The Many Uses of Graphology

Graphology is an intriguing subject to me. I am trained in its use and have my handwriting analyzed. I can attest to the high accuracy of graphology and use it in my work as an executive recruiter aka headhunter.

Read the article on Obama's signature: Obama's signature and what it says about the man:

http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/1409715/graphology_what_obamas_signature_says.html?cat=75

According to the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, graphology is the study of handwriting especially for the purpose of character analysis. It is both a science and an art.

Our brain controls our hands and handwriting. How we write is a function of our thought process, mood, emotion, maturity, character, personality, etc. That, in essence, is the principle behind graphology.

A graphologist, through a systematic analysis of a handwriting sample, will be able to identify certain features and how those features interact. Those features and their interactions provide the necessary information for the analysis.

Developed by the Chinese about 3,000 years ago, graphology is in fact an ancient and well-respected science and art. Through the centuries, many countries have used graphology for various applications such as employee selection and promotion, compatibility studies, psychological analysis, jury screening, career guidance and fraud investigation.

Employee Selection and Promotion

The applicant provides a handwriting sample for analysis. The analysis is compared with ideal psychological profile of employees in the position.

To enhance the effectiveness of the analysis, it is essential to do the analysis without the applicant's knowledge. That is to prevent inaccuracies due to the applicant's efforts to affect the analysis.

According to the French Society of Graphology, 80% of French businesses use graphology to evaluate job applicants.

Compatibility Studies

Graphology has been used extensively in compatibility studies of marriage partners as well as business partners. Through a thorough comparison of the potential partners' handwriting, a graphologist is able to determine the compatibility of the partners. The graphological reports can identify pertinent basic traits of the partners and the graphologist can help suggest areas for potential conflicts in the future.

Psychological Analysis

In psychological analysis, advanced graphological techniques are used to provide a scientific interpretation of the subject's personality. Besides the subject's handwriting, his doodles and drawings are also analyzed. Another term for psychological analysis is grapho-psychology.

Jury Screening

The handwriting samples of a prospective jury are analyzed and based on the results, the graphologist suggests who should be removed. In addition, the graphologist is able to advise counsel on how to slant their case for the most favorable response from the jury.

Career guidance

The use of graphology in career guidance is becoming more widely accepted. More detailed personality traits about the subject can be uncovered via the graphology analysis. Knowledge of such previously unknown traits is instrumental in counseling and guiding the subject in his career development.

Fraud Investigation

Graphology, with the aid of special measuring device, can be used as a forensic tool in fraud investigation. The special device can compare the scripts precisely in terms of size, width, height and angles. Through such detailed analyses, evidence of fraud, forgeries and altered document can be systematically uncovered.

Graphology has become more widely accepted as more studies are done. It has many applications and is usually as a complementary tool. The primary valuable contribution of graphology is enhancing understanding of people and facilitating improved relationships, both professionally and personally.

Sources:

Wikipedia: Graphology

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphology

Kate Kilpen, The Guardian, The Handy Guide

http://www.guardian.co.uk/money/2003/feb/03/careers.jobsadvice

Chase Goodwin, The Science of Graphology

http://www.toughcases.net/graphology.html

Ruth Meyers, About Graphology - The Facts

http://www.ruthmyers.com/graphology.html

Professor Francisco Viñals Carrera and Professor María Luz Puente Balsells

Graphology, Psychological Analysis Of Handwriting,

Graphopsychology, European Graphoanalysis.

http://www.grafologiauniversitaria.com/european_graphoanalysis.htm