Graphology is the analysis of the psychological structure of the human subject through his or her handwriting. The central nervous system provides a direct and undistorted link to the deeper self. Every human mind comprises a unique and immensely complex blend of character and accumulated experiences of life. Handwriting reflects this by evolving constantly. No two samples are the same.
Graphology history
Not much is known about the history of graphology before he seventeenth century, except that for hundreds of years, Chinese scholars already knew that the way a person wrote revealed much about that person's character. In 1622, the first known published book on graphology emerged. The book was written by Camillo Baldi, an Italian doctor of medicine and philosophy (and professor at the University of Bologna).
It wasn't until much later though, that the word "graphology" appeared. It was coined by Jean Michon, a Frenchman, in the 1870s. His many years of research on handwriting analysis were first published n 1872 and are still required reading for serious students of graphology. From that time forward, an interest in graphology spread throughout Europe. As a result of the strong European interest, leading universities began to offer a Ph.D. or Master's degree in graphology through their psychology departments.
Perhaps the greatest advancement for graphology, however, was near the turn of the century when psychology emerged as a profession. Since 1895, over 2,200 researchers have been published on this subject in medical, educational and psychological journals. Interestingly, much of the recent research, as well as the utilization of graphology, still lies in Europe and USA.
A concrete example:
How to Study a Signature Using Graphology
Step 1
• Review whether the writer’s signature is larger than the rest of his writing. If so, this indicates that the person has healthy self-confidence. If his signature is smaller than the rest of his writing, that may indicate he’s insecure. If the signature is exactly the same as the rest of his writing, that means the person behaves the same way in private as he does in public.
• Step 2
Look to see if the writer’s handwriting slants to the right, but his signature is vertical. This can indicate that the person is not what he appears to be. Vertical writers tend to be aloof, distant and difficult to know. If the opposite is true (his handwriting is vertical but his signature is slants to the right), this suggests that the writer is friendly in public but cool at home.
• Step 3
Determine whether the signature is impossible to make out. If so, this probably means that the person doesn’t want to communicate who she is. If the text he's written is illegible but the signature is legible, this could indicate that the writer doesn’t care about getting his message across; he only cares that you know who he is.
• Step 4
Check to see if the signature is underscored (with a line). If it is, that means the writer has healthy self-confidence. But if the underscoring is extreme it means the opposite: the person lacks self-worth. If the over-score is wavy or curved, this means the writer is fun and lively. Once in awhile, you’ll come across a signature that is overscored (a line or slash mark drawn over the top of the name). This person is feeling defensive and protective of himself, according to graphologists.
• Step 5
Look to see if the signature has been scored through (a slashing line) or if it is nearly obliterated by an intense mark. When someone strikes out his name, it means he wants to self-destruct. Does the writer use overly big letters? She is seeking social prominence.