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Phrenology.

Authors :
Auday, Bryan C., Ph.D.
Source :
Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health, 2022. 2p.
Publication Year :
2022

Abstract

Phrenology was championed by Franz Joseph Gall (1758–1828), an Austrian physician and anatomist, who developed the theory that the size of cortical regions of the brain was correlated with specific talents such as inquisitiveness, destructiveness, secretiveness, and friendship. In addition, enhanced brain areas were reflected as enlarged bumps on the skull directly above it. In all, Gall believed he had located twenty-seven faculties that were unique to humans and nineteen that were found on some nonhuman animals. These special talents were referred to by Gall as “organs.” The extra organs that humans possessed, according to Gall, were areas that corresponded to things such as wisdom, passion, and the sense of satire. Besides paying attention to the bumps on the cranium, the recesses were also important since they reflected the underdevelopment of specific talents.

Subjects

Subjects :
Phrenology
Brain
Craniology

Details

Database :
Research Starters
Journal :
Salem Press Encyclopedia of Health
Publication Type :
Reference
Accession number :
87324334