Signature size and self-estimation: a brief note

Effects of self-esteem and status on size of signature

142 second year university students from both Memorial University of Newfoundland (n = 81) and Laurentian University (n = 61) wrote their own signatures as they imagined the following people would do: (a) faculty member (high status) with high self-esteem, (b) faculty member (high status) with low self-esteem, (c) student (low status) with high self-esteem, and (d) student (low status) with low self-esteem. The areas of the signatures were calculated in square centimeters, and there was a significant positive relationship between size of signature and the conditions of high and low self-esteem for both "faculty" and "student" role-playing conditions. There was however no significant relationship between size of signature and status. The results held for both groups of subjects.

THE EMPIRICAL STUDY OF SIGNATURE SIZE

This paper is a summary of a series of studies which have related signature size to various situational and personological attributes. In general, these studies have produced a consistent set of findings, all pointing to a positive relationship between the size of one's signature and one's status, one's self-esteem, and even one's temporary feelings of success or failure. These findings are somewhat surprising when one considers the frequency and routineness with which we sign our names. As such, the signature represents an unobtrusive expressive movement, evidence not only of what John Doe's name is, but also of John Doe's status, and how he feels about himself.