Phrenology: meaning, definitions and examples

The term 'phrenology' originates from the Greek words 'phren', meaning 'mind', and 'logos', meaning 'study of'. It was first popularized in the late 18th century by the German physician Franz Joseph Gall, who proposed that the brain is the organ of the mind and that different regions correspond to different faculties of moral and intellectual life. Gall's ideas were further developed by his followers, leading to a systematic approach to analyzing the skull's shape, which became known as phrenology. During the 19th century, phrenology gained immense popularity, particularly in Europe and America, often being used to assess criminal behavior or to justify social hierarchies. However, by the late 19th and early 20th centuries, it came under heavy criticism from scientists and psychologists, leading to its eventual decline as a credible field of study. Today, phrenology is considered a pseudoscience, but its historical significance remains as it opened avenues for the study of human psychology and neuroanatomy.

This word's position of #30,363 indicates it's among the more rare English words. While understanding it broadens your vocabulary, focus on more common words first.

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