Handwritting Analysis is one of the three diagnostic tools I use in my Profiling work, the other two are Statement Analysis and Nonverbal communication. In todays article I will focus on handwriting analysis.    

In today's segment I will discuss some of the more advanced traits as a  Forensic Profiler that I am asked to detect, identify, and analyze in the handwriting of potentially violent, aggressive, and sexually aggressive/dangerous writer.

I gave this article a lot of thought before I decided on going ahead and writing it. The reasons for my indecision were many. First, you must understand that the traits shown today are advanced traits and are warning signs to you, that the writer has the potential for violent or aggressive behavior. Handwriting pressure alone does not indicate that the writer is violent or sexually dangerous. It takes a highly qualified professional in this field of study to know if the writer is capable of acting on these impulses. In my practice and in the courses I teach every spring and fall semester , the majority of my clients/students are women. I explained to them that in today's society and throughout history our two strongest drives are sex and aggression. If you find that hard to believe just pick up today's newspaper. You will read one or two articles on how Suzy Q won her school-spelling contest, and ten articles on who was beaten, murdered or raped. There are those among us who live in a world of violence and aggressive behavior. Some are born with these traits. It's genetic, and with others it's a learned behavior. The same applies when we talk on the subject of a person's sexual wants, needs, and desires. What may be kinky or off color to you may not be kinky or off color to your next-door neighbor, boyfriend, or anyone else etc. How do we detect these traits in a person's handwriting? What do we look for? In our discipline we have six degrees of pressure or intensity. P=pressure or writers intensity level. Starting with P1, P2, P3, P4, P5, and P6 with P1 and P2 being the least intense, and P6 being the most intense or extreme in their behavior. Please understand this is only one trait we must detect, identify, and analyze. Additional traits must be detected to be accurate in our assessment. In the samples below you can see the difference in the two samples of handwriting shown. Sample #1 is very light in appearance. Sample #2 is very thick and heavy. This writer is the more intense of the two and is very intense in everything her or she does, be it work, play, or sex.

Sample 1:

Sample 2:

In samples #3 and #4 below, we have the writing of two very intense, heavy pressured writers. The handwriting may look the same, but there is a marked difference between the two.

Sample #3

Sample #4

In sample #3 the writer is intense with strong drives, good determination, will power, and a quick thinking process. You will note that even though the writing is heavy and thick, it is clean. The "A's" and "O's" are open and clear. This writer keeps his/her emotions in check, shown by the writing slant in the vertical position. Writers such as this can be explosive due to their suppressed emotional makeup.

In sample #4, the writer is intense with heavy pressure shown by the heavy, thick, pasty writing. The traits that were detected, identified, and analyzed in this sample of handwriting is the key in determining his or her potential for violent aggressive behavior on a scale of one to ten. First you will notice how the handwriting swings from left to right. This is called moodiness. This writer's emotions will change on a moments notice, from emotional suppression (control), to emotional expression (out of control). Moody writers are extremely unpredictable in their behavior. The "A's" and "O's" are muddy and filled in with ink. This writer's sexual wants, needs, and desires are above and beyond what the average person might understand or cope with.

The writer is also vindictive and revengeful. This is shown in the lower case "y". It is called the Felon's Claw. See how the lower case "y" has a hook or sickle formation. Writers who insert this trait in their handwriting cannot tolerate argument, opposition, or infringement on their territory, personal life, finances, or relationships and are most violent and vindictive in their crushing and destroying response. Their goal is to eliminate the cause by whatever means. Also shown in the club like "t" bar, shown in the words "handwriting", "what" and "think". This trait is called brutality. This trait was also found in the handwriting of the Anthrax letters. Brutality, combined with the other traits mentioned above should be considered a positive dangerous signal.

In closing, understand that heavy pressured writers, although extremely intense people, are very creative and hard working, with a great deal of endurance in whatever that do. the traits that we detect, identify, and analyze will indicate to us how this energy will manifest itself on a scale of one to ten, prompting us to ask,

"What is the best I can hope for"

" What is the worst I can expect"

If you have any questions please e-mail me on Ingenio or call me on Ex: 0188325 I will be happy to answer any questions you may have,

Anthony Iantosca, BCFE 

                      Anthony Iantosca, BCFE

                        EX: 0188325

                    PROFILING

                                  

Working as a Forensic Profiler for over seventeen years has taught me much about human behavior and its complexity.

Personalities are like our four primary colors, Red, Yellow, Blue and Green.  The personality we are profiling may be Extrovert, Controlled Extrovert ,  Ambivert  or Introvert  but that is where the similarities end. The different behavioral traits found in the personality is like mixing anyone of these four primary colors with one another and you have a new color or a totally different personality. The mixing of the colors are the traits that we detect, identify and analyze in the personality. We have one hundred twenty researched  traits that interact with one another making each and every one of us totally different and unique personalities.

