Sign on the Dotted Line

A feature article by Doria J Buechler, Jan 26, 2006         

Are you helping someone steal your identity? Your signature-it's everywhere and the general public has access to it on a daily basis. And by throwing some lines on a paper or making one long scraggly line and calling it your signature, you may be setting yourself up for a forgery. It's much easier for a criminal to scrawl a few messy lines than it is to duplicate the way you form the letters in your name. Your signature is one-of-a-kind. It might change from day to day, not drastically but in small, subtle ways. It might be a little bigger, a little sloppier, or perhaps slanted differently. But it still retains your basic style and you will be recognized and identified by it. Your signature is your "public face"; it's how you want the world to see you. It's what graphologists consider "purposeful" writing. In other words, you choose the way your signature looks. As a teenager, did you spend time writing your name over and over-trying to find one you liked? Many of us did. And most likely, once you found a style you liked, you stuck to it. Alterations in your signature probably occurred as you matured. For women, it most likely changed after marriage if you took your husband's name; and possibly again if you divorced. Emotional extremes: rage, depression, elation, etc...affect the way you write--including your signature. Other life-changing events may affect your signature as well; however, no one can sign your name exactly as you do. So what does your signature say about you? There are many variables a graphologist will study. Size, placement on the paper, legibility, and attention given to your first name versus your last name are just a few. For instance, if you sign your name in the same style and basically the same size as the rest of your writing, you are open and honest in your dealings with people. Your personality is steady and dependable and you usually feel pretty good about yourself. For those whose signature is just slightly larger than the rest of your writing: you too are well balanced individuals who will be genuine and upfront with the people you interact with. When your signature becomes noticeably larger than your text, you are trying to appear more important and self-assured than you actually feel. In reality you may be rather shy and introverted, but with a large signature, you are showing your "out-going" face to the world. If your signature becomes overly large (exaggerated), you may have an inflated ego, a tendency to be pretentious, and the need to be the center of attention. On the other hand, if your signature is smaller than the body of your writing, you are probably more modest than you let on. You might even have a tendency to underestimate your abilities. A very small signature demonstrates your feelings of inadequacy and self consciousness. You would probably prefer to go unnoticed and stay "behind the scenes". Where you place your name on the paper is also a telling indication of your personality. If you put your signature at or close to the center of the page, you are probably more comfortable working with the support of others. You may need extra encouragement to finish your projects and you aren't comfortable accepting sole responsibility for disputes that arise. When your signature is placed to the far left of the page, by choice, not because there is a "sign here" line, you usually enjoy solitary activities. Privacy is important to you and you tend to be a loner type. When it comes to work and projects, you prefer letting others handle responsibility. Signatures placed to the right side of the page, but not going into the margin indicate a constructive team player. You have a willingness to share responsibility, but don't want to shoulder all of it. Most times you shy away from taking charge; you prefer following instructions to giving them. Those of you who place your name to far right of the page, actually going into or through the margin have "take charge" personalities. You are strong, self-sufficient leaders and have no problem dealing with problems when they arise. Along with placement, whether the signature slants upward (ascends) or slants downward (descends) reveals your general attitude toward your life. When your signature ascends, most likely, you feel ambitious, goal-oriented, hopeful, and pretty optimistic in general. When your signature descends, you may be feeling fatigued, extremely discouraged, pessimistic, depressed ,or you may be ill. One of the most important aspects of handwriting is its legibility. If it is so sloppy that it can't be read, there's no understanding what the writer intended. In some cases, the writer (purposely) wants to hide the meaning of himself or his words behind a messy scribble. A legible signature indicates a writer's willingness to communicate. You are straight forward and have a what-you-see-is-what-you-get attitude. You believe in what you write. If the body of the writing is illegible, but the signature is clear, this may indicate extreme narcissism. You don't care if people can understand what you have to say as long as they know it was YOU who said it. From time to time, a legible signature with illegible writing may point to mental disorder or immaturity.

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When your signature is illegible, there could be several reasons why. Perhaps you've had to sign your name all day long and you're tired-think physicians or celebrities. If you're sick or have just gotten over an illness, the legibility of your signature may be affected as well. Sometimes, however, an illegible signature is an indication of secrecy. The writer has something to hide or doesn't want to take responsibility for what his written. If you can read the body of your text, but can't make out your signature, it may indicate a willingness to communicate your thoughts and ideas, but not your personality or who you really are. Contrary to what you may have been told, an accurate personality profile cannot be determined by signature alone. The whole text must be examined and also used for comparison to get a thorough view of the writer. Sometimes, in criminal cases, that's all a graphologist has and will do the best he can-but it certainly will not be exact.

With identity theft on the rise, your signature has become a key element in preserving your privacy. No one can form those letters the exact same way that you do and should they try, the fake would easily be spotted by a graphologist. Your signature is your public image. It's how you are recognized and held responsible for your legal dealings. Whether large, tiny, scribbled, or carefully written, the way you write your name is unique to you. Consider your signature the next time you write a check or sign a contract. Can it be easily duplicated? Are you giving the world an opportunity to steal your identity? Or are you protecting yourself by throwing in every curve, loop, and line you can manage?

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