PHRENOLOGY

n. analysis of personal traits according to the shape of the skull

Phrenology (from Greek: φρήν, phrēn, "mind"; and λόγος, logos, "knowledge") is a theory which claims to be able to determine character, personality traits and criminality on the basis of the shape of the head (i.e., by reading "bumps" and "fissures"). Developed by German physician Franz Joseph Gall around 1800, the discipline was very popular in the 19th century. In 1843, François Magendie referred to phrenology as "a pseudo-science of the present day" Phrenology thinking was, however, influential in 19th century psychiatry and modern neuroscience. Phrenology is based on the concept that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain brain areas have localized, specific functions (see in particular, Brodmann's areas) or modules (see modularity of mind). In other words, phrenologists believed that the mind has a set of different mental faculties, with each particular faculty represented in a different portion (or organ) of the brain. These areas were said to be proportional to a given individual's propensities and the importance of a given mental faculty, as well as the overall conformation of the cranial bone to reflect differences among individuals.
See more at Wikipedia.org...

Noun
1. a now abandoned study of the shape of skull as indicative of the strengths of different faculties
(hypernym) life science, bioscience

(n.)
The science of the special functions of the several parts of the brain, or of the supposed connection between the various faculties of the mind and particular organs in the brain.
  

(n.)
In popular usage, the physiological hypothesis of Gall, that the mental faculties, and traits of character, are shown on the surface of the head or skull; craniology.
  

Study of human skulls with the purported aim of learning personality traits and mental capacity. Phrenologic considerations include the shape of the skull, the size and location of protrusions thereon, and hair growth. Drs. F.J. Gall (1756-1828) and J.G. Spurzheim, coauthors of The Physiognomical System, were notable pioneers in the field.