The American Public is both uninformed and misinformed regarding Forensic/Therapeutic Profiling, many people think we Profile people bases on their race, creed, color, gender or national origin or if the personality is gay or straight.

Nothing could be further from the truth. There is a marked difference between Profiling and Bigotry.    

Profilers work to come up with a Personality Profile based on Behavior patterns consistent over a period of time. We attempt to answer the question “what is the best I can hope for”, “what is the worst I can expect”  from this personality when their logic has been reduced and their emotions come into play.

My job as a Profiler is to unmask the personality in question, and uncover the dark side of their behavior if one exists.  

This is the primary reason I warn my clients to be competent observers during the Honeymoon Phase of any new relationship which can last anywhere from six months to a year. This is the time period where everyone is on their best behavior. If the personality is putting up a false front or a mask you will notice leakage when they are under stress or when they have had a little too much to drink. Woman need to ask questions! Ask about their past relationships, how and why did it end? How did they treat their past girlfriend / wife. How do they treat family members, co workers and friends. A very good indication on his / her character is the people he / she associates with.

When talking with people on the internet remember this saying before you meet or get emotionally involved with someone you really do not know:

This quote is from the famous FBI Profiler John Douglas,

                         “ANYONE YOU WANT ME TO BE”  

When trying to understand and learn about the people in your personal and professional life and why at times they act the way they do. Remember,

                         “Traits are expressed through behavior”  

                    “Past behavior is inductive of future behavior” 

                     “ Behavior reflects personality”   

If you should have any questions on Forensic Profiling and the three diagnostic tools I use in my Profiling work, Handwriting Analysis, Statement Analysis and Non Verbal Communication please call me on EX 0188325 I will be more than happy to talk with you,

                                         Anthony Iantosca, BCFE

Body language / non verbal communication used in deception detection can be a very accurate diagnostic tool when you understand how the human brain deals with a stressful or threatening situation. In 1952, a scientist named Paul MacLean began to speak of the human brain as a Triune Brain consisting of three brains working together as a command and control center. They are:

                     Reptilian (stem) brain
                     Mammalian (limbic) brain
                     Neo Cortex (human) brain

The Limbic mammalian brain plays the largest role in the expression of nonverbal behavior. This part of the brain acts like a radar system that is on seven days a week. When the Limbic brain experiences a positive, negative or threatening situation it leaks this information in the form of body language tells/cues congruent with those feelings, positive & negative. These body language cues are expressed instantaneously and without thought. These expressions manifest physically in our faces, torso, arms, hands, feet and legs.

The brain’s response to any threatening situation takes three forms, the FREEZE, FLIGHT, FIGHT response. When one response is found to be inadequate the Limbic will move quickly to the next response, until the system feels the threat has passed. The body language cues that follow will tell us which response the Limbic system has chosen to defend itself, and has returned the body back into a safe and secure frame of mind. The nonverbal behaviors that follow will help us to understand a person’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions. The Limbic Brain is our true brain and is the most accurate when detecting body language cues.

The Neo-cortex or human brain is our thinking, creative brain. The Neo-cortex is analytical. It thinks before it acts or speaks. It lies and it lies often.

 Example: Your slightly over weight friend asks you, “How do you like my new bright yellow dress?”. You answer, “Gee! Look’s great on you”. In reality you wanted to say something very different. Your analytical brain came up with a quick Pro- Social white lie, so you do not hurt your friend’s feelings. The micro eye blocking expression flashed on your face, just before you opened your mouth expressing your true feelings of,“Oh my God ! ”.

True emotions are always expressed in body language cues before words and actions. ( Navarro & Scahafer, 2003,22-24 )

In the 1800’s Darwin stated that there were six emotions that were universal to all cultures, they are:

                               ANGER
                               JOY
                               SADNESS
                               SURPRISE
                               FEAR
                               DISGUST

In 1980 Dr. Paul Ekman, Ph.D added,

                               CONTEMPT

These emotions are expressed in all humans from the day they are born. Dr. Ekman studied the forty facial muscles and their movement when emotions were felt and expressed. He stated humans can express over 10,000 different expressions, most we will never see. In a typical conversation we will see less than 100, only a third will be relevant to emotion. These expressions are flashed in 1/25 of a second called, a micro expression. These expressions will reveal themselves first, before a more contrived expression is shown. When a micro expression is detected it does not tell you what the person is being deceptive about.
Only that their facial expressions, words and body language non verbal tells/cues lack Synchrony.

