What is Graphology – Definition | Benefits | Limitations [Advanced Guide]
Graphology – Definition
Graphology means analyzing the personality of a person through his handwriting. It means the unbiased study of strokes and patterns present in the handwriting sample of a person.
It is a kind of mental photograph of thoughts that generate in a person's mind. In scientific terms, it is reading the subconscious mind through your handwriting.
It is based on the principle that every person’s handwriting is as unique as his fingerprints.
A trained graphologist studies traits and strokes present in the person’s handwriting. He then creates a complete personality profile of the person. He may also design a complete therapy for the person by making necessary changes in the strokes present in his handwriting. This is known as graphotherapy.
It is a fast and accurate technique. It helps you to heal your personality by analyzing your strengths and weaknesses.
Your handwriting reveals a lot about your personality.
Below mentioned characteristics are only a few from a long list of personality traits that your handwriting sample can reveal.
- Physical and emotional characteristics
- Strengths
- Weaknesses
- Likes
- Dislikes
- Confidence level
- Level of the impact of an incident on your mind
- Leadership qualities
- Ability to plan and organize
- Concentration level
- Ability to manage finances
It is a great way to analyze the true personality of a person as it provides clues about why the person behaves as he does.
It is a step towards self-discovery.
Handwriting is Brain Writing
Handwriting can reveal so much about you because handwriting is brainwriting.
As students, you learned to write in a particular way. But, didn’t continue to write in the same way. As soon as you were able to write, you modified the shapes and sizes of the letters.
As a result of which you developed a unique handwriting style.
Every person has a distinctive style of handwriting and depicts the same unique features even if the writing is done using one’s foot or mouth besides hand.
Why?
Because whenever you think something, it creates a stir in your mind. This stir in the form of a message is sent through your nervous system to your arm, hand or toe muscles.
This motivates your writing instrument like a pen to produce patterns on paper. These patterns are made using dot, line, loops, and curves.
Each stroke or pattern formed on paper corresponds to a particular personality trait.
Also, graphology is not limited to analyzing handwriting only, but it is the study of all graphic movements such as doodles, drawings, and paintings.
By studying these graphic patterns a trained graphologist can tell you whatever is going inside your mind at the time of writing.
Difference between Graphologist and Questioned Document Examiner
Graphologist is not the same as a questioned document examiner.
Graphologist studies the personality of a person through his handwriting. Questioned Document Examiner establishes the genuineness of the documents. They check whether the document is real or fake.
Both fields need separate training.
Some graphologists may be questioned document examiners and vice-versa.
Graphologists need a degree or diploma to pursue a career as a questioned document examiner.
What is Graphology used for?
Handwriting reveals your thinking pattern and behavior.
It demonstrates the reasons that lie behind those activities. It outlines your tendency to behave in ways that may not be expected.
The appearance can mislead, but handwriting never lies.
Hence, handwriting analysis is utilized for personality evaluation in a broad range of realistic situations.
For example:
Benefit #1: Employment
A skilled graphologist can select the best candidate, and guide on suitability.
Each organization searches for specific qualities in an employee. An analyst can select an appropriate candidate for them.
The applicant’s handwriting sample is analyzed and the handwriting analysis report is prepared according to the need of each particular organization.
The report is not biased. It does not discriminate on the basis of age, sexuality, nationality, caste or religion of the writer.
It is meant to be used along with other interview techniques. With handwriting analysis, the analyst can reveal the actual personality of the individual.
Benefit #2: Corporate training
A trained graphologist can highlights staff qualities and weaknesses. The majority of problems at the workplace are personality-related.
Employing the wrong person proves costly to the organization. Hence, organizations use graphological reports to assess how compatible a new applicant would be within the existing work environment.
Graphologist studies the company culture and the need for the post.
He then provides managers with useful and focused opinion to go together with other selection procedure.
Benefit #3: Personality Profiling
Personality is one of the most important aspects of each situation where people interact.
We are all different. We need to know ourselves and recognize what makes us think, feel and act as we do.
Self-awareness is the first step towards understanding others.
Handwriting analysis helps the writer to:
- Improve both personal and professional relationships
- Make appropriate career decisions for employment or a change of direction
- Make the right use of his strengths
- Work upon his weaknesses
- Build confidence
- Stay focused on goals
Benefit #4: Marital Compatibility
Compatibility is the ability to live and work together.
No two people are exactly alike and respond in the same way.
Graphological analysis of both partners is done to understand their differences in outlook. It analyzes how each partner is similar or different from each other.
The first step to a successful marital relationship is to identify and accept the differences between you and your partner. Mutual understanding and tolerance too are key aspects of a successful relationship.
Graphology can check couple compatibility where arranged marriages are common practice.
Benefit #5: Historical Profiling
Genealogists and biographers who want to learn more about the personality traits of people who have died.
Limitations Of Graphology - What It Cannot Analyze
Graphology is the science of analyzing the personality of a person through his handwriting.
But, it has limitations also i.e. what it cannot do.
To know what a study cannot do is also important as what it can do.
Hence, by knowing the limitations you can use it in a more accurate manner.
A sample of handwriting cannot reveal:
Limitation #1: Age of a Person
Graphology is the study of thoughts that originate in the mind and not the age of a person. The handwriting reflects the maturity of the mind.
So we can have a mature teenager and also we can have an immature adult.
Limitation #2: Sex Of A Person
You cannot detect the sex of a person by analyzing his handwriting.
Both males and females can have similar traits.
Limitation #3: Right Or Left Handed
Handwriting is the reflection of thoughts in the mind and does not depend on the medium and tool of writing.
The person could be either left-handed or right-handed, but the source is the same i.e. the brain.
It is impossible to detect which of his hands a person has used for his writing.
Limitation #4: Nationality Of A Person
Some countries have a specific style of writing, but, it can only provide a clue about the origin of a person.
Also, anyone in the world can practice the same handwriting style. So, graphology does not reveal the nationality of a person.
Limitation #5: Future Of A Person
Graphology studies your mind.
It is very different from astrology and both should not be confused with each other.
Limitation #6: Caste, Creed, And Religion
The caste, religion and the outward appearances of a person like skin colour, shape of eyes, colour of hair cannot be detected using graphology.
A graphologist, always does an unbiased analysis of the handwriting sample.
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