Sunday Lesson #6: Accident Proneness as seen in Handwriting

From 1951 to 1955, Dr. Heinrich Pfanne, renowned German graphologist, lectured in various parts of the former East Germany. I was very fortunate to be able to hear him during his lectures in Rudolstadt. Thuringia.

In 1955, in response to many requests, Pfanne published those lectures in a small volume Wesen und Wert der Graphologie (Essence and Merit of Graphology). In one of the chapters he touches upon the subject of accident proneness as seen in handwriting.

According to Pfanne, insurance companies have long ago discovered that one particular group of people seems to suffer a large percentage of all accidents, whereas other individuals remain relatively accident free. Unfortunately, industry often keeps such persons in hazardous work situations and will relocate them only after a series of additional mishaps.

Merten states that “some people have a high susceptibility to accidents. They are restless and distracted, inclined to trust luck. They take their chances to prove that they can handle any emergency.” He adds that these individuals tend to develop an “accident habit” and “often show a history of minor collisions before a major injury is incurred.”

Many losses, both financial and health wise, could be prevented if accident proneness were recognized before hiring vulnerable people for dangerous jobs.

A few months ago, one of my international client companies asked me to prepare special “Profiles” for around 100 of their blue color workers covering 6 traits that are of special significance to them. One of those traits was accident proneness. The Profiles were done from the handwriting of workers who are already employed. If there is a high percentage of agreement between the Profiles and the company’s actual experience with these employees, these Profiles will be done for several thoursand workers in their factories.

The indicators I used for accident proneness were:

1. nervousness
2. poor concentration

Nervousness
According to Merten, these writers are “nervous and agitated without reason. They are restless and it irritates them to be inactive. Often, their movements are random, without purpose and direction. They may be finger-drumming and foot-tapping. They pace, just for the sake of moving. Their mind is not easily directed toward one activity for a longer period of time.”

Handwriting indicators for nervousness:
corrections (especially of upper and lower zone loops)
             
going over downstrokes a second time (will appear darker than rest of writing)

breaks in downstrokes
breaks in upstrokes (not so critical)

soldered connections (individual strokes look as is they are soldered or “sautered” together)

fragmented letters

ataxia and/or tremor
extra downstrokes in m's and n's
extremely variable middle zone height
extremely variable slant
extremely irregular spacing
displaced pressure in upstrokes (pressure is in upstrokes rather than in downstrokes)

sudden erratic pressure
very light pressure or thread are possible

A minimum of six indicators suffice as evidence.

Poor concentration
These writers have a short attention span. They bore easily and need an energy release, such as constant moving about or talking. Pophal states that “they are unable to relax and wear themselves out physically.”

Mental distraction, forgetfulness, inattention to details and an inclination toward making mistakes are results of poor concentration.

Most often, such people work inattentively and carelessly. They seem unaware of the need for caution. They rarely take the time to examine a situation thoroughly before becoming involved. Since they respond without forethought to unfamiliar situations, they are liable to wrong responses. Mendel declares that “because of their reckless disregard of necessary precautions, they pose a safety risk in hazardous jobs. Very probably,” he concludes, “they would also be unpunctual, disorderly and indolent.”

Handwriting indicators for poor concentration:
Irregularity of slant, spacing, height and width
thready writing

very light pressure
loops extremely broad
ostentatious embellishments

very large writing
upper zone height very irregular
missing i-dots
missing t-bars
missing ties on t's and f's
very fluctuating baseline

QUIZ
Every one can participate!
Send in an answer! Get a FREE Book!
Submit the best answer and WIN THE 6-VOLUME SET
“Comprehensive and Illustrated Description for 215 Personality Traits.”

One of my students wrote:
“I am analyzing a client’s handwriting but I really don’t know how to interpret these four letters. They are small cursive “g’s.” Can you help me?

I felt that this is a good time for everyone to test their own graphology knowledge.

If you found these letters in a handwriting, what would you tell your client?
Please e-mail your answers emkarohs@gmail.com . Everyone who participates gets a FREE copy (PDF) of my best-selling book “How to Spot Personality Conflicts in Handwriting.”

The individual with the best answer wins a FREE 6 volume set “Comprehensive and Illustrated Description for 215 Personality Traits.” The answer will be published.

Instructions for Quiz submission:

1. Include your answer INSIDE the e-mail, not as an attachment.

2. Write in the e-mal subject line “Sunday Lesson Quiz.”

3. Only serious answers will be accepted (don’t try to by cute and write “the letter looks like a pigtail,” or something like that).

4. Number and describe each letter individually.

5. Describe in detail in which part of the letter you recognize a certain trait and describe the indicator and the the trait. Be very specific.

Hint! There are at least 12 traits in those four letters.
Deadline for the submission is December 7, 2010.
Have fun and Good Luck!

Erika M. Karohs, Ph. D., Ed. D.

 

I hope you enjoy “Sunday Lessons Series III”. If you have any questions or would like to recommend topics, please feel free to email me at info@karohs.com