Graphology claims to analyze a person’s character traits through their handwriting and signature. It is used for employment screening, marital compatibility, and psychological diagnosis. However, its subjectivity has raised concerns about discrimination. Despite this, many find it a fun way to gain insight into someone’s personality.
Graphologists say they can tell the difference between an honest, fun extrovert and a shy creative workaholic, all by the signature. Although graphology has been considered by many to be a pseudoscience, it has gained popularity and respect since its inception in the late 17th century. According to graphologists, handwriting and signatures are the result of unplanned reflexive movements of a person’s brain, so it is almost impossible to deceive the expert eye of a graphologist.
While most graphologists will say that a simple signature isn’t enough for a handwriting sample to make a full analysis, at times, that’s all that is needed to come to a general conclusion about the writer’s character traits. Corporations and governments around the world use handwriting analysis to screen prospective employees. Analyzing a signature or handwriting sample can shed light on a person’s character and personality traits, opening a window into their mind.
Graphologists analyze several components of a signature or handwriting sample, including where the person writes on the page, the distance between letters or words, the slant of the writing, and how hard or soft the person presses on the pen . They also examine how Y’s intertwine, how T’s cross, and how M’s are formed, among many other components. Handwriting analysis is used not only for employment screening, but also for marital compatibility, jury screening, and psychological and medical diagnosis.
Graphologists say they can use a person’s signature or other handwriting samples to determine their honesty, communication skills, work ethic, emotional stability, creativity, sense of humor, and self-image. Social skills, including how shy or outgoing one is, can also be determined, as can one’s ability to work independently or with a team. Sexuality is another trait that graphologists claim they can determine, along with a person’s confidence and edginess, tenacity, and goal-setting skills.
Naturally, the analysis of a signature is open to many interpretations, and this subjectivity that many associate with graphology leaves any analysis open to debate. Many have raised questions about using handwriting analysis for job screening, because it could unfairly label a prospective employee before they even have a chance to prove themselves worthy for a position. Critics believe the practice teems with discrimination and that judging a person based solely on their signature is unfair.
For others, handwriting analysis is a fun way to gain insight into someone’s personality. Many celebrities, business moguls and political figures have had their signatures analyzed by graphologists and the results are surprisingly insightful. Since many of these people’s personality traits are already highly publicized, the real test is whether analyzing an unknown person’s signature yields accurate results.
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