Phrenologie
🧠 What is phrenology?
Phrenology is a pseudoscientific theory from the 19th century that states that personality traits, intelligence, morality, and behavior can be determined by the shape and elevations of the human skull.
The basic idea:
Certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain character traits – and when these areas are particularly pronounced, the skull bulges slightly outward at that point.
👨🔬 Who invented it?
The founder was Franz Joseph Gall, a German physician in the late 18th century.
His student Johann Spurzheim helped popularize the theory – especially in Great Britain and the USA.
🗺️ How was it applied?
Phrenologists "read" heads by:
Feeling the skull
Analyzing bumps, dents, and bulges
Associating these with qualities such as courage, eloquence, loyalty, self-control, or aggressiveness
Some people sought advice on:
Career choice
Partner selection
Raising children
In some places, this was almost like a psychological horoscope based on the skull.