Dr. Ekman’s work in developing F.A.C.S. the Facial- Action- Coding System is a highly accurate diagnostic tool in helping profiler's and law enforcement personnel in detecting micro expressions in a personality when they are put or are in a stressful situation. These emotions or expressions should not be in variance with the picture being presented to you, or before the fake emotion, the mask the personality wants you to believe they are feeling, is shown. All cues must be taken in the context of the situation you are in.

The next time someone says to you that nonverbal behavior does not have meaning or is not reliable, the U.S. Supreme Court decision (Terry v. Ohio, 1968, 392 U.S. 1) acknowledged that nonverbal behaviors presage criminality if those behaviors are observed and decoded properly. This landmark decision was based on the quick thinking of a thirty nine year old Detective, Martin McFadden who in 1963, watched the nonverbal behavior of two men who he believed were about to rob a store. When Officer McFadden moved in and patted the two men down he found a concealed hand gun. Terry v Ohio provided a clear demonstration of the relationship between our thoughts, intentions, and nonverbal behaviors. (Navarro & Scahafer, 2003, 22-24)

If you would like to decode and understand the non verbal cues/tells that the people in your personal and professional life are expressing , call me I will be more than happy to talk and teach you there hidden meaning,

                           Anthony Iantosca, BCFE

This 419 scam has been around for a while and has reared it's ugly head again. With so many people having a difficult time making ends meet receiving this letter in the mail seems like an answer to your cash flow problems. I reported this 419 scam to the FBI a few years ago, the older generation can get sucked into this scam thinking they can make some quick money for paying bills and being retired  have time on their hands to handle this rather simple task. The scam works like this, you will receive an offical looking letter in the mail from a large well known corporation. The letter will be addressed to you, your name will appear on the letter. The letter will be written on bond paper with an official looking check made out to you for a large sum of money. The new twist in this scam is now they have a number for you to call, a so called HR person will talk to you,  this is to convince you that you are being hired. The hook here is that the company wants you to cash the check as soon as possible and complete the required task. Their window of opportunity is short. 

The check made out to you could range from $2000.00 to $5000.00  The company wants to hire you for a weekends worth of work. They want you to deposit their check into your bank account. Keep a percentage  of the check for your time, this could range from eight hundred to fifteen hundred dollars, withdraw the rest in cash. Your task is to go to a Walmart and wire the remaining funds back to the company that hired you. You go back home and write a report on the Walmart or what ever company they asked you to go to that handles money wire transfers. The company wants to know how polite or efficient the company was in handling your request. You send your report to some PO box in the USA or Canada, some of these scamers even have a fax number for you to fax the report to.  Your job is finished and you are out a large some of money when their check gets returned to your bank for insufficient funds. These scamers are playing the float that can range from one to three days for a check to clear. That is why many of these letters are received on a Thursday or Friday which gives them two additional weekends days before your bank receives their bogas check back.  The letter and the check are very official looking with water marks on the check and on the bond paper letter addressed to you.  The letter will have logos of large well known corporations on the letter, if you look very closely the colors of the corporate logos will be off color. If you should have any questions please feel free to contact me, I will be happy to talk with you,

                                      Anthony Iantosca, BCFE   

•             I A F E I

          The truth about

            Deception Detection

                      “ Traits are expressed through behavior ”

                 “ Past behavior is indicative of future behavior ”

                             “ Behavior reflects personality ” 

There is no one behavioral / body language expression called a  tell / cue  that will detect deception. There is no such thing as  Pinocchio’s nose.   What many of the internet guru’s try to sell us today as the new find in deception detection, such as touching the nose, the face or ears, rapid eye blinking, looking away when answering a question along with many other non verbal cues including NLP  Neuro Linguistic Programming, it’s is very easy to understand why we are confused and inaccurate when attempting to detect deception.

 NLP was invented in the 1970s by Linguist John Grinder and a Psychologist Richard Bandler.  The concept of NLP was since the right hemisphere of the brain controls the left side of the body and the left side of the brain controls the right side of the body than watching the eyes called (eye accessing cues ) when asking a question and the eyes accessing top right, top left, side right, side left we could ascertain if the person was being deceptive. To this day there is no credible research to back up it’s clams. In some cultures around the world NLP eye assessing cues will not work at all.

All of the body language cues that we are detecting is nothing more than the human brain The Limbic System and it’s response to a threatening / stressful event.  What will help Profilers, law enforcement, interviewers and parents in becoming more accurate in deception detection is not looking for deception per say, but paying close attention to the discomfort displays, tells  that a personality will exhibit during a conversation or interaction. We need to pay close attention to any change from their base line behavior.

