Phrenology

GLOSSARY

A theory of brain function developed by Franz Joseph Gall in the 1790s. It maintained that mental faculties and character traits were localized in specific brain areas, whose development determined the shape of the skull. Phrenologists believed they could “read” people’s character and abilities by examining the bumps and depressions on their skulls.

A minimalist profile illustration of a human head with a purple geometric mosaic brain on a black background.
A minimalist profile illustration of a human head with a purple geometric mosaic brain on a black background.

Reference:

Mülberger, A., Balltondre, M. (2026). Phrenology. In: Teo, T. (eds) The Palgrave Encyclopedia of Theoretical and Philosophical Psychology. Palgrave Macmillan, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-70581-6_275-1