Thank you for your attention!
Conclusion
- When analyzing a document, look for characteristics on the angularity, slope, speed, pressure, letter and word spacings, relative dimensions of letters, connections, pen movement, writing skill and finger dexterity
- Also look at the arrangement of the writing on the paper (margins, spacings, crowding, alignment)
Objective:
SWBAT identify the specific characteristics of handwriting used by CSI Investigators in solving a crime.
Important term:
forensic graphology- "Forensic graphology is the study of handwriting and is used to identify a persons state of mind at the time of writing."
Forensic Handwriting Analysis
By: Cristina Shoffner and Sofia Shoffner
Before We Start...
Analyze this note. Using any background information you may already have, what characteristics of the handwriting stand out to you? Slant? Slope? Curves/Loops?
What do you think a forensic graphologist would pay special attention to?
Knox:
- Her letter spacing is narrow and she concentrates her writing in the middle zone. (This reveals that she sees the world from an egocentric point of view)
No two individuals have the same handwriting. Things that cause handwriting to be different are:
- age
- writing utensil
- our mood
- how hurried we are
Anthony:
- She has varied letter spacing- some are close together, others are far apart. (This suggests that she has an ambivalent sense of self.)
- Her letters are difficult to identify. (This suggests she is withholding information)
What graphologists look at when analyzing handwriting.
Smith:
- Her letters are extremely close together. (This means she lacks social boundaries and may have suicidal thoughts)
- slant
- size
- pressure
- upper zone or case (as in l, t, h, etc)
- lower zone
- middle zone
- word and line spacing
- page margins
- angle (sharp points v. curves)
- places of crosses on t's and dots on i's
- size consistency (is the ratio of height to width consistent?)
Falling:
If you look closely at the "me," the "m" and the "e" form an "x."
- it is thought that people who make this 'x' have death on their conscience. (This may mean that a loved one has died, or that they feel guilty)
Four well known cases:
Christine Falling, Susan Smith, Casey Anthony, Amanda Knox
Works Cited:
After thorough investigation of these suspect's handwriting, forensic graphologists arrived at the following conclusions...
Now it's your turn!
- http://www.authorstream.com/Presentation/DorveraOwens-1316072-ch-10-handwriting-analysis/
- http://www.exploreforensics.co.uk/forensic-graphology.html
- http://writersforensicsblog.wordpress.com/2009/08/24/forensic-graphology-a-key-to-understanding-killers-by-sheila-lowe/
- http://www.businessballs.com/graphologyhandwritinganalysis.htm
What all the women have in common concerning handwriting:
- all have rounded handwriting
- all concentrated in middle zone ( meaning they need far more love, nurture and attention)
- Graphologists eventually came to the conclusion that the motivating factor behind these murders was a need for love and approval.
These characteristics reveal things such as:
List 3 types of handwriting characteristics used by forensic graphologists when analyzing a document.
- the desire for independence
- tendency to reserve emotion
- intro/extroversion
- level of commitment/seriousness
- level of sensitivity to atmosphere
- the tendency to have goals and ambitions
- level of patience