Honest people do not have a problem answering questions. Each question asked will carry the same value.  There will be very little change in their base line behavior.

 If the personality is harboring Guilty knowledge, there will be a change in their base line behavior. We must pay close attention and remember at what part of the conversation or interaction  did this change take place. What question did you ask that caused an increase in discomfort displays / pacifying behaviors.   This leakage will manifest itself in clusters. These clusters will be expressed in both the person’s body language and speech pitch change.  These tells must be understood and analyzed in the context of the situation you are in.

Research has shown that people are no more than fifty percent accurate in detecting deception. One of the main reasons is people have what is called a built in truthfulness bias.  This makes us less likely to believe others are lying to us.  One of the other reasons that deception is difficult to detect is that deceptive people will weave lies within a truthful statement.

The most difficult lie to detect is the lie of omission.  What a person is not telling you can be just as damaging in many ways than what they are telling you.

To detect deception with any degree of accuracy we must look for and analyze signs of emotional leakage, discomfort displays    that are at variance ( Asynchrony ) with the picture that is being presented to you.  Honest people have Synchrony between what is being said and their non verbal body language expressions.

We must also understand the many faces of deception, what deception is, and how it can be used against the more trusting of the people in today’s society.

First, what are the stakes involved?  We have the following:

1)    Low stake lies

2)    High stake lies

Low stake lies have no gain or loss for the deceiver, these little white lies or Pro-Social lies have very little consequence attached to them.

The higher the stakes involved the better your chances will be in detecting  deception. Lying causes stress and this stress will manifest itself in the person’s body language expressions, expressed in pacifying discomfort displays.  Research has identified four different types of lies, they are:

       L.S.  1) Pro- Social:                       Lying to protect someone.

                                                             To benefit or to help others.

                                                             Called the white lie.

      H.S.  2)  Self Enchantment:         Lying to make ourselves

                                                           seem more important to

                                                           others. 

      H.S.  3)   Selfish:                          Lying to protect self.  To 

                                                           conceal a misdeed.  Avoid

                                                           embarrassment, punishment,

                                                           or disapproval from others.  

      HS.  4)  Anti-social:                       Lying to hurt others  

                                                           intentionally to gain an unfair,

                                                           unearned benefit.

                                                           The Psychopath.

We have four different types of a deceptive personality:

1)      Bad liars

2)      Natural liars

3)      Practiced liars

4)      Psychopathic liars

Bad Liars: These personalities are just bad at lying.  They are so afraid of getting caught, detection apprehension   that lying is just not rewarding for them.  When they do attempt to lie, it is very obvious to everyone.

Natural Liars: These personalities were identified by P. Ekman, Ph.D. They did not lie more often nor were less moral or more comfortable when betraying trust. They just know if they chose to lie they could get away with it. They knew this from childhood.

Practiced Liars:  After years of practice the signs of guilt /anxiety wear off. They have been medicated through what is called thinking errors (self deceit / rationalization). They will not show signs of guilt because they will not feel it.  After many years of lying their confidence level is high. They have made themselves believe that whatever they are saying, doing or feeling in their minds to be true.  For example, the child molester has made him/her self believe that the child wanted it, likes it. He/she is educating the child, not molesting the child.     

The Psychopath: These personalities are the most dangerous.  They do not have the detection apprehension or the fear of getting caught tells/cues that would be detected in most people when being deceptive.  The Psychopath will deceive without conscience.  Deception to the Psychopath is considered sport.

They deceive for the thrill it gives them. They have replaced detection apprehension with duping delight, a kind of joy and a childlike delight in fooling others.  Key characteristics of the Psychopathic are glibness, superficial charm, and an extraordinary ability to con and manipulate others.  (Anna C. Salter, Ph.D. 2003)

Deceit models have changed.  What was once considered deception indicators such as gaze avoidance and fidgeting have not been found as reliable indicators of deception. Take gaze avoidance for example.  Different cultures have different eye contact comfort levels.  Asian cultures hold eye contact 50-60 % of the time, Caucasians 60-70 % and Blacks 70-90 %.  People with Autistic disorders or social anxiety find direct eye contact very difficult.  Research has found that deceptive people have a tendency to hold eye contact longer than what would be considered normal during an interview, conversation or interrogation.

Fidgeting, some people are balls of energy.  They fidget and move around constantly.  Fidgeting is a sign of stress and not an indicator of deceit.

What is important is to analyze what has caused the change in the person’s base line behavior.  What question or discussion were you having at the time that caused an increase or decrease in Illustrators  (talking with ones hands).   We need to ask ourselves, what is causing the stress?  Why has this person’s base line behavior changed?  

