How did phrenology impact social issues in the 19th century?
Frequently Asked Question about the extinct profession: Phrenologist
Phrenology, the study of skull shape to determine personality traits, significantly influenced 19th-century social issues by promoting ideas of racial superiority and justifying social hierarchies. It contributed to discrimination against marginalized groups, including women and people of color, by falsely linking intelligence and morality to cranial features. This pseudoscience shaped public policy and attitudes, reinforcing existing prejudices.