Graphometric Variables of One's Signature: I. Basic Measures

This study focused on statistical properties and interrelationships of graphometric variables of the signatures of outpatients, 100 men and 119 women, remitted from somatic and psychiatric clinics for possible psychotherapy or for tests of IQ, personality, or brain lesions. The patients' signature on test forms were used. The type of handwriting was classified into Common, Print and Block letters, quantified in breadth, length, and area and grades of slant of minuscules (“lower-case letters”) and majuscules (“upper-case”). Analysis indicated sex and age played roles in style of handwriting and size of letters; writing styles differed on most graphometric variables; and meaningful patterns of interrelationships among graphometric variables were specified by factor analysis.