A person’s emotional make up must also be taken into consideration so we do not make the mistake of falling into what Dr. Ekman calls the Brokaw Hazard  or the Othello error.

Brokaw Hazard:      

 For example, Introvert, Extrovert and Ambivert personality types handle stressful or threatening situations much differently than one another.

Emotionally controlled personalities such as the Introvert / Ambivert are more concerned with how others perceive them.

They have a very analytical thinking process, and can be very poor communicators when put under stressful situations.

They will spend time thinking about the right words to express themselves. The hesitation in their speech and the anxiety shown in their body language may be misinterpreted as deceit.  

The Extrovert personality types are very out going, gregarious and fun loving types of people. They have a rapid thinking process and can think quickly on their feet. Their friendly, out going and expressive body language can confuse you, when they are being deceptive.

Othello Error :

When we go in to an interview or interrogation with an accusatory attitude we put the person on the defensive. We in effect cause the behaviors in that person that we are trying to detect, identify and analyze. We have in effect, contaminated the experiment.     

 A base line behavior pattern norm must be identified. To acquire a true base line behavior you must keep the person you are dealing with in a state of comfort, than any deviation from that person’s normal base line behavior pattern can be analyzed in the context of the situation that you are in.

If you are unsure that the statement you have been given is truthful, wait a few minutes. Then go back and ask him/her to repeat their version of events.  Only this time, ask them to repeat the story backwards.  Truthful statements come from memory, so this exercise will be easy for them to do.  When the story has been created and not being recalled from memory, you will notice hesitations and delays in their speech called a time buying tactic.  They are trying to remember what they have said to you.  This put a very heavy load on their cognitive thinking process.  At this time you will notice a high level of stress in their body language.  This stress will manifest itself in pacifying behaviors.  Motions such as and not limited to;  Massaging the neck, face, and forehead; rubbing the earlobe and mouth will increase dramatically to relieve the stress.      

Three diagnostic tools used in deception detection are Handwriting Analysis, Statement Analysis and Non verbal communication (body language).

Handwriting Analysis

Handwriting is brain writing.  It is the frame of mind the person was in at the time the document was penned. To be accurate, fair and professional, we need many samples of handwriting written over a period of time.  Secondly, we must determine the circumstances under which the document was penned.

A sample of handwriting penned on your lap in a moving car, bus or train will have distortions due to the vibrations caused by an unstable writing surface. These distortions could contaminate the traits that we must detect, analyze and identify in the handwriting samples, giving the examiner a false read.  

The American discipline of handwriting analysis is based on trait theory and the Psychology behind the one hundred sixteen to one hundred twenty established and researched traits.  These traits have been found to be eighty five to eighty seven percent accurate with a thirteen to fifteen percent margin for error.  When Self and willful deceit have been detected and identified in a person’s handwriting profilers know the personality is in a deceitful frame of mind.  It does not tell us what the person is being deceitful about.  Many people rationalize thinking errors  a stress /trauma they are enduring in their personal or professional lives. This does not make the personality untrustworthy. The deception detected in their handwriting may be a face saving tactic. To make matters worse if the person has made themselves believe in what they are saying to be true, thinking errors, the traits of self and willful deceit will not manifest itself in the person’s handwriting.

When self and willful deceit are detected in a person’s handwriting this psychological escape trait will be found in the ovals,

                                 a o q g b d

                                                              with out self/willful deceit

When self and willful deceit has been detected in a person’s handwriting we must analyze the personality as a whole.   Profilers must detect, identify and analyze all of the traits found in the handwriting Gastalt Analysis to ascertain why this psychological escape trait is there and what is causing the problem.  There are many underlying reasons why the personality has entered into a deceitful frame of mind. When self and willful deceit has been detected, it is important to determine how consistent the trait is throughout all of the handwriting samples that have been provided to you.

 Pronounced deceit will normally have these additional     reinforcing traits:

Persistence, sensuality, self – interest, acquisitiveness, lack of generosity, weak will power, tenacity, resentment, overactive imagination, suppressions, repressions, independence, jealousy, diplomacy, sensitivity to criticism, vanity, domineering, confusion of interest, submissive/yielding and a tendency to underestimate self.  

All reinforcing traits must be evaluated on a scale of one through ten.  One being the lowest point of measurement.  Ten being the highest point of measurement. 

It is our responsibility as Profiler’s to get to the root of the problem, to investigate and understand the reason why this psychological escape trait is there. It is not enough to say that this writer is deceitful. To do so would be very unfair, unprofessional and unjust.

The Library of congress has categorized Handwriting Analysis as a subtopic of Psychology, and Psychology as an independent discipline, rather than as a subtopic of social science.

