The study of handwriting as a means of analyzing character is called what?

The idea that the way you loop your 'g's or slant your letters can reveal secrets about your personality is the central principle of graphology. The term itself is a direct clue, combining the Greek words 'grapho,' meaning "writing," and 'logos,' meaning "study." Proponents believe that handwriting is a form of "brainwriting," an unconscious expression of a person's inner nature, and that analyzing its physical characteristics can lead to insights about psychological traits, emotional states, and character.

While it has a long history, first gaining popularity in the 19th century, graphology is widely regarded as a pseudoscience by the mainstream scientific community. Numerous studies have failed to find a consistent, verifiable link between handwriting features and specific personality traits. Critics argue that any perceived accuracy is often due to the vagueness of the analysis, similar to fortune-telling, or because the analyst has other information about the subject.

Despite its lack of scientific validation, the practice persists in some areas. Graphologists examine dozens of elements, from the pressure of the pen and the size of the letters to the spacing between words and the way a 't' is crossed. Interestingly, some companies, particularly in parts of Europe, have historically used handwriting analysis as part of their employee recruitment process, looking for clues about a candidate's reliability, ambition, and temperament.