Effects of Stress on Handwriting

Connections to AP Biology

What We Would Do in the Future

Connections to Background Research

Validity of Results

Hypothesis

What Went Wrong

What Went Right

Support from Research

Behavior

Natural Selection

• Behavioral changes due to stress were the cause of distortion in handwriting

• Humans have evolved the behavioral traits demonstrated in this experiment

• Test more people

• Use a stable and secluded location

• Every participant followed directions correctly

• The experiment yielded practical results

Because of the inconsistencies between the different testing environment and the inability to test a greater amount of people, the validity of our results are not as valid as they could have been if we had a consistent environment and were able to test more people

Our results did not support our hypothesis because we expected all of our test subjects’ handwriting size to increase, yet only 40% of them increased.

In our research, we found that stress is able to physically affect the human body. Our results vindicate this research because 80% of our participants’ handwriting size changed.

• Inconsistent Testing Environments
• There were many distractions throughout some of the individual experiments
• intercom announcements
• bells
• disruptive students
• Technical difficulties
• inability to use a loud speaker in one of our experiments

If test subjects were asked to write the following twice “We promptly judged antique ivory buckles for the next prize. How razorback jumping frogs can level six piqued gymnasts. Sixty zippers were quickly picked from the woven jute bag. Crazy Fredrick bought many very exquisite opal jewels. Jump by vow of quick, lazy strength in Oxford. “, once in silence and another time while subjected to a stress-inducing sound, then the size of their handwriting will increase.

Interactions

• Cortisol and Epinephrine
• Hormones released when body feels threatened or overwhelmed
• Cause tense muscles

NO

Was our hypothesis supported?

Graphology is:

• The study of handwriting
• Handwriting analysis
• Study of written or printed symbols

Discussion

1. Hypothesis

2. Support from research

3. What went wrong

4. What went right

5. Validity of results

6. What we would do in the future

7. Connections to background research

8. Connections to AP Biology

A. Natural Selection

B. Behavior

C. Interactions

Abstract

Stress is:

• Pressure/ Tension
• Emotional state resulting from adverse circumstances

May result in:

• increased blood pressure
• upset stomach
• headaches
• chest pain

Small Handwriting

• Studies have shown that people with small handwriting have a tendency to be shy, studious and meticulous
• They also intend to be intrusive

Large Handwriting

Results:

The aim of this study was to gain a better understanding of the impact of stress on people’s handwriting size. About fifty North Salinas High School students and staff were tested in this experiment. The test subjects were asked to write a randomized paragraph twice, one in which the subjects wrote in silence and another in which they wrote the paragraph while listening to a stress inducing sounds. Each experiment lasted approximately five minutes. We found that our test subjects’ handwriting sizes tended to either increase or decrease, but a significant amount also remained constant in size. We concluded that when comparing two samples of a person’s handwriting, it is possible to discern if that person was stressed.

• Studies have shown that people with large handwriting have a tendency to be outgoing, people-oriented, and outspoken.
• They also tend to be more independent

Group #2

Group #1

• Group #2 took place in Mrs. Cruz's 2nd period AP English Literature and Composition class
• There are 11 test subjects in group #2

• Group #1 took place in Mr. Zelensky's sixth period AP Biology class
• There are 13 test subjects in group #1

• Group #2 was asked to first copy the paragraph in silence.
• The sound was played the second time that they copied the paragraph

• Group #1 was asked to copy the paragraph first while listening to the sound.
• Then they wrote the paragraph in silence the second time.

Materials and Methods

We promptly judged antique ivory buckles for the next prize. How razorback jumping frogs can level six piqued gymnasts. Sixty zippers were quickly picked from the woven jute bag. Crazy Fredrick bought many very exquisite opal jewels. Jump by vow of quick, lazy strength in Oxford.

Introduction

• In 1622, Camillo Baldi, wrote "How to Recognize from a Letter the Nature and Quality of a Writer", (the first ever published piece of literature on handwriting analysis.)
• In 1875, the term "graphology" was coined by Jean Hyppolyte Michon
• The word graphology originates from the Greek word "graph" and "logos"
• It is defined as the study of handwriting and its revelations of certain human characteristics.
• Dr. George Myer wrote a book that analyzed handwriting which was eventually overshadowed by Dr. Ludwig Klages.
• In 1930, Dr. Ludwig Klages wrote "Handwriting and Character",
• A person's writing may be affected by external sources
• Stress is also caused by external sources, stress can be defined as a state of emotional strain or tension resulting from adverse circumstances.
• Stress can lead to various health problems
• Stress affects the mental and physical state, and may also be seen in a person's handwriting.

What

is

Graphology?

Camillo Baldi

• Was an Italian philosopher
• His most famous work on graphology is: Trattato Come Da Una Lettera Missiva Si Conoscano La Natura E Qualità Dello Scrittore. Raccolta Dagli Scritti Del Sig Camillo Baldi Citadino. Bolognese, E Dato Alle Stampe Da Gio Francesco Grillenzoni

Jean-Hippolyte Michon

• French archeologist and founder of Graphology
• Published Le Journal de l'Autographe in 1871, in which he described his handwriting analysis
• Published Système de graphologie in 1875, in which he introduced his handwriting signs

Greek Word for Graph

Greek word for Logos

What

is

Stress?

Dr. Ludwig Klages

• German theoretician in the field of handwriting analysis
• Published "Handwriting and Character", which was the first complete systematic theory on graphology.

Sources

Gawda, B. (2014). Lack of evidence for the assessment of personality traits using handwriting

analysis. Polish Psychological Bulletin, 45(1), pp. 1-100. Retrieved 18 Dec. 2014, from

doi:10.2478/ppb-2014-0011

Nuwer, R. (2013). Chronic Stress is Harmful, But Short-Term Stress Can Help. Smithsonianmag,

18 Dec. 2014 from http://www.smithsonianmag.com

The History of Graphology. (n.d.). Retrieved December 18, 2014, from

http://www.britishgraphology.org/about-british-institute-of-graphologists/the-history-of-g

raphology/

Weaver, J. (2006). Can stress actually be good for you? NBC News, Retrieved 18 Dec.

2014,from http://www.nbcnews.com/

What Does Your Handwriting Say About You? (2014, January 1). Retrieved December 18,

2014, from http://www.pens.com/handwriting-infographic/

Effects of Stress on Handwriting