                        Nonverbal Communication

Body language / non verbal communication used in deception detection can be a very accurate diagnostic tool when you understand how the human brain deals with a stressful or threatening situation.  In 1952, a scientist named Paul MacLean began to speak of the human brain as a Triune Brain consisting of three brains working together as a command and control center.  They are:

                                Reptilian      (stem) brain

                                Mammalian  (limbic) brain

                                Neo Cortex  (human) brain

The Limbic mammalian  brain plays the largest role in the expression of nonverbal behavior.  This part of the brain acts like a radar system that is on seven days a week.  When the Limbic brain experiences a positive, negative or threatening situation it leaks this information in the form of body language tells/cues  congruent with those feelings,  positive & negative.  These body language cues are expressed instantaneously and without thought.  These expressions manifest physically in our faces, torso, arms, hands, feet and legs.

The brain’s response to any threatening situation takes three forms, the FREEZE, FLIGHT, FIGHT response.  When one response is found to be inadequate the Limbic will move quickly to the next response, until the system feels the threat has passed.  The body language cues that follow will tell us which response the Limbic system has chosen to defend itself, and has returned the body back into a safe and secure frame of mind.  The nonverbal behaviors that follow will help us to understand a person’s thoughts, feelings, and intentions.  The Limbic Brain is our true brain and is the most accurate when detecting body language cues.  

The Neo-cortex or human brain is our thinking, creative brain. The neo-cortex is analytical.  It thinks before it acts or speaks.  It lies and it lies often.  Example: Your slightly over weight friend asks you, “How do you like my new bright yellow dress?”.  You answer, “Gee! Look’s great on you”.  In reality you wanted to say something very different.  Your analytical brain came up with a quick Pro- Social white lie, so you do not hurt your friend’s feelings.  The micro eye blocking  expression flashed on your face, just before you opened your mouth expressing your true feelings of, “Oh my God ! ”.

 True emotions are always expressed in body language cues before words and actions. ( Navarro & Scahafer, 2003,22-24 )

In the 1800’s Darwin stated that there were six emotions that were universal to all cultures, they are:

                                           ANGER

                                           JOY

                                           SADNESS

                                           SURPRISE

                                            FEAR

                                           DISGUST

In 1980 Dr. Paul Ekman, Ph.D added,

                                           CONTEMPT

These emotions are expressed in all humans from the day they are born.  Dr. Ekman studied the forty facial muscles and their movement when emotions were felt and expressed.  He stated humans can express over 10,000 different expressions, most we will never see.  In a typical conversation we will see less than 100, only a third will be relevant to emotion. These expressions are flashed in 1/25 of a second called, a micro expression.  These expressions will reveal themselves first, before a more contrived expression is shown. When a micro expression is detected it does not tell you what the person is being deceptive about.

Only that their facial expressions, words and body language non verbal tells/cues lack Synchrony.

Dr. Ekman’s work in developing F.A.C.S. the Facial- Action- Coding System is a highly accurate diagnostic tool in helping profilers and law enforcement personnel in detecting micro expressions in a personality when they are put or are in a stressful situation.  These emotions or expressions should not be in variance with the picture being presented to you, or before the fake emotion, the mask  the personality wants you to believe they are feeling, is shown.  All cues must be taken in the context of the situation you are in.

The next time someone says to you that nonverbal behavior does not have meaning or is not reliable, the U.S. Supreme Court decision (Terry v. Ohio, 1968, 392 U.S. 1) acknowledged that nonverbal behaviors presage criminality if those behaviors are observed and decoded properly.  This landmark decision was based on the quick thinking of a thirty nine year old Detective, Martin McFadden who in 1963, watched the nonverbal behavior of two men who he believed were about to rob a store.  When Officer McFadden moved in and patted the two men down he found a concealed hand gun.  Terry v Ohio provided a clear demonstration of the relationship between our thoughts, intentions, and nonverbal behaviors.  (Navarro & Scahafer, 2003, 22-24)  

                              Statement Analysis

Statement Analysis is based on the English language and the rules of grammar.

The Germans generally are credited with the advancement of statement analysis for investigative purposes.  German Psychologists developed a system to assess the credibility of statements made by children in child abuse cases called criteria based content analysis.  The technique became mandated in German courts in 1954 in cases involving disputed allegations of child sexual abuse.  (Susan H. Adams M.A.)

Truthful statements differ from fabricated statements in content, quality, breath and depth.  Parts of speech form the foundation of statement analysis.  All truthful statements come from memory.

There is a marked difference between a statement written or spoken that a person is creating as he/she goes along, and a statement that comes from memory.

