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Debunking Graphology Pseudoscience

Graphology is the study of analyzing personality traits from handwriting. It originated in the 1800s and was promoted by the Society of Graphology. Graphologists claim to be able to determine characteristics like personality, career success, health, and morality from handwriting analysis. However, the document argues that graphology is pseudoscience as there is no scientific evidence that supports its core claims and hypotheses about linking handwriting to personality cannot be tested or falsified. Multiple controlled experiments have also found graphology to be inconsistent.

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Swathi Priya
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556 views11 pages

Debunking Graphology Pseudoscience

Graphology is the study of analyzing personality traits from handwriting. It originated in the 1800s and was promoted by the Society of Graphology. Graphologists claim to be able to determine characteristics like personality, career success, health, and morality from handwriting analysis. However, the document argues that graphology is pseudoscience as there is no scientific evidence that supports its core claims and hypotheses about linking handwriting to personality cannot be tested or falsified. Multiple controlled experiments have also found graphology to be inconsistent.

Uploaded by

Swathi Priya
Copyright
© Attribution Non-Commercial (BY-NC)
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
Available Formats
Download as PPT, PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd

Graphology

Malia Bender Debunking Pseudoscience

What is graphology & whose brilliant idea was it?


The study of handwriting Goal - to determine characteristics of the writer 1800s - Jean-Hippolyte Michon & The Society of Graphology

Graphologists claim
Personality traits Success in career Compatibility Health issues Moral issues (Graphotherepeutics)

What theyre looking for

Size Slant Width Zones Regularity Margin

Pressure Stroke Lines Connection Form of connection Word and line spacing

Examples of traits

Analytical thinking

Concentration

Cultural refinement

Blunt

Broad-minded

Emotional Intesity

Forgetfulness

Rebellious

Humor

Vanity

How much does it cost?


http://www.handwritingpro.com/profile.ht ml -- $200 -- write about recent activity http://ocampa.com/analysis/ -- $55 -write a full page on anything of interest

They have schools for this??


The Society of Graphology The Gestalt School Books Self- accredited correspondence schools or unaccredited night school classes Make up your own system

What the graphologists say . . .


Handwriting is brainwriting Writing is individualized, and personality is unique so each must reflect each other Writing is a form of expressive movement so it should reflect our personality The police and courts use graphology so it must be valid Hard-nosed personnel managers swear by graphologists usefulness in selecting employees It works

People believe this stuff?

The Barnum Effect Positive Reinforcement

Its all pseudoscience


Unfalsifiable

hypotheses After-the-fact readings Numerous controlled scientific experiments Inconsistency between graphologists

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