Graphology: Analysis of Handwriting

Graphology: Analysis of Handwriting

Graphology: graphos (Greek: writing) and logos (Greek: science). It is a common as for example: Anthropology, Psychology, Biology, and Geology. With the lexeme Grapho (Greek: writing) there are many words generic: Graphopatology, Graphomaniac, Graphistic, Graphopsychology, PsychoGraphology, Graphometric, Graphometry, Graphoanalysis, Graphotechnology. 

Graphology is the scientific study and examination of handwriting which depicts a person's personality. It may open the ways to many uncharted areas for anyone. Handwriting must be studied taking into consideration the size and slant of letters, word spacing, line spacing the way zones are used, pressure and margins applied.

Graphology is based upon the following basic declarations: When a person write, the ego is active but it is not always active to the same degree. The activity waxes and wanes at its highest level when an effort has to be made by the writer and at its lowest level when the motion of the writing organ has gained momentum and is driven by it. When the action of writing is comparatively difficult, the writer uses those forms of letters which are simpler or more familiar. The muscular movements involved in writing are controlled by the central nervous system. The form of the resultant writing movement is modified further by the flexibly assembled coordinative structures in the hand, arm, and shoulder; which follow the principles of dynamical systems. The specific writing organ (mouth, foot, hand, crook of elbow) is irrelevant if it functions normally and is sufficiently adapted to its function. 

The NeuroPhysiological mechanisms which have a say to the written movement are related to conditions within the central nervous system and vary in agreement with them. The written strokes, therefore, reflect both transitory and long term changes in the central nervous system such as Parkinson's disease, or alcohol usage. The movements and corresponding levels of muscular tension in writing are mostly outside of conscious control and subject to the ideomotor effect. Emotion, mental state, and biomechanical factors such as muscle stiffness and elasticity are reflected in a person's handwriting. One must examine the handwriting or drawing movements by considering them as movements organized by the central nervous system and produced under biomechanical and dynamical constraints. Given these considerations, graphologists proceed to evaluate the pattern, form, movement, rhythm, quality, and consistency of the graphic stroke in terms of psychological interpretations. Such interpretations vary according to the graphological theory applied by the analyst. Most schools of thought in graphology concur that a single graphological element can be a component of many different clusters, with each cluster having a different psychological interpretation. The consequence of the cluster can be assessed accurately by tracing each component of the cluster back to their origins and adapting the meaning of the latter to the conditions of the milieu in which the form appears.

Graphology can certainly play a crucial role in child development so that a great deal of future sorrow is squeezed in the bud. Think of the remedial measures that can be taken with a child just beginning to form his/her personality! Violent behavior, nervousness, health problems that are germinating due to unknown reasons can be detected, corrected or pre-empted.

Advances to Graphology

Integrative graphology holds that specific stroke structures relate to personality traits. Most systems within this approach use a cluster of stroke formations, to score a specific personality trait. Systems that fall under this umbrella are: fixed signs, trait stroke, French System and Graphoanalysis. It has been described as starting from the inside, and working to the outside. 

Holistic graphology incorrectly referred to as Gestalt Graphology. Gestalt graphology was a system of handwriting analysis developed approximately in 1915 in Germany and was related theoretically to Gestalt psychology. In this approach (Holistic Graphology) a profile is constructed on the basis of form, movement and space. It has been described as starting from the outside, and working to the inside. In this approach, individual traits, such as legibility, are not assigned specific meanings, but can take on different meanings depending on the overall context. 

Symbolic analysis looks for symbols seen in the handwriting. This can be either Major symbolism, or Minor Symbolism. 

Major symbolism is the meaning ascribed to the stroke, as it related to the page. 

Minor symbolism ascribes a meaning to the stroke, depending upon the picture that the stroke draws. For example, Signature shows a blackened out portion, that represents lung cancer. 

This approach provides the theory that underlies both Holistic Graphology and Integrative Graphology.

A company takes a writing sample provided by an applicant and proceeds to do a personality profile, matching the correspondence of the applicant with the ideal psychological profile of employees in the position. A graphological report is meant to be used in conjunction with other tools, such as comprehensive background checks, practical demonstration or record of work skills. Graphology supporters state that it can complement but not replace traditional hiring tools. Research in employment suitability has ranged from complete failure to guarded success. The most substantial reason for not using handwriting analysis in the employment process is the absence of evidence of a direct link between handwriting analysis and various measures of job performance. The use of graphology in the hiring process has been criticized on ethical grounds and on legal grounds.

Business Compatibility

This service offered by some handwriting analysts. The focus of these reports can be one, or more of the following:

Company-wide is a report describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the company. 

The average company employee report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point, for the entire company are used, to create three hypothetical employees. The individual is then compared to these three employees, with the focus being how good a fit the individual is. 

Division wide is a report that describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the division. 

The average division employee report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point, for the entire division are used, to create three hypothetical employees. The individual is then compared to these three employees, with focus being how well the individual will fit into the existing company psychodynamic profile. 

Unit wide is a report describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the unit. 

The average unit employee report, the mean, mode, and median scores of every scored data point , for the entire unit are used, to create three hypothetical employees. Those are then compared to the applicant, with a focus on how good a fit the individual is. 

The unit manager / co-worker explore the differences in personal style between a manager/co-worker and potential employee. The end result is on how each can maximize productivity and minimize personal friction. 

Composite reports explore the difference in personal style between every employee in a group. The idea is for each member of the group to learn not only their own strengths and weakness, but also those of their co-workers, and how they can more harmoniously work together. The resulting reports not only deal with the individual on a one-to-one level within the group, but also each individual as a part of a group of three, four, five, etc people within the group.

Graphology is extensively used for marital compatibility and its simplest form only sexual expression and sexual response are examined. At its most complexes, every aspect of an individual is examined for how it affects the other individual(s). The basic theory is that after knowing and understanding how each other are different, any commitment that is made will be more lasting. Typically done for couples, it is not unknown for a polyamorous group to obtain a report prior to the commitment ceremony of a new individual. In cultures where arranged marriages are common, graphology can be used as an additional checkpoint on the compatibility of the couple prior to the elders giving their consent for the marriage to take place. 

Graphotherapy is the practice of changing a person's handwriting with the goal of changing features of his or her personality. It was pioneered in France during the nineteen-thirties, spreading to the United States in the late fifties. The therapy consists of a series of exercises which are similar to those taught in basic calligraphy courses, sometimes in conjunction with music or positive self-talk. There have been subjective reports of these exercises curing everything from drug addiction to anorexia nervosa, and back to borderline personality disorder.

A person's signature is the map that defines personality. Signatures and handwriting are as individual as fingerprints. A graphologist can even detect forgery. Graphology evaluate features such as the size and shape of letter forms, the slant, the margins used, spacing between letters, words and lines, connective forms, rhythm, evenness, beginning and end strokes and the regular signature of the person.

Graphology can change people’s qualities, moral fiber, view, nature, character and future.