How did phrenology affect the treatment of mental illness?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Phrenologist
Phrenology, the study of skull shape to determine personality traits, influenced mental illness treatment in the 19th century by promoting the idea that mental disorders had physical causes. This led to more humane approaches, such as moral treatment and the establishment of asylums. However, it also reinforced stigmas and pseudoscientific practices, ultimately hindering genuine understanding of mental health.