Graphology is the study of personality through an analysis of handwriting. (Writing is frozen body language). From handwriting a graphologist can determine a range of characteristics such as energy, expressiveness, dominance, impulsiveness, intelligence, and levels of anxiety. Although not a science in the “falsifiable” sense, it uses exact measuring techniques to construct a balanced portrait of an individual.

Unlike psychometric tests which may place a person in a particular box, graphology is able to assess the unique characteristics of a particular individual and can outline any conflicting elements in that person’s character which may be masked.

Graphology is a fast method for personality assessment; it is free from bias (because age, race and a person’s sex cannot be determined from the handwriting); the person being assessed does not have to be present; there is no anxiety for the “candidate” as writing is a common activity, and the person being assessed cannot succeed at faking, because graphologists are able to find evidence that remains unchanged even when a script is heavily disguised.

Because of these advantages, graphology is used in a number of areas:

• Recruitment: It is a tool that helps companies short list candidates for interviews.
• Career guidance: From the skills and interests illustrated, new avenues can be explored.
• Negotiations: Graphology can predict how a person will react in negotiations.
• Compatibility: How relationships and teams will work out can be assessed.
• Security checks: Graphology can predict potential dishonesty.
• Forensic examination: Graphologists can discover the authors of poison pen letters and forgeries.
• Promotional events: Short analyses for visitors can be carried out for companies at conferences and exhibitions.
• Genealogy: Why ancestors (and historical figures) behave the way they did can be outlined.