With the advent of technology, humans are relying more on technology as they have become extremely dependent on electronic devices like they no longer make an effort to remember for instance phone numbers, their bank details etc. and are likely to have digital amnesia. Excessive use of technology has harmful effects on physical and psychological health. It has a ripple effect for instance increased screen exposure causes eye strain which in turn leads to sleep disturbances and poor mental health. Hence, humans, particularly children are losing on their social and cognitive skills.
Children at a very young age are exposed to various screens like smart phones and television. Excessive use has long term effect on development like delay in acquiring speech/language and social milestones. In addition, children are lacking interest and motivation for writing. Therefore, handwriting plays a crucial role in these regards as it helps children in developing eye-hand co-ordination, dexterity, bilateral integration and object manipulation.
Graphology is the study of individual’s handwriting. It’s like a finger print, unique to an individual and reflects sub-conscious mind. The subconscious mind constitutes thoughts, feelings and behaviors. It reveals the present mindset and an individual’s handwriting is subject to change depending on the mood, time and the context. Graphology is a pseudoscience.
Graphology, the study of handwriting, has been a subject of interest for many years, and while some proponents believe it can provide insights into an individual's personality traits, emotional state, or psychological disposition, there are several limitations and criticisms associated with it. Here are some of the key limitations of graphology:
One of the primary criticisms of graphology is the lack of empirical evidence to support its claims. The scientific community largely views graphology as a pseudoscience because its fundamental principles and methodologies lack empirical validation and have not been consistently supported by rigorous scientific research.
Graphology heavily relies on subjective interpretation, making it susceptible to personal biases and preconceived notions. Different graphologists might analyze the same handwriting sample and come up with varying, sometimes contradictory, interpretations, which undermines its reliability as a valid assessment tool.
Graphology lacks standardized protocols and methodologies, leading to inconsistency in its application. The absence of a universally accepted set of rules and criteria for analyzing handwriting makes it difficult to ensure the reliability and validity of its findings.
Handwriting can be influenced by numerous external factors such as the writing surface, writing instrument, writing speed, mood, and physical condition of the writer. These external influences can significantly alter the appearance of handwriting, making it challenging to isolate the true underlying personality traits solely based on the written script.
While some graphologists claim that certain handwriting features are indicative of specific personality traits, there is no substantial evidence to suggest that these features reliably predict behaviour or character. People often write differently depending on the context, audience, and emotional state, which makes it difficult to draw accurate conclusions about their personality based on handwriting alone, therefore IHRA has integrated the concept of psychometric assessment with graphology and introduced Handwritoratingraphy (HRG) to make handwriting analysis more reliable, if not accurate.
Overall, while graphology may be intriguing and sometimes entertaining, its scientific validity and reliability remain questionable. As a result, it is very essential to approach and draw its interpretations by integrating them with psychometrics like in HRG and refrain from making significant judgments or decisions solely based on handwriting analysis alone.
The emphasis is given on the bigger aspect and as a result gives the whole picture of an individual. Based on the margins, size, spacing, baseline, pressure of writing and slants etc. the individual’s personality can be revealed. Hence, the personality traits can be known on a surface level.
Based on the details such as intricate patterns of each letter of an alphabet, greater personality traits unique to an individual can be known.