Statement Analysis experts have noted that truthful people give statements written or verbal using the pronoun “I” which is first person singular. When the pronoun “I” is missing from a statement this is an indication the person is not totally committed to the facts in the statement.

Verb tenses are also important and should be given close scrutiny, when a person is recalling a past event all verbs should be in the past tense. A good rule of thumb to remember is “first person singular past tense”   

To ascertain if the statement is being created or a true remembered event, investigators examine the individual parts of speech, particularly and not limited to:

                                              Nouns

                                            Pronouns

                                          Verb tenses

                                        Specific words

                                         Unique words

                                        Unusual words

                                       Untruthful words

                             Words or phases that span time

                                        Lack of memory

                                        Passive voice

                                          Emotions

                                        Harsh words

                                        This and That

                                        Punctuation

                                        Signatures

                                   Crossed out words

                                  Out of order statements

                         Time ( before - during – after incident )

                          Answering questions with a question

                                         Using qualifiers

                                             Hyphens

People do not like to lie, lying causes stress. To avoid this stress people will say or write a statement that sounds truthful, but in reality they are being quite deceptive.  For example:

     Your spouse asks the question,

“Have you been cheating on me or did you cheat on me with so and so?”

     He / She answers, 

                      “I could never do such a thing.”

Sounds like an honest denial, but the words could not or would not  is not the same as saying “I didn’t cheat on you”.  

In the Susan Smith case her own words betrayed her when she was giving her crying T.V. interview, pleading to have her two children returned to her.  She stated “my children needed me”

She should have said “my children need me”.  She slipped and used the verb needed in the past tense, because she knew her children were already dead.

In Statement Analysis we are taught every word has a meaning and people mean exactly what they say.  We do not interpret what a person is saying to us, but listen to what they are telling us.  (Mark McClish, 2007) 

If you have any questions on deception detection please feel free to contact me, I will be more than happy to talk with you.

My ex: is 0188325 on Ingenio

                                    Anthony Iantosca, BCFE

Mr. Iantosca, BCFE is a Diplomate of the American Board of Forensic Examiners membership number 107. A Board Certified Forensic Examiner specializing in Forensic Behavioral Profiling.  A sustaining member since 1993.               

                                     BIBLIOGRAPHY

Ronald H. Rice (1993 ABFE) Therapeutic / Forensic Profiling Course

Ekman, P. (2003) Emotions Revealed. New York Times Books

Ekman, P. & O’Sullivan, M. (1991) Who Can Catch a Liar

Joe Navarro & Marvin Karlins, Ph.D. (2008) What Every Body is Saying.  Harper Collins

Anna C. Salter, Ph.D. (2003) Predators by Basic Books a Perseus Books Group

John Douglas & Mark Olshaker Mind Hunter (1995) Pocket Star Books. Simon & Schuster, Inc

Christopher Dillingham, M.A. (2008) Dissecting Pinocchio Universe Books

Mark McClish  (2001)  I Know You are Lying the Marpa Group Inc.

Mark McClish  (2007) Statement Analysis Online training the Marpa Group Inc.

David J. Lieberman, Ph.D.  (2007)  You Can Read Anyone Viter Press

Understanding Human Behavior, (1974) BPC Publishing Company  Columbia House

 Volumes 6,19

Kevin Hogan, Psy.D. Body Language (2005) Network 3000 Publishing

Statement Analysis is a highly accurate diagnostic tool used by the FBI, CIA any many Law Enforcement Agencies around the world.

With Statement Analysis, we take the written or spoken statement and determine if the subject is being truthful or being  deceptive.  We analyze e-mails, letters, messenger print outs, verbal conversations or any written / printed or typed statement. 

People do not like to lie, lying causes stress. This stress can be seen in their body language or heard in their voice tones (pitch). To alleviate this stress, people will use words that sound like they are being honest but are being somewhat deceptive.  

EXAMPLE:

                               A wife / girlfriend asks the question?

                                  Have you ever cheated on me?

ANSWER:

                                  "I could never do such a thing"

This answer sounds like a solid denial, but is not answering the question. The words "could never" does not mean ( no ) a better answer would have been " no, I never cheated on you"

In Statement Analysis we do not interpt what the person is saying, we believe what people are telling us. We analyze what people are saying. If they are being deceptive, they may tell you the truth but not the whole truth. In Statement Analysis we do not pay attention "to what a person is saying or writing", but  "what it is a person is saying or writing".

Through Statement Analysis we can determine exactly what they are telling us and what they are not telling us.

If you have any questions on Statement Analysis send me an e-mail to my Relationship Advice Category on Ingenio. I will send you five free minutes so I can discuss my procedure and the information a Statement analysis will provide for you.

