# Graphology **URL:** \ **Category:** Great Debates\ **Created:** [November 16, 2014, 4:16am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751 "2014-11-16T04:16:27Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 7\ **Page:** 5
**Author:** ![Jragon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/e19b73/32.png) [@Jragon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jragon)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 1:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/81 "2014-11-18T01:47:36Z")
> [@Monty](#): > > [Graphology](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphology) is not [questioned document examination](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Questioned_document_examination). You misunderstood me. What I was saying is that I think someone trained in questioned document examination may be able to divine some things about my mental state at the time of writing (which is very much a graphology thing), given a sufficiently large sample size to train on. This doesn’t go at all towards my personality, but a trained graphanylsis person could probably tell small things like if I was frantic, calm, angry, etc based on things like variance in stroke clarity, pressure used, and so on. ---
**Author:** ![EinsteinsHund](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/einsteinshund/32/8400_2.png) [@EinsteinsHund](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/EinsteinsHund)\ **Post date:** [November 18, 2014, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/82 "2014-11-18T08:43:52Z")
> [@Erdosain](#): > > I have also heard the claim that graphology is accepted as evidence in court in Germany, but I can’t find a cite (or read German). No, it isn’t. There may be a misunderstanding though. From the German Wiki entry on graphology (Graphologie), under the section [“Schnitstellen zu anderen Disziplinenen: Forensik” (“interfaces to other disciplines: forensics”)](http://de.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphologie#Forensik): [Quote=Wikipedia] In der forensischen Kriminaltechnik werden auch Handschriften untersucht. […] Dabei kommen auch physikalisch-technische Methoden zur Anwendung. Es wird unter anderem mit Ultraviolett-Licht, mit Rasterelektronenmikroskop und weiteren Untersuchungsverfahren gearbeitet. Diese **naturwissenschaftlich fundierten** Verfahren bilden die Basis. […] Die forensische Handschriftenvergleichung ist Beweismittel in Gerichtsverfahren. (my translation): Hand writing is also examined in forenisc sciences. […] Thereby, physical-technical methods are also applied. This is, among other things, done with ultraviolet light, scanning electron microscopes und other means of investigation. These **scientifically sound** methods provide the basics. […] Forensic comparison of handwritings is used as evidence in court. [/Quote] [Emphasis mine] So what’s really used in court are scientific, comparative methods that only share some cursory similarities to graphology. I have also never heard of graphology used in job applications; I’ve written countless applications in the last 20 years, and the only parts handwritten ever were the signatures. ---
**Author:** ![dropzone](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dropzone/32/7515_2.png) [@dropzone](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dropzone)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/83 "2014-11-19T04:11:23Z")
> [@GIGObuster's link](#): > > …rumpology… Rumpology? And it’s exactly ([more or less](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpology)) what it sounds like? So my hobby has a name, making it almost legitimate? Will wonders never cease. 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![GIGObuster](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gigobuster/32/421_2.png) [@GIGObuster](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GIGObuster)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 4:30am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/84 "2014-11-19T04:30:09Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Rumpology? And it’s exactly ([more or less](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpology)) what it sounds like? So my hobby has a name, making it almost legitimate? Will wonders never cease. 🙂 Either that or the fans of Rumpole of the Bailey have very crazy ideas about the law or kidney puddings. 😉 > **[Rumpole of the Bailey](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpole_of_the_Bailey)** > > Rumpole of the Bailey is a British television series created and written by the British writer and barrister John Mortimer. It starred Leo McKern as Horace Rumpole, a middle-aged London barrister who defended a broad variety of clients, often underdogs. The popularity of the TV series led to the stories being presented in other media, including books and radio. > The "Bailey" of the title is a reference to the Central Criminal Court, the "Old Bailey". > While certain biographical details differ ... I loved to watch PBS’s Mystery! ---
**Author:** ![Monty](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/monty/32/47_2.png) [@Monty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Monty)\ **Post date:** [November 19, 2014, 12:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/85 "2014-11-19T12:43:41Z")
> [@Jragon](#): > > You misunderstood me. What I was saying is that I think someone trained in questioned document examination may be able to divine some things about my mental state at the time of writing (which is very much a graphology thing), given a sufficiently large sample size to train on. This doesn’t go at all towards my personality, but a trained graphanylsis person could probably tell small things like if I was frantic, calm, angry, etc based on things like variance in stroke clarity, pressure used, and so on. Nope. Didn’t misunderstand you. ---
**Author:** ![GoodOmens](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/d26b3c/32.png) [@GoodOmens](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GoodOmens)\ **Post date:** [November 20, 2014, 11:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/86 "2014-11-20T23:13:10Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Rumpology? And it’s exactly ([more or less](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpology)) what it sounds like? So my hobby has a name, making it almost legitimate? Will wonders never cease. 🙂 When he finds out about this, we’ll soon have Dr. Mix-A-Lot. ---
**Author:** ![Revtim](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/revtim/32/1042_2.png) [@Revtim](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Revtim)\ **Post date:** [November 21, 2014, 2:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751/87 "2014-11-21T14:27:50Z")
> [@dropzone](#): > > Rumpology? And it’s exactly ([more or less](http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rumpology)) what it sounds like? So my hobby has a name, making it almost legitimate? Will wonders never cease. 🙂 It’s hilarious that it is almost certain that Stallone’s mom just really likes ass (she’s not alone there, I cannot blame her for that) and made that into a money-making woo scheme. No worse that astrology I guess. I wonder if she considered calling it “Asstrology”? [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/graphology/704751.md?page=4)