William Sawders, 13, of Ventura, Calif., for his question:
IS GRAPHOLOGY A SCIENCE?
Graphology is the study of a person's handwriting to obtain information about his personality. Most scientists classify graphology as a pseudoscience, or false science.
In many places, Europe especially, graphology is widely practiced. Some American business firms even consult graphologists for advice about which people to hire. And the New School for Social Research in New York City teaches graphology as a serious diagnostic aid.
The term "graphology" also refers to scientific examination of handwriting to detect forgery. Handwriting experts who testify in court perform this type of graphology.
Many of the principles on which graphology is based are true. For example, handwriting definitely changes with the stresses of illness, old age and tension.
But most of the broader claims of graphology lack scientific proof. For instance, graphologists claim that lines with an upward slant are signs of enthusiasm, and lines that slant downward indicate discouragement. There is no scientific proof of this.
The most serious psychological study of handwriting has been conducted in Europe. In the late 1800s, the French psychologist Alfred Binet tested seven graphologists. He asked them to distinguish writing samples of very intelligent men from samples of average men. All the graphologists performed better than chance would allow, and one scored correctly on 92 percent of the cases.
Most other studies that have examined the exact relationship between personality and handwriting that graphologists claim exist have produced negative results.
Despite the lack of evidence for the claims of graphology, many psychologists consider the study of handwriting a useful diagnostic tool.
Several psychology textbooks include serious discussions of graphology. Such techniques are testing methods that obtain information about a patient's personality without asking direct questions.
Official licensing in graphology exists in Europe, and several universities there teach extensive graphology courses. But the subject has little academic standing in the United States.
Many scholars have called for thorough scientific studies of graphology. But research indicates that graphology probably has limited value for the study of character, health and personality.
In the 1940s, a Russian psychologist named Alexander Luria studied the use of handwriting to determine the location of brain injuries. Some promising results came from the study, but nothing completely positive.
It is important to distinguish the work of some graphologists who come into contact with the general public. Many call themselves "graphoanalysi graduates," yet their degrees are from schools that have no official standing.