Graphology, << gra FOL uh jee, >> also called handwriting analysis, is the study of a person’s handwriting to obtain information about his or her personality. The subject has little academic standing in the United States, where most experts consider it a pseudoscience (false science). But some American business firms consult graphologists for advice about which people to hire. Graphology is also a common practice in Europe.
Graphology originated as a form of character reading, similar to palmistry and astrology. These practices are based on a belief that telltale signs about someone’s personality appear in seemingly random places, such as the creases in the palm of the hand or the position of the stars and planets. Early graphologists believed that slight details in handwriting were a guide to the personality, abilities, and motivations of the writer.
Graphologists claim, for example, that people whose letters slant to the right are positive and sociable, while those who write with a backward slant are reserved and shy away from human contact. Writers whose lines slope upward are more optimistic, while those whose writing drifts downward are pessimists. A written letter O that does not close at the top, resembling an open purse, indicates a writer who spends money freely. Some graphologists even claim that people can improve aspects of their personality by removing the undesirable characteristics from their handwriting.
Modern graphologists argue that both personality and handwriting are functions of the brain. They believe that the neurological connections of the brain that influence personality can also affect handwriting. Medical experts know that handwriting can change with certain diseases of the nerves and muscles, such as Parkinson disease. In addition, most people’s handwriting is so different from everyone else’s that an expert can identify the writer from a sample of his or her writing. However, the characteristics of handwriting that allow for identification of the writer do not necessarily indicate the individual’s personality.
The scientific study of handwriting has been more widespread in Europe, where some countries provide official licensing of graphologists. Several universities in Europe and Israel teach courses in graphology. Many scholars have called for thorough scientific studies of graphology. However, numerous studies already conducted have found no reliable support for the claims of graphologists.
The term graphology is often confused with scientific examination of handwriting to detect forgery, called questioned document examination. Experts in this field study handwriting to determine who wrote a particular document. Handwriting experts who testify in court perform this type of examination.
