The Write Event

Illustrations of thinking patterns

Examples of thinking patterns:

1. cumulative—building-block style mental process, methodical so likes to have adequate time to learn and may need repetition. Once understands can usually retain information. Does not necessarily have a need to learn more than is is necessary unless has a strong interest in the subject. (Note the rounded tops. Remember that curved strokes are softer than angles. So, this learning style is a smoother approach in gathering information implying the patience necessary to do it.)

2. keen comprehensive—quick to catch on, especially in familiar areas. Seems smart (whether actually is or not will be obvious in time)—does not imply deep learning. That has to be measured. For example, Donald Trump is both quick and deep in his perceptions. (Shown in the quality of the strokes.) He is also highly analytical, which means he can think on his feet and tell where things are going. He is a vertical slant writer so he is not acting on emotion. Such thinkers respond in a flash and can anticipate others' responses before they hear them. If thinking is cursory besides being fast may jump to conclusions and act rashly. Emotionally responsive people (right slant) may be especially prone to do that.

3. Investigative (1st example)—curious thinking pattern, interested in knowing to the extent necessary so will take second-hand information and be satisfied. Many other factors weigh in to evaluate how well the person uses the mind. (Note that the inverted v searching stays in the middle zone.)

(2nd example)—exploratory thinking. (Note that the spade-like structures go upward into the zone of the abstract.) Such thinkers want to know more than the obvious and usually learn for themselves, not trusting others' opinions. It is rare to find only this thinking pattern in one handwriting but if that is the case it is the mind of a scholar.

The two examples basically have the same structure. The difference lies in where the desire to learn is seen: moving from the mundane area of the middle zone into abstract thinking of the upper zone. It is a gradation measurement.

4. Analytical thinking—can be present in each of the thinking patterns above. It indicates what a thinker does with what is learned. You have to apprehend information before you can sift it and sort it through analysis. (The form to look for is a clearly defined v shape at the baseline.)

5. No analytical thinking—(note the retraced strokes where the arrows are pointing.) If this is predominant in a sample the writer lacks problem-solving ability and may seem foggy and unable to explain the 'why' and 'how' to someone else. The writer may understand it fully but cannot transmit the same understanding to others. They will not have the gift of being a good trainer, which depends on anticipating what the trainee may naturally question. Unfortunately, a lot of trainers figure the trainees are the ones with the problem.
(A good reason a handwriting analyst, a a third party, can help in such situations.)

It is common to see any or all of the above in the same handwriting sample, which would mean the writer can use a variety of thinking patterns to fit different circumstances and needs. I would determine the predominant method by careful counting and evaluation of the result.

Analytical thinking ability—the fourth thinking pattern

Another look at Bill Clinton's sample with show you this indicator. The description of what to look for is this: in the m and n letters there is a v-shape that meets the baseline. That's the key: the connection with the baseline. The v must meet it to qualify. Note the words, much, I'm, and time where you wil see the inverted v angles that look like wedges. His writing shows this trait very clearly in those places.

We interpret this as analytical ability because you have to analyze in the present (so it appears in the middle zone as a conscious thinking process) and you also search for truth in the moment and it has to be connected to reality to come to a conclusion. Reality is represented by the baseline. Where your feet touch the ground, as it were.

This thinking pattern is always present with some other mental process. You have to apprehend information before you can do anything with it. Writers who have this characteristic add an important dimension to their thinking mode. It gives them the ability to sift and sort what they learn to determine its usefulness. This trait is essential in problem-solving. These people are not mental pushovers; you have to convince them because they don't accept anything without considering if it is reasonable. In their view if it is not they will discard it. They can also separate the superficial from the important.

A high intensity of this trait makes for a critical mind. If that gift (and it is) is directed in productive areas this type of thinking adds discriminatory judgment. These are the team members who may ask the 'what-if' questions and expect solid answers in reply.

If analytical thinking is directed toward people this thinking process adds an edge to the personality. The person may become a nitpicker who looks for flaws in others. (They can be self-critical too.) In all angular writing, (meaning when there are very few or no softening forms) there will be a degree of harshness, especially if the angles are in the connections between letters. If there are also other traits to add fuel to the fire (we have discussed a few) such as a high intensity score on directness (no lead-in strokes on words) sarcasm (sharply pointed t bars with a barb at the end) inordinate frankness, (absolutely clean circles in letters a and o -- and can also be found elsewhere) and you have a person who will not hesitate to speak his mind and probably cut as he goes. (All counts have to be high to qualify.) Oh, and add a responsive person (extreme right slant) and you have more expressiveness to gun it. And is there pressure on the page too? More feeling feeds the expression.

On the positive side these people need to have real problems to solve or they become bored. Since this is a talent for them it is important that their strength be recognized and put to use in the workplace. This ability is a strong component of intelligence. But one can carry analysis too far. At some point you have to quit beating a dead horse and make a decision instead of waiting for more data or possibilites to analyze. Then you are doing more thinking than doing. (It works in a research lab but it is not so good for a marketer.)

