THE MODIFICATIVE QUALITIES
The sixth group is known as the Modificative Qualities (called by the
phrenologists "The Self-Perfecting Group"), which is composed of the
following particular Qualities. _Ideality_, _Infinity_ and _Humor_,
respectively. This group manifests outer form in the region of the
temples, and when large gives width to the sides of the fore part of the
head (See Figure 7).
IDEALITY. This Quality could well be called the "Artistic" quality of
the mind. It manifests in a strong desire for the beautiful, the ideal,
the elegant, the polished, the graceful, the refined. It is also closely
connected with the phase of mental activity called "Imagination." Those
in whom it is largely developed manifest the artistic taste and
temperament, the love of art, beauty and the ideal, the poetic spirit,
the love of the refined and choice--and a corresponding dislike for all
opposed to these tastes and qualities.
[Illustration: FIG. 7 THE MODIFICATIVE QUALITIES]
Spurzheim says of it: "A poetic turn of mind results from a peculiar
mode of feeling. Vividness, glow, exaltation, imagination, inspiration,
rapture, exaggeration, and warmth of expression are requisite for
poetry. Poets depict a fictitious and imaginary world. This faculty
gives glow to the other faculties; impresses the poetical and ideal;
aspires to imaginary perfection in every thing; creates enthusiasm in
friendship, virtue, painting, music, etc.; produces sentimentality, and
leads to delicacy and susceptibility. It often acts with Spirituality
(Mysticism), located adjoining it, in embellishing poetry with the
mysterious and supernatural. Practical exaltation varies with this
organ."
Combe says: "This faculty loves exquisiteness, perfection, and the
beau-ideal; gives inspiration to the poet; stimulates those faculties
which form ideas to create perfect scenes; inspires man with a ceaseless
love of improvement, and prompts him to form and realize splendid
conceptions; imparts an elevated strain to language, and shows a
splendor of eloquence and poetic feeling; and gives to conversation a
fascinating sprightliness and buoyancy--the opposite of dryness and
dullness."
In addition to the above characteristics, which are largely due to the
co-operation of Mysticism, Infinity, and Reverence, there is another set
of manifestations which were largely overlooked by the older
phrenologists--the activity of the Imagination in connection with
Constructiveness. This combination of Constructiveness and Ideality is
found in the great scientists, inventors, great financiers, and others
whose plans for "building up" show that Ideality has been also very
active in the direction of picturing "what may be"--the _ideal_ which
Construction makes _real_. In much mental constructive work, there is
found the artistic element, which arises from Ideality. This Quality
manifests outer form in the upper and frontal portion of the temples,
just where the head begins to curve upward, and just in front of, or
under, the edges of the hair (see group figure). It is just above
Constructiveness, and just below Mysticism and Imitation, a position
which throws light on its several phases of manifestation above noted.
INFINITY. This Quality manifests in a strong realization of the grand,
the majestic, the vast, the illimitable, the infinite, the eternal, the
absolute, the omnipotent, the omnipresent, the omniscient. It is the
realizing sense of The Great. Those in whom it is large are impressed by
the sublime, the majestic, the grand, in nature or in thought and
conception. Niagara; the great work of the architect; the thunder-storm;
the giant redwood of California; the ocean; or the thoughts of Infinity,
alike appeal to the one in whom this Quality is large. If Reverence be
large, the trend of Infinity will be toward religious ideas--the
greatness of God. If the intellectual faculties be in the ascendency,
Infinity will lead to high conceptions of Space, Nature, the Infinite.
If Ideality be large, Infinity will incline toward the grand and great
in art. If Constructiveness be well developed, Infinity will impel to
the creation of great works, enterprises, buildings, schemes, or what
not. Infinity influences everything in the direction of largeness and
greatness. This Quality manifests in outer form on the side of the head,
about midway between forehead and back-head, and about midway between
"top and bottom" of that part of the head which contains the brain (see
group figure). It is back of Ideality, and in front of Cautiousness;
below Optimism and above Acquisitiveness, on the side of the head where
the upward curve begins.
HUMOR. This Quality manifests in a strong appreciation of the ludicrous,
humorous, ironical, facetious, and raillery. Spurzheim says: "Those who
write like Voltaire, Rabelais, Piron, Sterne, Rabener, Wieland, and all
who are fond of jest, raillery, ridicule, irony, and comical
conceptions, have the upper and outer parts of the forehead immediately
before Beauty (Ideality) of considerable size." Combe says: "I have
found in the manifestations of those whose Wit (Mirthfulness)
predominates over Causality (Logic) a striking love of the purely
ludicrous; their great delight being to heap absurd and incongruous
ideas together; extract laughter out of every object; and enjoy the
mirth their sallies created; and therefore agree with Spurzheim that the
sentiment of the ludicrous is its primitive function." Those in whom it
is very large are apt to be regarded as trifling and undignified, and
people often lack respect for them. Those in whom it is weak are apt to
be over-serious and dreary. A sense of humor is valuable in many ways,
among which is its influence in letting us see the silly side of much
pretentious nonsense which might otherwise deceive our reason and
judgment. Many a solemn and dignified fallacy or error can best be
attacked through a laugh and a realization of its absurdity. This
Quality manifests outer form on the upper and lateral part of the
forehead (see group figure). It is just before Ideality and just below
Imitation. When large it gives a square and prominent shape to this part
of the forehead.