Graphology

Graphology is the study of handwriting and its connection to behavior, and related data points. Critics cite the lack of supporting empirical evidence as a reason to not use it. Supporters point to the anecdotal evidence of thousands of positive testimonials, as a reason to use it.

Applications of graphology

The most common applications of graphology are:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Employment profiling
• Marital compatibility
• Psychological analysis
• Medical diagnosis
• Jury Screening

Employment profiling

A company takes a writing sample provided by an applicant, and proceeds to do a personality profile, matching the congruency of the applicant with the ideal psychological profile of employees in the position.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Research results in this area range from failure (Lighton, R E

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

A Graphological Examination of the Handwriting of Air Pilots

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Thesis in the Faculty of Arts: University of Pretoria: 1934) to guarded

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

success (Luca, E S

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

"Major Aptitudes and Personality Chracteristics of 42 Dental Students as Evaluated Through their Handwriting."

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

New York Journal of Dentistry

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

1973, 43, 281 - 283)

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The use of graphology in the hiring process has been criticized on ethical ground (Daryl Koehn "Handwriting Analysis In Pre-Employment Screening" The Online Journal of Ethics

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vol. 1 * No. 1 * Article 1) and on legal grounds

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

(Julie Spohn "The Legal Implications of Graphology"

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Washington University Law Quarterly

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Vol. 73 * No. 3 * Fall 1997).

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Business compatibility

This is an additional service offered by some handwriting analysts.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The focus of these reports can be one, or more of the following:

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Company-wide

This is a report the describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the company.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The average company employee

For this 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 focus being how good a fit the individual is.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Division wide

This is a report the describes how compatible the individual is, with each employee in the division.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The average division employee

For this 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 good a fit the individual is.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• Unit wide

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

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

• The average unit employee

For this 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

This explores 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

This explores 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.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

The content of these reports can range from a simple perspectrograph, to a four wheel Wittlich Diagram and accompanying twenty five thousand word analysis.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Psychological analysis

These reports can range from a ten item check off list to a 10 000 word report on the makeup of an individual from the perspective of Freudian Psychoanalysis, Transactional Analysis, or other personality theory.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Marital compatibility

In its simplest form, only sexual expression, and sexual response are examined. At its most complex, every aspect of an individual is examined for how it affects the other individual. The basic theory is that knowing, and understanding how each other are different, any commitment that is made, will be more enduring.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Medical diagnosis

Medical graphology is probably the most controversial aspect of handwriting analysis. On one end, are research studies in which handwriting is used s one datapoint in making a clinical diagnosis. On the other end of claims made by graphologists, which have neither research, nor theory to support them.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Alfred Kanfer published several papers whose implication was that cancer could be detected using handwriting analysis, prior to the then standard medical tests. Subsequent studies failed to support his findings.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Forensic document examination

This discipline is better known as questioned document examination within the judicial system. This is used to determine whether or not a document was written by the person who is thought to have written it. As such, it is not an aspect of graphology.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Goodtitle Drevett v Braham 100 Eng Rep 1139 (1792) is reportedly the first case at which the testimony of a questioned document examiner was accepted.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

This is not usually considered to be a branch of graphology.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Graphology in court testimony

Cameron v Knapp, 137 Misc. 2d 373, 520 N.Y.S.2d 917 (Sup. Ct. N.Y. Co. 1987) (handwriting expert may testify as to the authenticity of a writing but not as to an individual's physical or mental condition based on a handwriting sample) stands as current U.S. case law for the rejection of graphology as psychological testimony.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Some graphologists have claimed that their testimony as graphologists has been accepted in courts since that decision was made. Such claims are notable by their absence to citations in accordance with The Blue Book.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Carroll v State

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

probably will be remembered for reasons why graphologists should not be allowed to testify.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Jury screening

A graphologist is given handwriting samples of a prospective jury and determines who should be struck, on the basis of emotional bias, or other reasons. After the trial has begun, the graphologist advises counsel on how to slant their case, for the most favorable response from the jury.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Divination

Some individuals believe that one can tell the future from handwriting analysis. Others believe that a handwriting analyst can provide spiritual guidance on situations that they face.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~

On a fundamental level, these beliefs are wrong. The code of ethics for the International Graphoanalysis Society prohibits the practice of anything related to the occult.

Related Topics:
International Graphoanalysis Society - Occult

~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~ ~