The signature gives graphologists a great deal of information, much more than any other part of a subject's handwriting. The signature is the ego, but it goes beyond this point. The body of the writing represents what the writer really is, whereas the signature shows what he would like you to think he is. If the body of the writing is similar to that of the signature, we see an essentially honest and straightforward individual-one that is not trying to impress others or play a false part. When the signature varies from the body of the writing, graphologists first analyze the body of the writing, to discover what the writer really is. Then they check that against the signature to get an impression of the writer’s persona-the role he is trying to play.

In Figure 1, the body of the writing is generally vertical, showing a cool approach toward people in general. The inclined signature implies anything but coolness. Grandma Ruthie wants you to think that she is warmer than she really is.

Notice that the text in the writing of Harriet Beecher Stowe (Figure 1A) is quite similar to that of her signature in angle, pressure, and size of capitals. This consistency between text and signature can also be seen in the writing of Albert Schweitzer (Figure 1B), showing them both to be "true types."

By contrast to Figure 1, Figure 2 shows the body of the writing to be inclined (warm), whereas the signature is more or less upright (cool). Ted is warm and sensitive, but would prefer you to think of him as more indifferent than he really is.

Compare the right-slanted body of the writing of French composer Jules Massenet (Figure 2A) with his vertical signature. The real man was quite warm, but he thought it better for others to think of him as being a bit more "cool," perhaps for professional reasons.

Figure 3 shows simplified writing, but displays an artistic signature. The writer, a person of simple tastes, would like you to think she is artistic.

Figure 4 contrasts the large writing of the main body with a tiny signature. The great capital I alone shows how highly the writer thinks of himself. Henry Street is far from being humble, but his tiny signature shows that he wants you to think he is.

When a person holds an image in his mind of someone he respects or likes, he tends to make that person’s appearance larger than it actually is. The opposite is also true: lack of respect for someone makes him reduce the image in size. These images are shown in his writing.

When the writer in Figure 5 addresses the person to whom she is writing, her handwriting shrinks in size in comparison to the body of the writing. Thus, this writer has low esteem for Mrs. Coll.

The body of the writing in Figure 6 is smaller than the name of the addressee. Therefore, the writer has a high regard for Bonnie.

Although the addressee's name in Figure 7 is unclear, the body of the writing is quite legible. The writer is confused, not sure of how he feels about his cousin.

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