@Zivio So happy you liked my post! The field of personality psychology is outside my expertise, but with my understanding now of the brain after readings over the years, I agree that the issue of assuming personality extends into other metrics, including various personality tests…even the famous Myers-Briggs. I am guilty of taking them though as they are fun! I also like them because they motivate me to self-reflect in ways I might not otherwise. That said, I take the tests with a grain of salt. Like IQ tests and the concept of ‘intelligence’, so too has the concept of personality become much more fluid in recent years. Many scientists recognize now that humans simply cannot be categorized neatly into boxes. It’s interesting because in my field, we struggle with this concept in cell biology as well. We are constantly classifying cells into different ‘states’, but now my field is shifting and acknowledging that a cell’s tissue environment plays a huge influence on its responses, as much as its genetic makeup. This notion can be extended to human personalities, which will be reflected in the outwards traits we show, including our writing.
@jeanwilson I would have loved to take on your challenge, but now I am biased knowing your plan. Lol! I definitely think personality can sneak in to a certain extent in calligraphy, just not as much as in handwriting. This is evident since some calligraphers often end up developing a style that is recognizable by others over time. However, I find that that is more a reflection of their artistic flair. That said, I can easily see how a calligrapher’s mood and other traits can become evident. In those instances, multiple exemplars from the same person would be required as you assumed Jean. In addition to the variance issues I describe in my reply to
@Zivio, I think an additional challenge with calligraphy is needing to take into account the skill level of the calligrapher. Strokes of a new calligrapher will often be shaky, uncertain. A person new to calligraphy tends to focus on the strokes and learning a new tool, often to the point of ignoring their own style. I think an analysis of this type would only work on calligraphers who have reached a skill level such that they have that ‘automatic’ freedom with the pen that only comes with repeated practice over time. This isn’t an issue as much for handwriting analysis as it is typically done in adults, who have already had years of practice by that point. However, given the decline in the use of handwriting, that advantage might be on the decline…
@Erica McPhee Thank you! I love playing with my pen and especially love when my work is well received. Still...I only consider myself a practiced hobbyist at best. Perhaps when I retire and can devote the time I need to up my game. I have a ways to go yet though!