant shared a personal story of finding a childhood diary. Her handwriting was social and upright until the day after her older brother's suicide attempt, at which point it shifted to a "severe FA" slant. This became her last diary entry, as she went "internal" and felt she had to become the caretaker for her traumatized parents.
• NLP and Handwriting Change:  An anecdote was shared from an NLP seminar where a woman with retraced 'y's (indicating emotional hurt and lack of trust) underwent a therapeutic exercise. Without being told to change her writing, her 'y's became "super big" and open afterward, demonstrating a physiological shift toward trust and emotional availability.

3. In-Depth Analysis of Key Graphological Traits

The session provided detailed examinations of several specific and often complex personality traits revealed in handwriting.

3.1. Lower Zone Formations (Y and G)

The lower zone is primarily associated with the physical world, imagination, trust, intimacy, and sexuality.| Trait Description | Interpretation | Associated Concepts || ------ | ------ | ------ || Small, Narrow, or Retraced Loops | Lack of trust, emotional selectivity, being "clannish" (trusting only a small, close-knit group). Indicates a person was emotionally hurt and decided it was unsafe to be vulnerable. | Emotionally withdrawn, not emotionally available. || Fear of Success | A loop that crosses over itself midway, often creating a small triangle. The writer subconsciously sabotages themselves as they near success. They may get sick, have an accident, or find an excuse to fail. | Psychological Basis:  Often stems from a childhood reward system where failure garnered more attention and emotional fulfillment than success. || Triangular/Pyramid Loops | An angular, triangle-shaped loop. In the "501" advanced course, this is defined as indicating "alternative or bi" sexual preferences and a curiosity about non-traditional sexuality. | Rationale:  The triangle is a masculine, angular shape (analytical, curious) appearing in the lower zone (physical, sexual). It represents investigation into sexual matters. |

Historical Context and Debunked Theories:

• An older interpretation of triangular loops as "regimental" or "tyrannical" was dismissed as nonsensical.
• Milton Bunker's 1959 interpretation of "clannishness" as "homosexuality" was explained as a misattribution. In that era, societal pressure forced gay individuals to be secretive and clannish for safety; the trait was a side effect of the social environment, not an indicator of sexuality itself.

3.2. Resentment and Vindictiveness

These traits indicate unresolved anger and a focus on past wrongs.

• Resentment Stroke:  A rigid, straight initial stroke on a middle-zone letter (like 'a' or 'o') that begins in the past (to the left of the letter's start) and below the baseline.
• Meaning:  Represents a recurring, unresolved anger about a past situation where the writer feels they were treated unfairly.
• Significance:  It is noted as the only handwriting trait found to be consistently present among serial killers.
• Vindictive 'd':  A shape similar to the resentment stroke—a loop that goes into the past to "analyze what somebody did wrong" and comes back to the future—was observed in the 'd' formations of the Menendez brothers. This suggests the underlying psychology of revenge can manifest in letters other than the traditional lower-zone loops.

3.3. Other Noteworthy Traits

• Open 'o's:  Indicates the writer is very talkative, an "open book," and transparent.
• High 't'-bar:  A strong indicator of high goals and good self-esteem.
• Looped 'd' stem:  Sensitivity to criticism. The person is affected by compliments and cares about appearances.
• Stylized Writing:  When a writer significantly deviates from standard letterforms to create their own artistic style, it indicates a desire to be noticed, to express creativity, and to be seen as different and unique.

4. Analysis of Handwriting Samples

The discussion included the analysis of two samples, applying the principles discussed.

4.1. Sample 1: The Resentful but Honest Man

This sample from a male writer showed a mix of contradictory but explainable traits.

• Positive Traits:
• Self-Esteem:  Very high 't'-bars indicate excellent self-esteem.
• Communication:  Open 'o's reveal a talkative, honest, and transparent personality.
• Intelligence:  Balanced 'm's and 'n's show intelligence.
• Sensitivity:  A slight loop in the 'd' shows sensitivity to compliments.
• Negative/Cautionary Traits:
• Trust Issues:  A mix of healthy, open 'y' loops and narrow/retraced loops suggests inconsistency with trust, particularly in intimate relationships. The writer doesn't want to "get burned again."
• Resentment:  A clear resentment stroke was identified, indicating unresolved anger about a past injustice.
• Overall Synthesis:  The writer is a bright, friendly, expressive, and honest individual with good self-esteem. However, he has unresolved anger ("healing to do") and some trust issues related to intimacy.

4.2. Sample 2: Stylized and Creative Expression

This sample was highly stylized, with flourish and unique letterforms.

