Last class we discussed how bad handwriting can make one seem unintelligent.  Aesthetics were essential to the credibility and social status of books and authors hundreds of years ago.  According to Howard, The monks in the fourteenth century as well as the ancient and medieval scribes were required to be flawless without a single defect.   Before the invention of computers and typewriters, I wonder how many gifted and intelligent authors weren’t recognized because of their mediocre handwriting.

To further investigate this possible correlation, I found a study conducted in 1971 on 103 college students to search for a correlation between handwriting, intelligence, and personality.  They studied 47 different types “handwriting variables” and how they could predict behavior and answers to questions based on knowledge.  The study found that “clues about personality could be educed from handwriting.”  Specifically, 6 of 16 handwriting factors could be predicted by 5 of 10 personality and intelligence factors.  I could understand a few personality factors correlating.  For example i find myself to be pretty impatient with a “just go for it” attitude.  I could see this being a result of my bad handwriting because I like to write as fast as possible, getting as many of my thoughts on the paper as I can while i think of them.  I dont believe their found correlation between handwriting and intelligence is strong enough to make an official statement concluding that they are actually correlated.