doodle and scribble

What is doodling? According to Answer.com, doodling is a mindless sketch, an aimless drawing, while a person's attention is otherwise occupied.


Anna Koren examined on the habit of doodling and scribbling and made some interpretations based on the doodling style. Here are some of the excerpts of what she thinks of doodling:

There are an abundance of different types of Doodles, ranging from retracing letters in a written or printed text to complex and three-dimensional drawings, via a variety of idle scribbling.

The process of doodling appears to only be a partially conscious one. Not once does it appear that the pen takes on a life of its own, and the "artist" himself is surprised by the results.

One generally indulges in doodling while one's mind is on something else, rather than on the actual matter of doodling. People doodle in various situations - for instance, in the course of telephone conversations, lectures, while compiling lists and making notes.

Doodles are assessed in much the same way as specimens of handwriting: by examining the same indicators such as the layout on the page, the structure of the stroke, movement, angles, roundness, and speed. However, the doodle cannot be gauged by quite the same codes as those applying to handwriting analysis, and the closest common component between the doodle and the person's handwriting is the signature.

In a certain sense, the interpretation of doodles can be compared to the interpretation of dreams in the course of psychological treatment. Deciphering a doodle is not a simple task. However, it could serve the graphologist with an important clue as to the direction of the analysis and its depth in the same way as the dream serves a similar purpose to the psychologist.

Doodles carry a vast array of symbols, some clear and uncontestable, others obscure and concealed. Tracing hearts often represents a romantic period; pistols and arms could indicate overt of repressed aggression; boats and cars point to a nomadic urge, the desire to travel and the need to go on holiday. It is only people who are musically oriented who would trace musical notes and keys, and people on a diet would often be inspired by food-related subjects in their doodles. Drawing bars often points to a feeling of suffocation.

Significance of the position of the doodle on the page:

-CENTER - Extroversion, a need for attention, sensitivity to privacy, and the need for space.

-LEFT - Held by the past, drawn to the past, apprehensiveness, sensitivity, fear of being exposed.

-TOP - Enthusiasm, spirituality, and an unpractical approach.

-BOTTOM - A critical and practical approach, at times depression.

Shading-in of letters
At times, this is merely an expression of boredom, with no significance. At other times, it can indicate anxiety, lack of self-confidence, tension, and at times, a compulsive behavior and/or lack of faith in oneself.

Pressure

- HEAVY - could express energy, activity, at times aggression.

- MEDIUM - points to a well-balanced personality.

- LIGHT - could be evidence of sensitivity.

- IRREGULAR - might indicatethat the person's inner energy is not altogether regulated. A lack of stability and frequent changes in moods, restlessness, and impatience.


Doodles can assist the Graphologist and serve as a clue regarding a person's personality, or reveal a process being experienced by the "doodler"; but, as mentioned above, it is not possible to perform a character analysis on the basis of a doodle alone. It is strongly recommended to refer to the specimen of the handwriting and look for pointers supporting manifestations revealed in the doodles.

See the actual scribbling/doodling images by clicking on Anna Koren's name above.

I doodle when I speak on the phone or while i was thinking of something while studying an article from a journal. Interestingly, there are quite a few people I know who does the same thing. One of them is my former PhD supervisor. Not only that, he also plays with his hair if he is not scribbling while he is on the line. I do the same thing too....Apart from that, playing and twisting my hair is also my main habit and I do that while I'm talking on the phone, while watching tv at home (and sometimes still practise such habit while in the cinema), when taking a break from reading, before sleeping, while talking to my mum, when trying to pacify anxiety, that sort of habitual actions...It's like some toddlers and thumbsucking, playing with my hair is something that relaxes me sort of.

Refering to Anna Koren's website, my doodles would normally looks like those or closely described by those of the number 1, 5, 11, 12 and 13. On many ocassions, number 1 and 11 are my typical doodles. Number 12 is quite frequent as well. Sometimes, when I'm in a certain kind of mood, I could be doing number 13, 15 or a more proper sketches like the sketch at the bottom of the website.

Last raya, I met a fellow blogger, Pak Adib for the first time at his place in Taman Maluri and he showed me one of his moleskins. It contained many of his thoughts represented in a form of doodling besides some short written notes. He was also kind enough to present me with a mini blank moleskin as a raya token for me.

So I guess this doodling habit, the art of menconteng if I had to describe it in plain malay isnt such a weird thing after all. However, it could be indicating the dark side of us if our scribbles look like some very strange, possibly gory images....