Transcript Graphology

Graphology
Graphology is based on the claim that personality traits
are expressed in people‘s handwriting. Graphologists
often work in personality assessment and claim to be
able to predict an applicant‘s future success on a job.
These claims have no scientific basis, and graphology,
like astrology, does not have any predictive power
(Ben Shakhar et al., 1986; for a summary:
http://www.ntskeptics.org/factsheets/graphol.htm).
Contributor
© POSbase 2005
Graphology
Predicting job performance by graphology is
practically impossible on two levels:
(1) Handwriting does not predict personality traits;
(2) Personality traits are often bad predictors of
job performance.
© POSbase 2005
Graphology
If there is no scientific basis for graphology:
why do people believe in their diagnoses?
Among the numerous reasons are:
 Apparent validity (Forer, 1949);
 Apparent specificity (Snyder, 1974);
 Positive hypothesis testing: If I read in a
handwriting analysis that I have self-doubts, I look
for information that confirms the statement, and
not for information that would falsify it.
© POSbase 2005