Graphology is the study of handwriting. Through analysis, graphologists
can learn a great deal about a writer. Graphologists can determine personality
traits by examining the way a person forms each letter.
The results can be helpful in putting together a personal profile. These
profiles are used in a variety of settings. They can help in criminal investigations
or in jury selection. They can also help businesses find out a bit more about
potential employees.
Graphologists can also analyze signatures for personal use, and even examine
famous people's handwriting for clues about their personal lives.
Our handwriting is as unique as our fingerprints. The ability to write
is controlled in the same area of the brain as personality, so it can tell
a lot about us. Graphotherapy, a branch of graphology, actually trains people
to change their handwriting in order to help with personality problems.
Graphologists are also known as handwriting analysts. Graphologists who
have taken a certification course with the International Graphoanalysis Society
are called graphoanalysts. Documentation experts are in a closely related
field, specializing in analyzing papers that might be fake or fraudulent.
Graphologists can work in a variety of settings. They may work in police
and detective agencies or in the human resources departments of large companies.
However, many are self-employed.
Handwriting analysts also do their work over the Internet and by mail.
Graphologists only require handwriting samples -- they don't need to see a
client in person.
Since many graphologists are self-employed, they can set their own hours
of work. Some choose to do this part time or as a hobby.
Handwriting analysis takes a keen eye and an ability to focus on details.
It also takes good interpretive skills.
This is something that a physically challenged person would be able to
do in most circumstances, although the job could require travel. "This is
really an ideal job for the physically challenged," says Grace Bly, a graphoanalyst.