What is Psychography?
Psychography, also known as graphology or handwriting analysis, is a field of study that aims to interpret an individual’s personality traits, character, and psychological state based on their handwriting. It suggests that various aspects of a person’s handwriting, such as the size, slant, pressure, spacing, and overall appearance, can provide insights into their emotions, behavior, and underlying psychological attributes.
The practice of psychography assumes that handwriting is a reflection of the subconscious mind and that patterns and features in a person’s writing can reveal information about their personality, temperament, mood, and even potential psychological disorders. Psychographers analyze various elements of handwriting, including the shape and form of letters, the placement of dots and crosses, the baseline, the degree of legibility, and many other factors.
Psychography has its roots in ancient times, but it gained popularity in the late 19th century with the work of Frenchman Jean-Hippolyte Michon, who is often considered the father of modern graphology. Since then, numerous theories and approaches to psychography have emerged, leading to different schools of thought within the field.
Critics argue that psychography lacks scientific evidence and is more akin to pseudoscience. While some studies have shown correlations between certain handwriting traits and personality characteristics, the overall scientific validity and reliability of psychography remain contentious. As a result, it is generally considered more of an art or a tool for self-reflection rather than a scientifically supported diagnostic tool.
Shervan K Shahhian
LIBERTY PSYCHOLOGICAL ASSOCIATION 