What is the difference between graphology and graphotherapy?

What is the difference between graphology and graphotherapy?

Graphology and graphology both deal with “handwriting,” but they differ in their goals and approaches.

Graphology

GRAPHOLOGY is the study of inferring an individual’s personality, psychological state, and behavioral tendencies through the analysis of handwriting. By observing the shape, size, slant, pressure, and spacing of letters, a handwriting scholar seeks to decipher the personality and emotional characteristics of the writer. For example, strong writing pressure is generally interpreted as a strong-willed and energetic personality, while letters slanting to the right are generally interpreted as sociable.

Graphotherapy

Graphotherapy, on the other hand, is an application of graphology, a method that attempts to bring about positive changes in one’s state of mind and personality by consciously changing one’s handwriting. In other words, graphotherapy is a “self-improvement through handwriting change” approach. It is believed that intentionally changing certain characteristics of handwriting (e.g., the shape and slant of the letters) will cause changes in the writer’s state of mind and behavior. The goal of graphotherapy is to promote self-improvement and positive change through this process.

Summary of Differences

Purpose: Graphology aims to “read personality and psychological states from handwriting,” while graphotherapy aims to “effect positive psychological and behavioral changes by altering handwriting.
Approach: While graphology focuses on analysis and diagnosis, graphotherapy is closer to self-improvement and therapy.
Graphotherapy can be used in the areas of personal growth and mental health, and can be used as part of self-improvement.

References：wikipedia
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Graphology