Lack of analytical thinking is a detriment to learning and tends to shut down productive thinking. If you look at the writing of Susan Smith it is easy to see that she lacks this ability. She retraced her m and n letters, and little, if any, analytical thinking shows at all. When she was interviewed before her guilt was established she was not thinking clearly enough to analyze what she was alleging and had a terrible time trying to keep her story straight. She is an immature woman, lacking smarts and without a conscience—all evident in her handwriting.

I will draw examples of the four thinking patterns in a future post. Has this helped you to understand other people a little better?

Investigative thinking—the third mental pattern

An investigative mind wants to search out things. It digs to learn. The quality of the digging is to be judged by the quality of the strokes. (Again, for our purpose here, we will restrict our consideration to just the letters m and n.) This type of thinker likes to use a spade and dig in the garden of information. And, in fact the formation will remind you of just such an instrument. You will be checking the type of stroke at the top of the m and n. You are looking for an inverted v shape and note that it is not retraced if it is to qualify as an investigative process.

If the quality of the peaks is definite, formed by straight strokes on either side of the point, (like a tent-shape) it indicates stronger thinking or better investment of the mind. If the effect is curved on either side the quality of the thinking pattern is weaker because it is less definite. (Curved strokes always soften; straight strokes always show more directness and force anywhere they show up in handwriting.) So, slurry forms or thready looking quality shows less intent to put the mind to work. (That may be efficient if there is no necessity to learn deeply or if somebody else is going to do the digging. Executives who have backup help often show this type of processing pattern.)

I will draw some examples of each of the thinking patterns once I cover this one and the next and compare them to the cumulative and keen comprehensive examples I have already described. It is easier to see them one-by-one before you try to compare them when they appear all together.

Now to see an example: skip backwards to Bill Clinton's sample (see category of "Samples to Review" and click on his) and you will see it clearly in the m in the word "must" as well as in the m in "I'm" and in the last line in the word "time." It even looks like a garden spade at the top.

Looking at his, you will see that he is a middle zone dominant writer. Again, that signifies a person who is focused in the moment and is concerned with immediacy. He probably has plenty of help to chart his long-term goals because he is not strong in that area. His mind investigates in that zone of life so he is not theoretical and he does not search for knowledge in that sphere. He stays in the middle zone to think. He can think in a thorough manner but his mind runs in practical channels.

When the spade-shaped inverted v shape inches up past the middle zone and the points reach into the upper zone area a bit the person searches the unknown (the upper zone is conceptual) and then the designation of thinking quality is termed "exploratory" because it goes upward and out of the familiar mundane. So exploratory thinking is a gradation upward from investigative. If it appears inconsistently in a writing it shows that the writer searches higher only at times or perhaps in just a special area. We cannot know what the writer wants to know, just that the desire to learn is there. And exploratory thinkers like to learn for themselves and to get first-hand knowledge, while investigative thinkers will accept second-hand information.

It is possible to see many different thinking modes in one writing. In fact, you will see that in Bill Clinton's. Check out the m in the word "welcome" and there you will see two modes in that letter. Go back and review the previous two descriptions of thinking styles and see if you can identify which is which.

The more variation of modes the more versatiility of thinking patterns the writer can use to learn. Very handy indeed. What formations are in your handwriting?

Comprehensive, sharp thinking—the second mental pattern

Guess what! Comprehensive thinkers are sharp learners who also write sharp formations. Common sense, yes?

Take another spin over to look at Donald Trump's writing and you will see an A-1 example. Note the needle-like tops of his m and n letters. The indicator is the retraced points. If the stroke is not retraced it shows something else I will explain later.

These folks catch on very fast. Whether they get it deeply or superficially depends on how linear the letter is; that is, there has to be the quality of definition looking like a healthy letter to qualify. No wimpy thready stuff will show both a sharp and also quality thinking process. Superficial retraced strokes get the person looking smart and maybe even sounding it but they are not going to be showing thinking effort in the long run. By contrast, Donald is both a very fast thinker and a very indepth one. Look how fast he says, "You're fired!"

Comprehensive thinkers (remember many writers have several styles in their handwriting) can learn fast and may not always be needing to analyze a lot. Well, they may need to but don't because they can just learn something all over again so easily, if necessary. This style is mainly used in the familiar areas to the writer. Since all of us have to learn in unfamiliar territory it is common to see other thinking modes in the same writing. But the more of this one I find, the quicker I know the person is. Brilliant? Seeming so maybe. Thinking quality will dictate that. The Donald is. (He has at least one other style of writing: he is a block printer and it is strong defined writing.)

Because these folks can think rings around others if there are devious tendencies (which we will not be discussing here in the blog) their tactical advantage might give them an edge during the deal as they calculate their moves ahead of the other guy. Hmm. I have run across a lot of this in personnel work. The fast people interview well, especially if blessed with verbal skills.