• Interpretation:  This was identified not as a collection of standard traits but as a conscious choice to be different and creative. It is a form of self-expression, akin to choosing to be "girly and fun" or "dark and creepy."
• Childhood Development:  The discussion revealed that adolescents often experiment with their handwriting as a way to forge a unique identity. A participant shared that as a teenager, she developed "flowery, ornate stuff" to be creative, only to be criticized by her mother for being "stuck up and conceited," causing her to change it overnight.
• Left-Handed Loops:  A question was raised about loops that seem to go backward. It was suggested this could be a natural formation for a left-handed writer.

Lesson Summary

Bart Baggett leads a monthly advanced handwriting analysis call focusing on the psychological aspects of graphology, particularly how handwriting traits reveal past trauma, personality, and emotional states. The sessions emphasize the neurological basis of handwriting patterns, real-life court expert experiences, and applications in therapy and personal growth.

Key Themes and Insights:

• Graphology and Legal Challenges:
  • Baggett highlighted difficulties presenting psychological interpretations of handwriting in court, where scientific evidence is prioritized.
  • Example: In a $6 million case, he defended the significance of consistent "ink dots" in handwriting as unconscious personal traits rather than pen flaws.
  • He contrasted his evidence-based approach with opposing experts who manipulated samples to support forgery claims.
• Handwriting as Trauma Indicator:
  • Don Lehu's theory allows estimating the age of a trauma by analyzing the cross-over point of loops in lower-zone letters such as "y" and "g".
  • The length of the downstroke symbolizes a life timeline, with the crossover suggesting when emotional injury occurred.
  • Handwriting can change suddenly after trauma, e.g., a backward slant ("FA slant") indicating emotional withdrawal after distressing events.
  • Therapeutic exercises can physiologically alter handwriting, reflecting increased trust or emotional openness.
• Detailed Graphological Traits:
  • Lower Zone Loops (y and g):
    • Small, narrow, or retraced loops signify distrust, emotional selectivity, and being "clannish".
    • "Fear of success" loops (mid-loop crossover) indicate subconscious self-sabotage, often tied to childhood reward patterns.
    • Triangular/pyramid-shaped loops suggest alternative sexual preferences or curiosity, reflecting analytical exploration of sexuality; earlier incorrect theories linking these loops to authoritarian traits or homosexuality were debunked.
  • Resentment and Vindictiveness:
    • Resentment stroke: Rigid, retrospective strokes on middle-zone letters indicate unresolved anger about past injustices, a trait seen in serial offenders.
    • Vindictive 'd' formations illustrate psychological revenge manifestations.
  • Other Traits:
    • Open 'o's represent a talkative, transparent personality.
    • High 't'-bars correlate with ambition and strong self-esteem.
    • Looped 'd' stems show sensitivity to criticism and concern for appearance.
    • Stylized handwriting reflects creativity and a desire for uniqueness or attention.
• Sample Handwriting Analyses:
  • Resentful but Honest Man:
    • Strong self-esteem and communication skills demonstrated by high 't'-bars and open 'o's.
    • Mixed trust signals—some open loops but also narrow/retraced ones—point to guarded intimacy.
    • Presence of resentment stroke shows unresolved past anger.
    • Overall balance of intelligence, warmth, and personal challenges to overcome.
  • Stylized Creative Handwriting:
    • Expresses individuality and creative identity rather than standard psychological traits.
    • Common among adolescents experimenting with personal style under social pressures.
    • Backward loops may indicate natural handedness effects (e.g., left-handed writers).
• Application Beyond Analysis:
  • Exploring graphotherapy's role to use handwriting changes for emotional healing and personal transformation.
  • Engaging clients in reflective research questions about trauma timing to foster insight and self-understanding.
  • Understanding handwriting as dynamic, influenced by psychological shifts and therapeutic progress.

Handwriting Analysis Advanced Study Guide

Quiz

Answer the following questions in 2-3 sentences each, based on the information presented in the source material.

1. According to the theory presented by Don Lehu, how can a writer's y- or g-loop potentially indicate the age at which a trauma occurred?

2. What is an "FA slant," and what psychological state does it typically represent? Provide the real-life example given that demonstrated an instantaneous shift to this slant.

3. Describe the handwriting trait known as "fear of success." What is one psychological theory presented that explains how this trait might develop in an individual?

4. What two contradictory traits were identified in the handwriting sample of the man discussed by Heather, and how were they explained?

5. Explain the evolution of the interpretation of the trait "clannishness," referencing the theory from Milton Bunker's 1959 book and the modern contextual understanding.

6. According to Bart Baggett, what is the significance of a repetitive ink dot found consistently in the same part of a letter over many years?

7. What is the modern interpretation of a triangle or pyramid shape in the lower zone loops (y and g) as described in the "501" course? How does this differ from an older interpretation mentioned?

8. The speaker notes that his own journals from his youth seemed "depressed and introverted," which did not match his memory. What reason does he give for this discrepancy in his handwriting?

