Phrenology is the study of bumps on the head to predict a person's personality or behavior. It was developed in the late 1700s w
hen a German doctor, Franz Gall, discovered that many criminals had particularly bumpy heads. Gall believed that the location of a bump determined characteristics such as kind manners, criminal instinct, or musical talent. Gall primarily studied criminals or hospital patients with oddly shaped heads, and he ignored any evidence that went against his findings. Today, with the use of technology and repeated studies, we know that many different parts of the brain affect a person's personality and behavior. Is phrenology an example of science or pseudoscience? Explain your answer.
Phrenology according is the study of bumps on the head to predict a person's personality or behavior.
It is regarded as a pseudoscience because science involves having experiments and laws which can be replicated in any part of the world.
However Phrenology was regarded as a pseudoscience and rejected after scientists failed to replicate Gall's claims, and 200 years of subsequent neuroscience has shown phrenology to be false.
Sample Response: Phrenology is an example of pseudoscience. It is based on beliefs rather than facts. In addition, it is based only on criminals and patients with bumpy heads and ignores current scientific knowledge that many parts of the brain affect a person’s personality and behavior.
If the medical assistant noted irregularities in the heart rate when palpating the radial pulse, they would opt to take a patients apical pulse for a full minute to make sure they are accurately counting the number of heartbeats per minute.
