Graphology and Personality: An Empirical Study on Validity of Handwriting Analysis:

Summary.—The aim of the present work was to examine validity of the graphological method to assess personality traits. The results of two studies are described. In Study 1, the Big Five Questionnaire was administered to a sample of 101 univer sity students who provided a sample of a handwritten text. Two graphologists were asked to detect the same dimensions and facets measured by the Big Five Question naire using a 9-point scale. Correlations between the Big Five Questionnaire and graphological evaluations did not confirm the capability of handwriting analysis to measure Big Five personality traits. Also, interrater reliability was very low. Study 2 (N = 102) was carried out using handwritten texts with autobiographical content for the graphological analysis. Two different graphologists and two laypersons were involved. No evidence was found to validate the graphological method as a measure of personality. The aim of this work was to examine the capability of handwriting analysis to assess personality traits. Validity of graphology is still a controversial issue. Its validity never has been clearly proven; however, in some European countries, studies and applications of graphology have continued to develop. From the forensic area, where graphology is used to prove the authenticity of documents and to sort out legally disputed signatures, nowadays it also tends to be used as a tool for evaluating an individual’s personality, aptitude, skills, and potential. Over the past few years, graphology has been considered an emerging profession in various areas of social life and the working world. Graphologists apply their method in many sectors: personality analysis, with emphasis on intellectual–behavioural and emotional–relational aspects in adults, psycho-emotive problems, studies of compatibility within married couples or families, evaluation of intellective and temperamental traits for academic and vocational guidance, business consultancy, and expert opinions on handwriting in courts of law. In various countries, graphologists have been involved in job recruitment sessions and personnel selection in the area of human resources (Hirsh, 1987). Sharma and Vardhan (1985) found that 85% of decisions in job recruitments in Europe were based on graphological methods. Klimoski and Rafaeli (1983) declared that more than 3,000 American companies employed an expert