Monday 18 March 2013

All Caps Handwriting

        As much as the "experts" claim that handwriting analysis is not an exact science (and is there such a thing as an exact science? Apart from mathematics, that is...), it is undeniable that the way people write, what they write about and the language they use tells us quite a bit about the person. 
        I only started looking into it because it struck me that two of the most narcissistic people I knew, though quite different from each other, both write in all caps when sending a card. I don't think this applies to all people who write in all caps, sometimes all caps can have a clear and pretty effect; what I'm talking about here are the ones that make their "get well" cards look like kidnapper's ransom notes. Also like kidnapper's ransom notes, the way they write is bullying. 
Interestingly, both these people also send typed personal letters (I guess it takes too long to write in all caps) which I think is odd. If you're going to do that, why not send an email instead?

Here are some interpretations of why people write in all caps which, at least in the cases of the two people I know, are spot on. (from http://www.writechoice.co.in/writechoice/index.php/2011/08/all-caps-handwriting-why-some-people-write-in-block-letters-and-what-it-means/)

"these people do not like to disclose anything about themselves to others. They are uncomfortable talking about their personal lives — at least in interpersonal relationships. They do not want others to know about themselves."
Usually, all-caps handwriting lacks connection between letters, which indicates that the writer does not like to relate to people at a personal level. Also, such writers are quite egotistic. They hold strong opinions and it’s very tough to get  them to see another point of view. They emphasise a lot on their day-to-day lives, rather than spending some time planning their future.

Another article on this I found on http://handwritinganalysis-1.blogspot.co.uk/2009/03/when-people-write-in-all-capitals.html
the comments were particularly interesting (a lot of examples of "the lady doth protest too much"). One in particular caught my attention:

I think you got something. So I got a letter from a guy that I barely say anything to, friendly how are you's. He looked like a really well put together kind of person. dressed nice and very polite. I didnt see him for a while and all of a sudden I get a letter from him. He wrote in all caps. I thought that was sorta strange. His words were very carefully chosen. Before I decided to respond, I looked into him and found out that he was in jail and he is being accused of molesting a kid. Maybe you're right. Needless to say, I didn't respond.
"He looked like a really well put together kind of person. dressed nice and very polite.""His words were very carefully chosen." This is also true of the two Ns I know. I think the dressing well and being polite (and charming) is their decoy. In reality, they are bullies, but if they showed their true colours straight away, nobody would go anywhere near them, would they? 

9 comments:

  1. Great post and very interesting.

    I think there are lots of little clues like that if we look. They give themselves away. I've been able to spot narcs so much easier lately than before.

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    1. Yes, like writing lots of three dots between sentences ;)

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  2. WELL NOW.........I'll have to RETHINK my writing.........STYLE
    BuT wHAt abouT tHIs? .......sorry. I'm useless today. useless. love CS

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    1. Well... what can you do? It's Monday... :P xxoo

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  3. My X has the most beautifully flowing handwriting you've ever seen. The last time he hand-addressed a letter to me, I lost consciousness for an hour and then threw up. NOT REALLY...I AM LYING.

    When he sends emails to me now, you won't believe it, but the subject line is in ALL CAPS. There's no doubt IN MY MIND that he doesn't want ME to know anything about him anymore. Like how he lives his life after THROWING so many GOOD people UNDER the bus. AND, the ALL CAPS subject title IS followed by numerous exclamation points, like this:

    URGENT!!!CZ RESPOND IMMEDIATELY!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    (Thank goodness I didn't learn to type until AFTER he left. He couldn't send emails 'cuz I didn't know how to use a computer when we were married.)

    Say, does that website say ANYTHING about people inserting RANDOM words in ALL CAPS? Are we REALLY angry people, or are we just amazing typists????? ha!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Love,
    CZ

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    1. Hahaha, why I am not surprised? I've been suspecting one of my friends has narc tendencies because she did the very same thing: she wrote me an email with ALL CAPS in the subject line (no content in the email itself) also followed by numerous exclamation points. They're so unoriginal :P
      It's like you have to drop everything and run to take care of whatever they want at that particular time.
      Love,
      Kara

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  4. Interesting topic! As you know I mentioned this in my recent post about my FB interaction with a relative who uses all caps. I found it annoying (enough to mention it in my post), but didn't read anything else into it except that he feels strongly about his opinion. But you're right, theres more to it than that. He feels strongly, but he is also angry, forceful, and rude (as all caps is the cyber equivalent of shouting). I'm not sure in and of itself the use of all caps always indicates narcissism. But taken in the context of other clues, it certainly points in that direction. It's a clue I may not have thought about before reading this post. So thanks for that! :)

    XX00,
    Kitty

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    1. Thanks for the feedback, Kitty. Yes, it was your post that made think of writing this. I've had it in my head for ages but kept forgetting to write about it. I agree that in itself the use of all caps might not always be a sign of narcissism, you'd have to know a lot more about the person to know if that's the case. The articles I linked were referring to handwriting, which I guess it gives more information than when people write online.
      Love,
      Kara xx

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  5. I'm wondering if any of you could find out what percentage of Americans write (not type) in all Caps and/or what percentage of the World population does. ~ty

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