Is there any validity to handwriting analysis or graphology?
Graphology handwriting analysis Main inference of character from a person’s handwriting. The theory underlying graphology is that handwriting is an expression of personality; hence, a systematic analysis of the way words and letters are formed can reveal traits of personality. Graphologists note such elements as the size of individual letters and the degree and regularity of slanting, ornamentation, angularity, and curvature. Other basic considerations are the general appearance and impression of the writing, the pressure of upward and downward strokes, and the smoothness of the writing. For example, analytic graphologists interpret large handwriting as a sign of ambition and small handwriting as a sign of pedantry. Graphologists have cautioned that the validity of handwriting analysis can be subverted by such considerations as myopia and the loss of motor control. In general, the scientific basis for grapoligical interpretations of personality is questionable.
Handwriting analysis – or “graphology” – as it is also known, has a long history of being used by employers to assess job applicants on the basis of their personality. While the idea of being able to evaluate the suitability of potential employees may seem like a convenient and inexpensive approach to selection and assessment, the organizational psychology literature doesn’t support handwriting analysis as having predictive validity. In fact, the most complimentary statement I’ve run across is that while it’s not science, graphology might possibly be an art – and perhaps there are some individuals who have a thus-far unquantified gift for being able to discern associations between one’s handwriting and one’s personality. So, to advocates of graphology, sorry, but the evidence is lacking.
Graphology is the study and analysis of handwriting especially in relation to human psychology. In the medical field, it can be used to refer to the study of handwriting as an aid in diagnosis and tracking of diseases of the brain and nervous system. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to forensic document examination. Graphology has been controversial for more than a century. Although supporters point to the anecdotal evidence of thousands of positive testimonials as a reason to use it for personality evaluation, most empirical studies fail to show the validity claimed by its supporters. Graphology is now generally considered a pseudoscience.Graphology: graphos (from the Greek γράφειν: writing) / logos (from the Greek λόγος: debate). It is a generic, as for instance: Anthropology, Psychology, Biology, Geology. With the lexeme Grapho (from the Greek: γράφειν ) there are many words generic: Graphopatology, Graphomaniac, Graphistic, Graphopsychology, psychoGraphology, Graphom
Graphology handwriting analysis Main inference of character from a person’s handwriting. The theory underlying graphology is that handwriting is an expression of personality; hence, a systematic analysis of the way words and letters are formed can reveal traits of personality. Graphologists note such elements as the size of individual letters and the degree and regularity of slanting, ornamentation, angularity, and curvature. Other basic considerations are the general appearance and impression of the writing, the pressure of upward and downward strokes, and the smoothness of the writing. For example, analytic graphologists interpret large handwriting as a sign of ambition and small handwriting as a sign of pedantry. Graphologists have cautioned that the validity of handwriting analysis can be subverted by such considerations as myopia and the loss of motor control. In general, the scientific basis for grapoligical interpretations of personality is questionable. Sources:
Handwriting analysis – or “graphology” – as it is also known, has a long history of being used by employers to assess job applicants on the basis of their personality. While the idea of being able to evaluate the suitability of potential employees may seem like a convenient and inexpensive approach to selection and assessment, the organizational psychology literature doesn’t support handwriting analysis as having predictive validity. In fact, the most complimentary statement I’ve run across is that while it’s not science, graphology might possibly be an art – and perhaps there are some individuals who have a thus-far unquantified gift for being able to discern associations between one’s handwriting and one’s personality. So, to advocates of graphology, sorry, but the evidence is lacking. Sources: http://www.examiner.
