Society Conference Reports for 1998

Winter Conference

February 7, 1998

Ruth Holmes
Trial Advantage: Using Handwriting In and Out of the Court Room

In the morning session, Ms. Holmes showed video footage of trials, attorney-client conversations and jury selection sessions from court room cases on which she served as an attorney consultant. She demonstrated how personality information about potential jurors can be gathered from questionnaire forms, even when there is little handwriting to analyze. Methods of discovery included, for instance, taking note of the signature dynamics, the size, stroke quality and pressure of checkmarks made on questionnaire answer boxes, and whether an "x" or a checkmark was used.

In the afternoon session, a hypothetical case was proposed and volunteers from the audience came forward around a table to form a mock jury/focus group. Observations about selecting appropriate jurors were then made based on such factors as body language, how opinions were expressed or echoed by the various members, and where at the table people decided to sit.

Ruth Holmes' credentials include president of the Great Lakes Association of Handwriting Examiners and principal of American Trial Advantage Jury Consultants. She is also certified by the National Association of Document Examiners and the American College of Forensic Examiners. Among her achievements is her graphological assistance in the successful jury selection for the Dr. Kevorkian assisted suicide trials.

Spring Conference

May 2, 1998

Renate Griffiths
Personnal Assessment Through Tree Drawings Combined with Handwriting Analysis and Borderline and Narcissistic Personality Disorders

In the morning, Ms. Griffiths demonstrated how tree drawings can provide valuable information in conjunction with a given sample of handwriting, especially where persona masks the underlying personality, or in writings with unremarkable graphics. She showed many examples of how certain observations could be made based on the type of tree foliage chosen, if any; the size and location on the page of the tree; the importance given to roots and/or bark, if drawn; and the symbolism of other objects in the picture, such as birds, fences and paths.

The afternoon session examined the handwritings of borderline and narcissistic personalities, and their graphic indicators. Ms. Griffiths proposed that borderline handwritings are characterized by a lack of identity, anger, weak ego, persona writing and spacing extremes. Narcissistic handwritings can be indicated by an exaggerated PPI or middle zone size, grandiose signatures, and signs of egocentricity and perfectionism. She indicated that both disorders may be the result of early childhood disturbance, and that handwritings should be examined with this in mind where borderline or narcissistic personalities are suspected.

Renata Griffiths has an M.S. degree in Health and Human Sciences, and received her nursing and psychiatric degrees in England and the U.S. A former psychotherapist, she is a certified document examiner and has a personnel consulting practice. Her books include Borderline/Narcissistic and Antisocial Personality Disorders and Handwriting, Graphology, Early Recollections and the Tree Test, and Early Childhood Experiences Reflected in Handwriting.

Fall Conferences

September 2, 1998

Lorraine Herbert
The Enneagram as Applied to Graphology

Lorraine Herbert gave a lecture about the nine "types" which are part of the Enneagram system, and related them to handwriting analysis. She grouped the nine qualities of the system and their wings into the three triads of anger, fear and affect. Lorraine also presented several handwriting examples of the different personality types represented by each triad, concluding with samples from President Clinton and his wife Hillary.

Lorraine Herbert is a Governor of The London College of Graphology, and has served as Governor of the British Academy of Graphology and editor of its journal. She is a founder of Scriptor Books, the editor of nine books on graphology, and a former student of Renna Nezos.

November 7, 1998

Renata Propper
Dr. Hans Knobloch's Approach to Handwriting Analysis

Morning: Renata spoke about the approach of German graphologist Dr. Hans Knobloch, with whom she has been conferring for many years. Dr. Knobloch believes that the gestalt of a handwriting is most important, and that analysts should let the handwriting speak for itself before imposing theories upon it. Renata discussed the nine categories used by Dr. Knobloch in his system of handwriting analysis: quality of life force, available vitality; function and activity level, compulsion, range of emotion, control, general form, self-presentation and personal sense of identity.

Renata Propper has been a professional handwriting consultant for twenty years, concentrating on personnel selection. She is a founding member of the Society, and studied with Daniel and Florence Anthony at The New School for Social Research.

Madeleine Blanquefort d'Anglards
The Relationship of Mothers and Daughters Seen Through Their Handwriting

Afternoon: French graphologist Madeleine Blanquefort d'Anglards gave a lecture on mother/daughter relationships, focusing on the bonds established between them. Using three sets of mother/daughter handwritings as examples, Madeleine showed where to look for the graphic gestures that reveal the basic nature of the relationship. Important questions to ask in an evaluation include how the goals of the mother affect the daughter, how the daughter functions to the mother (i.e., to fulfil mother's identity? to succeed where mother did not?), and how the structure of the daughter's writing compares to the motivations shown in the mother's writing.

Madeleine Blanquefort d'Anglards is a graphology teacher and independent consultant who advises personnel departments and head-hunters about graphology and interviewing. She has lectured internationally on recruitment and personnel evaluations, and is the author of the book Motivations and Compensations.