I look forward to talking with you.

                                          Anthony Iantosca, BCFE

Many of my clients have asked me if I would write a blog on Forensic Profiling, how I have used it in the work I do. I will write two blogs the first is a quick profile I did on the D.C."Snipers"  the second will be on an alleged kidnapping case I worked on for almost a year.

It is very important to understand that any Forensic profile will not prove guilt or innocence, a Forensic Profile will give you, the client a read on the writer or un-sub in question. Forensic Profilers use many different  diagnostic tools in their quest for an accurate read on the subject in question, handwriting, behavior (personality) profiles, linguistics, body language etc. In this case it was one word that I picked up on that told me that this was not your average lone white male, twenty five to thirty five years of age, living at home with his mother. In my early years of training with two of the best Forensic Experts in the USA, I was told "never pay attention to what a person is saying, but what it is he/she is saying" same would apply to what they are writing or doing.

When we were able to see the handwriting there was very little handwriting to profile, but one word stood out and hit me square in the face. The profile below is the one I sent in to the FBI on 10/12/01 two weeks before Malvo and his partner were caught. The FBI has their own profilers, but will always welcome help from outside their BSU (Behavioral Science Unit)  Below is the profile I sent in to them on 10/12/01.

First) There seems to be some sort of connection between the number of people shot and 9/11/01At this time eleven people were shot and nine were killed. I do not believe this is an Al-Quada connection but I do believe this date and the number of people shot and killed has some deep meaning to the Un-subs 

Second) There is no question in my mind that the Un-sub(s) has some military background.

Third) Most of the Profilers I have heard seem to think that this Un-sub has learned English as a second language. I do not believe this to be the case. The words "Mr. Policeman" in my humble opinion is more "Black Slang"  I have heard heard this term many times by many African Americans who have lived or worked in the South Eastern United States. There may be the possibilty that the Un-sub(s) are African American

Forth) I do not believe that the Un-sub(s) is working alone, to elude capture time and time again would indicate to me that he or she has a look out and is in communication with each other.

I wanted to pass on my thoughts to you with the hope that this may be of some help to you in your quest, to apprehend this madman. 

                                                 Anthony J. Iantosca, BCFE

To my clients and friends, please remember these three phrase's when you are trying to aquire a better understanding of the people in your personal and professional life:

                                      "Traits are expressed through behavior"

                                  " Past behavior is indicative of future behavior"

                                           " Behavior reflects personality"

Sex and aggression are our two strongest drives, there are those among us who have a deep uncontrollable need to express domination/controll over other human beings. This is accomplished in different ways but with the same goal, control.

If you should have any questions on Forensic Profiling please call me I will be happy to talk with you.

Friends & Clients,

Welcome to my blog, the American public is both uninformed and misinformed about Handwriting Analysis. It is my hope that this blog will give you a better understanding of Handwriting Analysis and how we use it on both a Therapeutic and Forensic level. 

Handwriting Analysis is a reasearched system of detecting, indentifying and analyzing personality and character traits { frame of mind } of a writer at the time the writing / printing was penned, through the presented written/printed individual letter and stroke structure. Handwriting Analysis has been determined to be 85-87% accurate and is highly successful as a diagnostic tool.

The Library of Congress has categorized Handwriting Analysis as a subtopic of Psychology {and Psychology as an independent discipline rather than as a subtopic of a Social Science}.

Handwriting Analysis is a diagnostic tool recognized by the EEOC as unbiased and non-discrimintory in its findings. Handwriting Analysis does not detect race, age, gender or creed.

On a THERAPEUTIC LEVEL: Handwriting Analysis is used for marriage and personal compatibility, juvenile analysis, self-assessment, family assessment and employee / employer potential.

On a FORENSIC / LEGAL LEVEL:  For personal and Forensic assessment and personality profile of authors of threatening, anonymous and blackmail documents, assisting Psychiatrists, Psychologists, Criminologests and Law Enforcement agents, behavioral profiling involving crimes of violence.

Forensic Profiling on any level does not prove guilt or innocense, it helps give the Profiler a read on the personality, answering the question? "what is the best I can hope for, what is the worst I can expect" from the personality under controled / uncontroled circumstances. 

A common misconception professional Handwriting Experts / Profilers encounter is being perceived as palm readers and fortune tellers. We cannot predict the future nor give Medical evaluations based on a persons handwriting. A Medical evaluation made based on a person's handwriting is extremely unprofessional, damaging and also illegal.

If you should have any questions about Handwriting Analysis on a Therapeutic / Forensic level, please feel free to contact me anytime. I look forward to talking to you.

                                             Anthony Iantosca, BCFE