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phrenology
phre·nol·o·gy P0271200 (frĭ-nŏl′ə-jē)n. The study of the shape and protuberances of the skull, based on the now discredited belief that they reveal character and mental capacity. phren′o·log′ic (frĕn′ə-lŏj′ĭk, frē′nə-), phren′o·log′i·cal (-ĭ-kəl) adj.phre·nol′o·gist n.phrenology (frɪˈnɒlədʒɪ) n (Medicine) (formerly) the branch of science concerned with localization of function in the human brain, esp determination of the strength of the faculties by the shape and size of the skull overlying the parts of the brain thought to be responsible for them phrenological, phrenologic adj phreˈnologist nphre•nol•o•gy (frɪˈnɒl ə dʒi, frɛ-) n. a system of character analysis based upon the belief that certain faculties and personality traits are indicated by the configurations of the skull. [1815; < Greek phren-, s. of phrḗn mind + -o- + -logy] phren•o•log•ic (ˌfrɛn lˈɒdʒ ɪk) phren`o•log′i•cal, adj. phren`o•log′i•cal•ly, adv. phre•nol′o•gist, n. phre·nol·o·gy (frĭ-nŏl′ə-jē) The study of the shape of the skull as a means of determining character and intelligence. Phrenology has been disproven as a science.phrenologya system by which an analysis of character and of the development of faculties is attempted by studying the shape and protuberances of the skull. — phrenologist, n. — phrenologic, phrenological, adj.See also: Headphrenology1. The study of the shape of the human skull, especially with a view to determining character.2. This pseudo-science developed in the 19th century and holds that certain characteristics—such as wit, normality, aggression or benevolence—are related to particular parts of the brain and can be recognized by bumps on the contour of the head.3. Assessing character from the presence of bumps on the head, developed by F. J. Gall in the nineteenth century.ThesaurusNoun | 1. | phrenology - a now abandoned study of the shape of skull as indicative of the strengths of different facultiescraniology - the scientific study of the skulls of various human races | Translations
phrenology
phrenology, study of the shape of the human skull in order to draw conclusions about particular character traits and mental faculties. The theory was developed about 1800 by the German physiologist Franz Joseph Gall and popularized in the United States by Orson Fowler and Lorenzo Fowler through their publication the Phrenological Almanac and other publications. Modern neurology and physical anthropology have refuted the theory and consider its use a form of quackery.Phrenology a false theory that certain mental abilities are localized in various sectors of the human brain and can be distinguished by palpating the skull. Phrenology was developed by the Austrian physician and anatomist F. Gall; it was especially popular in the first half of the 19th century, owing to its propagation by Gall’s student J. Spurzheim and his followers in Western Europe. Dozens of phrenological societies were founded in Europe in the 1830’s and 1840’s. Phrenological data were used to diagnose mental and character traits. The achievements of physiologists, for example, M. J. P. Flourens in France, showed the insubstantiality of phrenology, which nevertheless continued to arouse interest until the early 20th century. In the 1870’s a number of scientists, including G. Fritsch and E. Hitzig of Germany, developed theories concerning the localization of mental functions in various zones of the cortex of the large hemispheres of the brain. Their theories were sometimes called the new phrenology. M. G. IAROSHEVSKII phrenology (formerly) the branch of science concerned with localization of function in the human brain, esp determination of the strength of the faculties by the shape and size of the skull overlying the parts of the brain thought to be responsible for them phrenology
phre·nol·o·gy (frĕ-nol'ŏ-jē), An obsolete doctrine asserting each mental faculty is located in a definite part of the cerebral cortex, the size of which part varies in a direct ratio with the development and strength of the corresponding faculty; this size is indicated by the external configuration of the skull. Synonym(s): craniognomy [phreno- + G. logos, study] A medical ‘discipline’ popular in the 18th to 19th century, which was based on the now-quaint belief that there was a relationship between the structure of the skull and mental traitsphrenology A theory, taken seriously for a time in the 18th century, that human characteristics were reflected in the relative growth of parts of the brain and that these could be detected by palpation of the skull bumps which, it was claimed, conformed to the shape of the brain.Gall, Franz J., German-Austrian anatomist, 1758-1828. Gall craniology - an obsolete doctrine. Synonym(s): phrenologyphrenology
Words related to phrenologynoun a now abandoned study of the shape of skull as indicative of the strengths of different facultiesRelated Words |