9. Describe the visual indicator for the trait of "resentment." In which letter of the Menendez brothers' handwriting was a similar shape observed?

10. What does highly stylized or ornate handwriting, which deviates significantly from standard letterforms, suggest about the writer's personality?

Answer Key

1. Don Lehu's theory posits that the length of the y/g downstroke represents the writer's life from birth (at the bottom) to their current age (at the baseline). The point where the upstroke crosses the stem indicates the approximate age the trauma occurred, with a cross halfway up the stem corresponding to an event at half the writer's current age.

2. An "FA slant" is a severe backward slant, indicating emotional withdrawal and self-preservation. The example given was a participant who, as a child, found her older brother after a suicide attempt; her diary entries immediately shifted from a social, upright slant to a severe FA slant.

3. "Fear of success" is a trait where an individual gets close to success and then fails, often due to a feeling of dejection. The trait is shown by a y- or g-loop that crosses its own stem in the lower zone. One theory is that the person was rewarded for failure during childhood—receiving more attention or comfort when they failed than when they succeeded—creating an emotional fulfillment in failing.

4. The sample showed signs of both restricted trust (narrow and retraced y-loops) and extreme talkativeness (open 'o's). The explanation is that the trust issues are specific to intimacy and fear of getting hurt in relationships, while the talkativeness is a more general, transparent, and honest personality trait.

5. Milton Bunker's 1959 book associated clannishness (indicated by small, squared or rounded circles in the lower zone) with homosexuality. The modern understanding is that this was a side effect of the social pressure of the era, which forced gay individuals to be secretive. Today, the trait is understood simply as being socially selective and restricting one's social circle to a few trusted friends, unrelated to sexual identity.

6. A repetitive ink dot is considered a neurological clue and an unconscious, repetitive trait of the individual, not a faulty pen. Baggett believes it is an indicator of the person's identity and can be tied to a past injury or trauma that remains with the person.

7. The 501 course dictionary interprets a triangle shape in the lower zone as indicating "alternative or bi" sexual preferences, suggesting curiosity about different sexual matters. This is contrasted with an older, discarded interpretation that associated the shape with being "tyrannical" or "regimental."

8. He explains that he only felt compelled to journal when he was feeling sad or introspective, so the handwriting samples reflected that specific mood. When he was happy and social, he was out with friends and did not feel the need to journal, so those moods were not recorded.

9. Resentment is indicated by a straight initial stroke that begins below the baseline before forming the rest of the letter, often seen in letters like 'a' or 'h'. A similar vindictive shape, which goes into the past before coming back to the future, was observed in the d-stem of the Menendez brothers' writing.

10. Stylized handwriting indicates a person who consciously deviates from the norm to be noticed as different and express their creativity. It reflects a desire to create a unique identity and can be a form of artistic expression, as seen in the examples of "girly and fun" writing versus "dark and creepy" font-like writing.

Essay Questions

1. Using the theories and examples discussed, analyze the complex relationship between trauma and its expression in handwriting. Consider both instantaneous changes (like slant) and long-term indicators (like lower zone formations), and discuss the importance of using such indicators as a basis for inquiry rather than a definitive diagnosis.

2. Bart Baggett emphasizes a questioning and research-oriented approach when analyzing potentially sensitive traits like trauma indicators. Explain this methodology and discuss why it is critical for a responsible handwriting analyst, contrasting it with making definitive, "mind-reading" statements.

3. Discuss the concept of handwriting evolution, drawing upon the personal anecdotes shared by the speakers. How can handwriting change over a lifetime due to emotional events, personal development, conscious choice, and therapeutic intervention?

4. The discussion touches on several lower zone formations (clannish loops, fear of success, triangle shapes, retraced loops). Synthesize the information on these traits to build a comprehensive argument for why the lower zone is primarily associated with trust, intimacy, physicality, and imagination.

5. Explore the challenges and ethical considerations of handwriting analysis in a legal setting, based on Bart Baggett's court testimony experience. Discuss the conflict between scientific, verifiable evidence (like repetitive neurological cues) and more psychological or intuitive interpretations (like trauma indicators), and the pressure to defend an opinion against another expert.

Glossary of Key Terms

AB Slant

A handwriting slant that is slightly backward, less severe than an FA slant. It can be associated with a y/g loop that is closed off, indicating a person is not sure it's safe to be emotionally open.

Clannishness

A personality trait characterized by being socially selective and restricting one's social circle to a few close friends. The indicator is a small, squared or rounded circle at the bottom of a lower zone loop.

CD/DE Slant

A forward handwriting slant. A CD slant is described as being halfway between super emotive and logical, representing an "ambivert." A DE slant is a stronger forward slant.

Domineering

A trait indicated by a T-bar placed at the very top of the t-stem and slanting downward. It is associated with negative, angry, and controlling tendencies.