Physiognomy and Phrenology wrap up

Overall with Pseudo-sciences, I've been discovering that they obviously do not hold up to experimentation. I think that the reason people might have believed in this sort of thing is the argument from authority, of smart looking scholars telling them that it is true. Also, one can skim one of these books and say, "Oh, I'm smart, and it says that this aspect of my head/face means I'm smart, how canny!" Yet, most people do not delve in and really examine what the shape of their nostrils means. With much scrutiny at all, these 'sciences' fall apart. I was nearly wanting to believe them, because it 's fun to imagine you can determine people's personalities based on this sort of thing, but it just isn't possible. I'm a bit disappointed, and I fear that I am going to be doubly disappointed on my next experiment, contacting the dead with a Ouija board. I tried it out a bit last night, I will write a quick summary in my next entry.

Physiognomy Experiment

Sorry for the delay, things always take longer than you'd think. Tonight I will be posting a self physiognomy experiment, in which I analyze my own face.
Actually, I had someone else analyze it for me, because I figured they would be a more impartial judge than I would be. I will list some of the 'observations' that were made based on information from the book Amazing Face Reading - an Illustrated Encyclopedia For Reading Faces.

"slightly impatient
barely jealous and untrustworthy
very strong sex drive
very intelligent/high IQ
logical, abstract thinker
slightly unforgiving, mean, and miserly
slightly good moneymaking potential
very adaptable to changing circumstances
slightly pessimistic, immature, unpredictable
good at rote learning/memorization, general knowledge, literary quotes
somewhat zealous/firm resolve
somewhat cunning/sly
good stamina/will to succeed
chronic indecision/ defeatism
lacks energy
inclined to use authority with fairness
good common sense
somewhat friendly, easy going and approachable
cranky and idiosyncratic
haste for satisfaction
expect reciprocity in relationships, and a bit touchy
chilly, standoffish and remote
serious thinker at early age
strong feelings
intolerant - conservative
slightly discontent
people think you are trustworthy or innocent. "

Now, I read over this list, and decided with my friend how true each was on a scale of 1-3, and I calculated the percentage of correctness. I won't say which ones are true, because it's too embarrassing! (My blog, afterall.)

I got an average of 2.13 correctness, so only slightly more than half of the time were these ideas true. Overall, that seems as good a chance as just randomly guessing. 9 points were very true, and 4 were very untrue. The vast majority being "sort of true." I was rather underwhelmed again.

Phrenology - Experiment

It took a little longer to decipher these books than I thought, so today will be the phrenology experiment, to be followed by physiognomy experiments tomorrow.
I set to measuring my head, which proved difficult without calipers. I followed the instructions in the book Descriptive Mentality... Head Face and Hand by Holmes W. Merton (1899)
The instructions were very vague and poorly written. The names of the certain measurements were obfuscated, either on purpose or not. Once it would be referred to as "top head measurement" and later as "forehead measurement." After about an hour I was able to take all of my head measurements and determine what they were supposed to be. For science's sake, I will provide my measurements and notes here.

"measurement 1 22 inches (high medium or large)"

This was the circumference of my head, surprisingly not that big. I suppose this was probably designed with men as a base line. I have a very large head in reality. This measurement has little to do with anything, other than creating a proportion for the other measurements to go off of.

"temperament 1 14, 1/2 large"

This measurement was from the center of my ear to the top of my forehead and around to the other ear.

"2 15 1/2 (real big)
3 15 1/2 (pretty big)
(mental temperament)
(middle and second range of faculties strong)"

Here I have determined that based on these measurements which are basically the top of my head from the ear up from various angles, I have the "mental temperament," based on information from the book.

"measurement 2 6 inches?? exceedingly tiny
DEFINITELY not vital temperament
height from ear holes to top 5 1/4
side head slightly less than 12 inches, VERY small"

My strange head shining through. I can wear children's sunglasses, and yet I can't wear a lot of normal sized hats. This apparently means I am very un-vital, for what that's worth.

"estimative temperament
high motive and mental, low vital"

So I have determined my temperament, based on my having high 'motive' and 'mental' and low 'vital', which means I am intelligent and hard-working, but not very lively or healthy. That is in some ways accurate, but I am actually reasonably healthy. I was a bit disappointed that this is all that I was able to find out after all that measuring. This was the experiment I could most easily do with phrenology, because the rest of it requires one knowing what an 'average' head feels like, and the only people I know who would probably let me touch their heads are not very 'average'.
I guess these measurements are difficult and vague, because it is actually a lot easier to measure one's head than to do the more specific reading, so more people might do it. The more people who can do it, the more vague one must be for it to seem 'true.' Of course most people are going to consider themselves intelligent, or lively, or hard-working, so any combination of the three is going to ring true to most people.
I must admit I did try doing a more thorough reading on my head, and was only able to determine that I am apparently lousy at math, mechanical objects, and don't believe much in personal liberties. Not sure how true any of those are, more than an average person.
Something I am finding about these pseudo-sciences, is that prior to my experiments, I am more readily able to believe them than the occult subjects. I suppose this is how people believed them in the past, a scholarly person makes claims that seem reasonable, people are likely to believe it until they actually test it. Such is the definition of a pseudo-science, it seems.

Introduction

I eagerly begin this blog, where I hope I will be able to record some interesting thoughts about these fantastic topics. I am fascinated with credulity and belief, because I find it difficult to believe in things myself. I am most looking forward to conducting experiments, which I hope I will do shortly. For a preview of things to come, here are the topics I hope to cover in the following weeks:
Werewolves, physiognomy, vampires, humorism, magic, alchemy, ghosts, phrenology, demons, astrology and perhaps more. As for experiments I hope to cast a spell, read a fortune, use a Ouija board for a séance, read the lumps on my head and attempt to summon something. (For starters...) This blog will update at least twice weekly. So, welcome!