HOW TO READ HUMAN NATURE/PART 11
CHAPTER XI
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.
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.
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