Graphoanalysis (a registered trademark of the International Graphoanalysis Society) is a system of Handwriting Analysis that falls within the approach of Integrative Graphology. The core tenet is that every stroke of handwriting has a meaning which can be understood only within the context of the other strokes present in the handwriting.
Basic Traits are the meanings that are ascribed to individual stroke structures. These scores are derived from the frequency and intensity of the stroke structure.
Evaluated Traits are the meanings ascribed to clusters of individual stroke structures. This indicates how the trait is made manifest in the personality.
A professional Graphoanalyst bases their report exclusively on the Evaluated Trait scores.
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Graphoanalysis is the system of handwriting analysis created by Milton N Bunker. He first studied handwriting analysis around 1913. By 1929 he had enough confidence in his system to form the American Grapho Analysis Society. In 1949 he incorporated the International Grapho Analysis Society (now the International Graphoanalysis Society or IGAS).[1] Since 1961, IGAS has been the sole owner of all material, and intellectual property rights relating to Graphoanalysis.
Whilst the roots of Graphoanalysis are in the writings of Abbe Michon,[2] the influence of Crépieux-Jamin,[3] and other European graphologers[4] are visible, very little material published by Bunker, The American Grapho Analysis Society, or The International Graphoanalysis Society has acknowledged these roots.
During the late fifties, the Perspectograph was developed. This is a bar chart which shows the distribution of slant for upstrokes.
Circa 1962 The Green Sheet was developed. This sheet lists most of the traits defined by Graphoanalysis, under the area of personality which the trait affects. For example, Literary leanings is only found in the subsection Cultural Aptitudes. This sheet has been officially revised several times, the most recent being in 2002. Several former members of IGAS have released versions of this sheet,[5] with a number of additions, and changes.
The Personality Wheel was developed in the early seventies. The original version (? 1974) correlated with the charts used for the Psychogram. Later versions diverged considerably from it. By 1978 it simply listed the traits, as found on The Green Sheet in a wheel.
In the early 1990s, IGAS changed the definition, and scoring of some traits, without providing any explanation. The most popular theory is that the changes were a result of litigation against a Graphoanalyst, regarding the validity of handwriting analysis.
The validity of Graphoanalysis has been demonstrated by Crumbaugh, James C & Stockholm, Emilie (1977).[6] This study has been replicated by other researchers.
A major shortcoming is the lack of published studies of both the individual stroke structures, and the clusters of individual stroke structures. Thus far, there have been no comprehensive, systematic research studies of either the strokes, or the stroke clusters. There is some published research that implies that stroke clusters do correlate with some sub-scores, on various psychological tests.
The published reliability studies [7][8] on Graphoanalysis have used very few --- typically less than five --- analysts. The immediate consequence is that it is demonstrated to have high reliability.
The only Normative project was The IGAS Trait Norm Project[9] published in 1980. The critics of this study had a field day, demonstrating poor research design and methodology.
The Green Sheet[10] is the worksheet used by Graphoanalysts, to organize their report. This sheet contains 119 traits to be evaluated from the Basic Traits. This data is then combined, to produce the scores for the evaluated traits, which are used to write the final report.
The general recommendation is that raw scores of at least one hundred occurrences, or potential occurrences of a stroke structure be obtained.
Terms used in Graphoanalysis have a specific, technical meaning.[11] The common dictionary meaning is often only marginally related to the technical meaning used by the Handwriting Analyst.
The sections here are:
The following are not part of The Green Sheet. Variants worksheets may include them:
Conscious Response is scored by measuring the upslant at least 100 consecutive letters. The classification is as follows:
Both E++ and F-- are used by very few Graphoanalysts. Zero degrees is the left hand side.
Unconscious Response is scored by measuring the downslant of at least 100 consecutive letters.
Zero degrees is the left hand side.
Unconscious Depth is scored by measuring the downslant pressure of at least 100 consecutive strokes.
Conscious Depth is scored by measuring the upslant pressure of at least 100 consecutive strokes.
Depth is usually measured on a scale of 0 to 5.
If the pressure is erratic, that will be noted on the worksheet.
The most common methods are:
All of those methods have problems. The most objective appears to be measuring the width of the writing line. This can fail, because ball point pens usually leave a uniform line.
One popular practice is to proclaim that felt tip pens are, by definition, light pressure, and ultra thin ball point pens are, by definition, heavy pressure.
Controls
Restraints
Training
The basic mental processes are:
The major sections here are:
These are scored by looking at the following:
The sections here are:
Raw scores for Goals, Determination,Endurance, and Will Power are determined by measuring:
The specific stroke structure for each of those data points is different.
The Sections here are:
The specific data points in this section are:
Some Handwriting analysts also include Conflicting Provoking Traits as a sub-category. This would include the following datapoints:
The sections in this category are:
Some handwriting analysts also include Cautions in this sub-section. It was not part of The Green Sheet. These datapoints correlate with specific DSM-IV Diagnose. As a consequence, they are seldom used by handwriting analysts. When used, if the score is moderate to high, further evaluation, and possibly treatment, by a Clinical Psychotherapist is warranted.
The sections in this category are:
Communication is often a subsection of Integrity.
These are divided into two groups:
Variant worksheets may include Red Flags as a sub-category here. The majority of Graphoanalysts prefer to treat the "Red Flag Traits" individually.
The major aptitudes that are scored are:
The following are not part of The Green Sheet. Variant worksheets orientated towards employment may include them.
This is not part of the Green Sheet. Variant worksheets include this as a separate category, due to the importance of communication in both employment and compatibility reports
These traits are:
This is not part of the Green Sheet. Some handwriting analysts that have been influenced by Holistic Graphology include one or more of the following in their worksheet:
This is not part of The Green Sheet. This is included by handwriting analysts who specialize in employment related reports.
These are core character traits for a generic position. As a general rule of them, the better the scores are here, the more likely the candidate will be suitable for a specific position. It does not replace other tools, such as comprehensive background checks, practical demonstration of work skills, and the like.
In the ideal case, the handwriting analyst would score at least one hundred stroke structures, for each of the datapoints listed on The Green Sheet. This takes roughly six hours to complete. An experienced handwriting analyst often will simply estimate the score for each data point, without doing any measurements. This will reduce the time required to score an analysis to thirty minutes, or less.
Thus far, there is no commercially available computer software that will score all of the datapoints for a report based upon Graphoanalysis. A spreadsheet in Open Document Format has been publicly released. It merely assists one in correctly calculating the scores, and creating a Perspectograph and Personality Wheel Chart for inclusion in one's final report.
Training in Graphoanalysis is conducted by the International Graphoanalysis Society. The majority of this training is by correspondence. This certification has minimal recognition within the field of handwriting analysis.