Craniology (Noun)
Meaning
The scientific study of the skulls of various human races.
Classification
Nouns denoting cognitive processes and contents.
Examples
- Craniology played a significant role in 19th-century anthropology as a method for studying racial differences among various human populations.
- In the field of craniology, scientists collected and measured human skulls from around the world to determine correlations between physical characteristics and intellectual abilities.
- During the early 20th century, craniology's use as a justification for racism led to a significant decline in the study's reputation among scholars.
- Critics argue that the flawed assumptions of 19th-century craniology are responsible for its continued lack of acceptance in contemporary scientific communities.
- As an interdisciplinary study that combined elements of anthropology and anatomy, craniology influenced many influential scholars during its heyday in the late 19th century.