With a pronounced right slant and without restraining fears or other squelching influences, (which hold back expression) these folks may often jump to conclusions. They can make up their minds so fast and they may live to regret it. So, it is good to have other thinking styles along with this one to balance out that tendency.

Years ago, my handwriting was analyzed and I was surprised to learn that I have all the thinking patterns to use for different reasons. Mainly, exploratory and analytical thinking (that figures) and I will explain them soon, are my preferred ones but if I have to learn methodically I will read the manual while kicking and screaming. Not my favorite thing at all. I will put off doing things that will require that, although learning handwriting analysis and other indepth subjects I study are pleasures for me. Here I am ready to do a website and am holding off reading the how-to stuff. (Anybody really good out there who wants to do a labor of love or have their handwriting analyzed in exchange for doing a great website? :)

By the way, teachers out there, don't overlook the tortoises in class who may be overspeeded by the hares (a.k.a. comprehensive thinkers). Those quick kids may have their hands in the air but now you know that it is not a true measure of quality thinking. Wait a moment more and let the cumulative kids have time to mull. See if the experiment works. But then I am sure that teachers get a good take on that without reading it here. By the way, and not incidentally, thank you teachers for all you do to help our kids learn. I admire you.

Check some previous samples for cumulative thinking

If you go back to look at a couple of samples posted here you will find some other examples of cumulative thinking.

It is not easy to see Timothy McVeigh's formations due to the small size but look carefully at his letters m and n and you will be able to make out the rounded tops of those letters. Doesn't it fit to say that he went about plotting his crime by using careful sequential thinking? He had an uncluttered mind, which was capable of intense focus. Note the stripped down look. No embellishments, no fanfare or attention getting. Just linear unadorned no-nonsense script. He figured he had a job to do (note the high extenders) which was created out of his conceptual thinking power in the abstract. He fulfilled his "mission" and that is what he set out to do.

Look also at Princess Diana's. She has some mix of thinking styles in her writing. You will also find the rounded forms in parts of her letter m, usually the first hump with the second one showing more of an angle but it is not sharp. There are few defined soft angles though. She was not a deep thinker; that was not her gift. She focused attention on the immediate, as I mentioned before, she didn't think in the abstract area at all. She was bright but not brilliant.

Note also Bill Clinton's sample. Do you see any rounded forms in those letters? Did you observe him to be a methodical thinker or does his processing seem very fast to you? His handwriting indicates the latter is true for him. And he is never at a loss for words even when on the hot seat. He can think on his feet or his seat.

His processing pattern is quite consistent in his writing. It is the one we will be discussing next time. Take a careful look at his sample before we do that. Note the m and n letters particularly and also note the v formations at the baseline.

Cumulative thinking—the first mental pattern

The first mental pattern we will talk about is often termed, "cumulative thinking" by some handwriting analysts. It is the style that most resembles copybook writing. You might want to skip over to that category and have another look at copybook before reading further here.

The physical features of this thinking mode are mainly found in the top part of the letter m and n. For our discussion here we will stick to that. Simply put, the two letters will show rounded tops, meaning no points or sharpness, just an arcade shape. You are looking just at the top of the letters.

Of the samples I have on the blog Susan Smith's writing best illustrates how it looks. Take a look at the first line of her writing to see the rounded tops of m and n letters. It is hard to make out all her letters because of the poor copy but you can see what I mean there.

I don't find many handwriting samples with this style of formation only; usually there is at least one other type of formation indicating another thinking pattern is used also by the person. The more variety of thinking patterns the more mental flexibility a writer has in problem solving.

Cumulative thinkers apprehend information in a deliberate, building-block style. It may take them longer to learn as they seek information in a sequential way—one fact building on another. They need to learn at their own pace and they may need much more repetition of steps than faster learners. As you may surmise this is a big agitation to swift people who just cannot understand why the other person doesn't 'get it' as fast as they do.

If you are in a position of needing to instruct or train this kind of thinker put it out of your mind that you are dealing with somebody "dumb." Such a superior attitude will inhibit you from getting the best from that person if you are in the position of authority. It is a big rub in industry. And more than once I have heard my fellow coaches say on a teleclass that dealing with "slow" thinkers is a trial for them.

What swifties don't 'get' is that this type of mind is a very valuable addition to a team because once the sequential thinker, assuming a good IQ, has the program down they can work with the speed of a machine, especially if there is a pronounced degree of regularity in the writing. Their gift is their solid thinking if they also can analyze well (a factor we will discuss later.) In other words, they can learn something, retain it and use it.

While these thinkers are usually not seeking to learn in new paths they will "do the homework" that quicker thinkers don't like to be bothered doing.

Cumulative thinkers are not fond of deadlines and do not work best under that kind of pressure. Give them all the time you can. I have found that they are often visual learners. Written communication may work better than a verbal message if they need time to ponder.

If you are a faster learner let me offer this one thought: the ball is in your court to control the interactions between you and a cumulative thinker. If you want results you will have to be the one to adapt; the other person cannot speed up because they cannot process that way. It will be up to you to slow down and rethink your method of communication.