History of Graphology

There are references to handwriting through the ages…Aristotle 383-322 B.C wrote… "just as all men do not have the same speech sounds, neither do they all have the same handwriting".

The first graphology comment in Europe was in Spain in 1566. Initially much of the fascination was intuitive rather than scientific and not until the 19th century was there any real attempt made to empirical observation. Modern Graphology originated in France with Abbe Michon (1806-1881). Further studies by Jean-Crepieux-Jamin 1858-1940 emphasised looking at the whole piece of writing and was responsible in proving the value of Graphology to Alfred Binet, father of intelligence testing.

The oldest surviving published book dates back to the 17th century. Klara Roman in Hungary looked at both the conscious and unconscious energy of someone’s personality as it is portrayed in their writing and is generally credited in introducing Graphology to the U.S.A. Harvard psychologists Allport and Vernon from their studies called it ‘brain writing’ because writing involves all manner of neural impulses.

Both Europe and America have all contributed to the science of Graphology as we know it today.