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Behavioral Profiling Through Written Communication
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Father Damien Handwritten Letter (Circa 1886) |
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Father Joseph Damien, Caregiver
By Kimon Iannetta, MGA, BCFE, ABFE, ACFE, ASIS
Father Damien arrived at Kalawao village on Molokai, in 1864 at the age of 24, with only a prayer book in his possession. A father of the Sacred Hearts Order, he came to Hawaii to live and work among the victims of leprosy, to give them spiritual hope and physical assistance. After 12 years of relentless effort, he himself fell victim to the disease.
His father was a Belgium farmer of modest means, his mother a devout Catholic who instilled in her children a love for the saints. Young Joseph had a stoic attitude, which he practiced even as a child when he placed a board in his bed, refusing himself the indulgence of comfortable sleep. He acted out his unselfish approach to life by giving away his possessions and nursing sick animals.
Father Damien's handwriting (dated 1886, about eight years after he contacted leprosy) clearly shows he had maintained his generous attitude. This strong need to give of himself and to be of service is expressed in letter endings which reach out toward others. [ A ]
The well organized page shows that he saw the broad picture and that he had good planning skills. His controlled, rhythmic script and straight baseline indicate a calm, consistent inner discipline, and well-formed letters add to his clarity of thought. Strong downstrokes (as in the t's and f's) show unusually firm decisiveness and determination. He was known to be tenacious, perserving, and capable of sustained hard work. This strong combination of traits enabled him to carry out his vision.
The tall upper loop letters [ B ] reveal spirituality, while the lower loops are frequently very large [ C ], showing that he needed to make practical use of his spiritual knowledge, and that he could bring abstract ideas into concrete reality. This is especially evident in the beginning of his signature where both upper and lower loops are enlarged. [ D ]
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| Father Joseph Damien |
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In addition to caring for the sick at the leper colony, he helped them to build a system of water pipes. He even made flutes of old coal-oil cans as a way of sharing his unique creativity, a trait which is evident in his unusual script and signature.
Until his death in the late 19th century, Father Damien continued to work selflessly for those more unfortunate than himself. Although the 20th century brought treatments which have nearly eradicated the disease he gave his life for, Father Damien and his efforts are more revered now than ever.
Kimon lannetta has over 30 years' experience as a Certified Graphoanalyst in both the public and private sector. She has worked as a consultant to the Honolulu Police Department, IBM, the Public Defenders Office, Prosecutors Office, and the U.S. Army. Kimon specializes in litigation support (jury and witness screening, coordination of mock trials, and evaluation of courtroom strategy and team dynamics), handwriting identification, security profiles and personnel evaluation. Ms. Iannetta was an instructor at the University of Hawaii and has conducted seminars and workshops for various businesses. Website: TrialRun.com
Last Month's Behavioral Profile: Princess Kaiulani
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