The practice of measuring the pattern of bumps on the skull as an indicator of intelligence and ability
A craniometry
B physiognomy
C phrenology
D psychophysics
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: C. Phrenology
Phrenology is the historical practice of examining the shape and pattern of bumps on a person’s skull to determine their personality traits, intelligence, and abilities. This practice was popular in the 19th century and was based on the belief that different parts of the brain control specific functions and characteristics. According to this theory, the size and shape of those brain areas would influence the shape of the skull. Therefore, phrenologists claimed that by feeling the bumps and indentations on a person’s head, they could reveal information about the individual’s mental faculties and personality.
Phrenology was developed by Franz Joseph Gall, a German physician, who proposed that the brain is the organ of the mind and that specific areas within the brain are responsible for different aspects of personality and behavior. Gall’s idea was that a well-developed area of the brain would push against the skull and form a noticeable bump, which could be measured and analyzed.
While phrenology was initially regarded as a scientific approach, it eventually lost credibility because it lacked empirical support and failed to hold up under scientific scrutiny. Studies found that there is no correlation between skull shape and mental ability. Modern neuroscience has shown that cognitive and personality functions are more complex and cannot be localized in the simplistic manner that phrenology proposed.
Despite its lack of scientific validity, phrenology played a role in the early development of neuroscience by promoting interest in the idea that different parts of the brain have specialized functions. However, it is now regarded as a pseudoscience and is no longer practiced or accepted by the scientific community. The concept is often used as an example of how science can be misused or misunderstood when rigorous methods are not followed.