THE MENTAL QUALITIES
We now approach the subject of the several particular mental qualities,
and the groups thereof, both in the phase of their inner states and that
of their outer form. In the consideration of both of these phases we
must avail ourselves of the investigations and researches of the old
phrenologists who cleared a path for all who follow. Although many of
the phrenological theories are rejected by modern psychologists and
biologists, nevertheless their work established a firm foundation for
the science of the study of the brain and its functions. And to Gall and
his followers we are indebted for the discovery and teaching that the
activity and development of the several mental qualities or faculties
manifest in outer form in the shape of the skull.
[Illustration: FIG. 1 THE MENTAL QUALITIES]
The general principles of phrenology may be briefly stated as follows:
I. The Brain is the organ of the mind.
II. The mind is not a single entity or power, but has several faculties,
stronger or weaker, which determine the character of the individual.
III. That each faculty or propensity has a special organ in the brain.
IV. The size of the brain (the quality being equal) is the true measure
of power.
V. There are several groups of faculties, and each group is represented
by organs located in the same region of the brain.
VI. The relative size of each organ results from the activity of its
appropriate faculty.
VII. The size of the organ is indicated by the appearance and size of
the skull immediately over the region of the organ.
VIII. The Quality and Temperament of the organization determine the
degree of vigor, activity, and endurance of the mental powers.
Modern psychology and biology claim to have disproven many of the
phrenological contentions, while other lines of investigation have given
us other theories to account for the phenomena first noted by the
phrenologists. Some investigators of brain development and action hold
that while certain mental states manifest in outer form on portions of
the skull, the phenomenon is due to the action of the _cranial muscles_
rather than to the fact of the localization of special faculties--that
each mental state is associated with certain actions on the part of
certain cranial muscles which in turn exert a modifying effect upon the
shape and size of the skull.
As Erbes states it "the effect the scheme of cranial muscles have had
and still have upon the conformation of the skull, and, consequently,
had in determining the location of those areas and in giving brain and
mind a character approximately identical from end to end of the scale of
living things possessing the cerebro-spinal nervous system. In so far as
the neural matter is dependent upon the cranial muscles--aside from the
sensory stimuli--so far, likewise are the psychic manifestations,
through tongue or limb, modified by variations in those muscles that,
after their creative task is done, assume a vasomotor control over their
respective areas." The same writer also says: "The cerebral mass owes
its location and subsequent expansion, moreover, in a measure that mind
owes its character, primarily to the action of the muscles attached to
and lying upon its peripheral covering, the skull; these same muscles
thereafter, through exercising a cerebral vasomotor control, act in the
nature of keys for calling the evolved dependent brain areas into play,
singly and en masse."
Others have held that the development of certain areas of the surface of
the skull is due to peculiar neural or nervous, activities having their
seat in certain parts of the brain adjacent to their appropriate area of
the skull, but these theories fail to explain the nature of the relation
between the mind, brain and the "nerve centres" aforesaid.
These several authorities, and others, however, agree upon the fact that
certain areas of the brain are associated in some way with certain
mental states; and that these brain areas register their relative
activity upon the areas of the skull adjacent thereto; and that the
_activity_ and _power_ of each brain area, or faculty, is denoted by the
_size_ of the associated skull-area. Thus, the outward facts claimed by
phrenology are admitted, while their theories of cause are disputed.
In this book we shall rest content with these "outward facts" of
phrenology, and shall not concern ourselves with the various theories
which seek to explain them, preferring to leave that task for others. In
considering the subject of the Outer Form associated with the Inner
State of Human Nature, we shall merely claim that _mental states
manifest in outer form in the shape and size of the head; and that
certain areas of the skull are thus associated with certain mental
states, the size and shape of the former denoting the degree of activity
of the latter_.
The general scheme of classification of the various mental "faculties"
of the phrenologists, and the names given thereto by the old
phrenologists, have in the main been adhered to in this book. In a
number of cases, however, we have seen fit to re-arrange the groups in
accordance with the later ideas of the New Psychology, and have given to
some of the "faculties" names considered more appropriate to the later
classification, and understanding of the mental state. Moreover, in
order to avoid the phrenological theories attaching thereto, we have
decided not to use the terms, "faculties," "propensities," and
"sentiments," in referring to the several mental states; and shall
therefore use the term "_Qualities_" in the place thereof. The term
"quality," while denoting "the condition of being such or such; nature
relatively considered," does not carry with it the theory attached to
the phrenological term "faculty." But the _locality_ of the several
qualities of "faculties" has not been disturbed or changed--the _place_
where each quality _manifests in outer form_, as assigned in this book,
agrees with that assigned by the old phrenologists, time having served
to establish the truth of the same, rather than to disprove it.
The following is the classification and terminology adopted by us in
this book in the consideration of the Mental Qualities. (See Fig. 1.)
I. THE EGOISTIC QUALITIES: Self-Esteem; and Approbativeness.
II. THE MOTIVE QUALITIES: Combativeness; Destructiveness; Cunning;
Cautiousness; Acquisitiveness; and Constructiveness.
III. THE VITATIVE QUALITIES: Vitativeness; Alimentativeness; and
Bibativeness.
IV. THE EMOTIVE QUALITIES: Amativeness; Conjugality; Parental Love;
Sociability and Home-Love.
V. THE APPLICATIVE QUALITIES: Firmness; and Continuity.
VI. THE MODIFICATIVE QUALITIES: Ideality; Infinity; and Humor.
VII. THE RELATIVE QUALITIES: Human Nature; Suavity; Sympathy; and
Imitation.
VIII. THE PERCEPTIVE QUALITIES: Observation; Form; Size; Weight; Color;
Order; Calculation; Tune; Time; Locality; Eventuality; and Words.
IX. THE REFLECTIVE QUALITIES: Analysis; and Logic.
X. THE RELIGIO-MORAL QUALITIES: Reverence; Mysticism; Optimism; and
Conscientiousness.
In the following several chapters we shall consider each group, in turn,
together with the particular Qualities of each group. _It must be
remembered that the power of each Quality is modified by the influence
of the other Qualities. Therefore in judging the character of an
individual, each and every Quality must be taken into consideration._