Graphology: The Investigation of Handwriting
GRAPHOLOGY THE INVESTIGATION OF HANDWRITING
Background Graphology is the investigation of handwriting. The investigation, in many instances, is intended as an analyzing of a person’s writing with the goal to provide a behavioral profile. Graphology can be used as a test, to prove a theory, or as a preliminary method for personnel placement in many organizations (personality profile). Graphology was considered to be a controversial method of personality evaluation for more than a century. Psychologist who supported graphology in the medical field as a method to diagnose and track diseases of the brain and nervous system as a way to gain information about physical, mental, and emotional states. However, a proportionally equal number of psychologist do not support graphology as a method to diagnose any physical, emotional, or behavioral and view the process as simply the study of handwriting. Graphology is used as a reliable resource in criminal cases, business compatibility, marital compatibility, and jury screening. Although it is practiced in many parts of the world for a variety of reasons, there is not any scientific proof that the interpretations are correct and there is not any reliable methodology for how the process is implemented.
Graphology Validity and Rationale Graphology can be considered scientific research. In order for scientific research to have successful results, the research must have either five or seven steps. The steps begin with the formation of a problem. Graphology must have a defined reason before the process is used for any reason. The scientific research will ask a question, gather information, form a theory, collect and sort data, analyze the date, interpret the data and present the final results. The graphology methods, as a serious procedure, must conclude with information that has reasonable rationale and solid validity. Validity refers to the degree to which evidence and theory support the understanding of
Background Graphology is the investigation of handwriting. The investigation, in many instances, is intended as an analyzing of a person’s writing with the goal to provide a behavioral profile. Graphology can be used as a test, to prove a theory, or as a preliminary method for personnel placement in many organizations (personality profile). Graphology was considered to be a controversial method of personality evaluation for more than a century. Psychologist who supported graphology in the medical field as a method to diagnose and track diseases of the brain and nervous system as a way to gain information about physical, mental, and emotional states. However, a proportionally equal number of psychologist do not support graphology as a method to diagnose any physical, emotional, or behavioral and view the process as simply the study of handwriting. Graphology is used as a reliable resource in criminal cases, business compatibility, marital compatibility, and jury screening. Although it is practiced in many parts of the world for a variety of reasons, there is not any scientific proof that the interpretations are correct and there is not any reliable methodology for how the process is implemented.
Graphology Validity and Rationale Graphology can be considered scientific research. In order for scientific research to have successful results, the research must have either five or seven steps. The steps begin with the formation of a problem. Graphology must have a defined reason before the process is used for any reason. The scientific research will ask a question, gather information, form a theory, collect and sort data, analyze the date, interpret the data and present the final results. The graphology methods, as a serious procedure, must conclude with information that has reasonable rationale and solid validity. Validity refers to the degree to which evidence and theory support the understanding of
References: Cloninger, S. C (2000), Theories of Personality – Understanding Persons. Prentice-Hall, Inc. Upper Saddle River, New Jersey 07458 Woods, C. S (2004), The Developing Person – through the life span. Worth Publishers, 41 Madison Avenue, New York, NY 10010 Larsen, R. J. and Buss, D. M, (2008). Personality Psychology – domains of knowledge about human nature. McGraw-Hill, 1221 Avenue of the Americas, New York, NY 10020.