What is "graphology"

graphology \gra*phol"o*gy\ (gr[.a]*f[o^]l"[-o]*j[y^]), n. [Gr. gra`fein to write + -logy: cf. F. graphologie.]

1. The art of judging of a person's character, disposition, and aptitude from his handwriting; called graphoanalysis by its practitioners. Though its practitioners consider it a science, it is widely considered a pseudoscience, as is astrology.

2. (Math.) The system or notation used in dealing with graphs.

3. (Linguistics) The study of systems of writing of languages; also called grammatology.

graphoanalysis \graph`o*an*al"y*sis\ (gr[a^]f`[-o]*an*[a^]l"[i^]*s[i^]s), n. The art of judging of a person's character, disposition, and aptitude from his handwriting; also called graphology. As a discipline, the modern form was developed by Milton Newman Bunker in the period after 1915.

Note: Though its practitioners consider it a science, many commentators believe that its methodology is not scientific, and some consider it a pseudoscience, as is astrology.

"study of handwriting," 1882, from French graphologie, coined 1868 by Abbé Jean-Hippolyte Michon (1806-1881) from comb. form of Greek graphein "to write" (see -graphy) + logos "a speaking, a dealing with" (see logos). Especially, "character study based on handwriting" (1886).

n. 1 (context uncountable English) The study of handwriting, especially as a means of analyze character. 2 A system of handwriting.

Graphology is the analysis of the physical characteristics and patterns of handwriting purporting to be able to identify the writer, indicating psychological state at the time of writing, or evaluating personality characteristics. It is generally considered a pseudoscience. The term is sometimes incorrectly used to refer to forensic document examination.

Graphology has been controversial for more than a century. Although supporters point to the anecdotal evidence of positive testimonials as a reason to use it for personality evaluation, most empirical studies fail to show the validity claimed by its supporters.