Phrenology2

THE “FIRST FAMILY” OF PHRENOLOGY, continued...

What is phrenology?

Phrenology, in its simplest form, is a study of the brain, based on the belief that

· The mind is composed of distinct character traits, each centered in a physical area of the brain;

· The power of character traits physically shapes the brain;

· The brain shapes the skull;

Therefore, the skull can be “read” as an accurate gauge of character.

A very simple phrenology head shows the supposed Spiritual, Intellect and Propensity regions. “Propensities” are those traits that attach people to their country and home, and secure the preservation of life and accumulation of property. Intellectual traits convey knowledge, originate ideas, and impart memory and the ability to communicate. Spiritual traits give a moral sense as well as including such traits as self-esteem and an appreciation for beauty.

From: A new illustrated hand-book of phrenology and physiognomy, for students and examiners. New York: Fowler & Wells, 1894.

In its later manifestations, phrenology degenerated into silly parlor games and outright quackery as traveling “head readers” duped the gullible to turn a quick profit. The early proponents of phrenology, which began in Europe in the early 1800s, regarded their field as a new area of legitimate scientific inquiry. Responsible Victorian phrenologists were careful to point out that although the particular shape of any individual’s skull indicated a propensity for certain traits, it did not predestine character. Phrenologists were very concerned with moral improvement and the proper education of children.

Two boys: the good boy on the left and the bad boy on the right, based on the development of their “organ” of conscientiousness, defined as “imparting a perception and love of right, an innate sense of accountability, and a disposition to fulfill promises, speak the truth, and strive for purity and moral excellence.”
From: A new illustrated hand-book of phrenology and physiognomy, for students and examiners. New York: Fowler & Wells, 1894.

The foremost American popularizers of phrenology were the Fowlers: brothers Orson and Lorenzo and sister Charlotte, all born in Steuben County, New York in the early years of the 19^th century.