HOW TO READ HUMAN NATURE/PART 7
CHAPTER VIITHE MOTIVE QUALITIES
The
second group is known as the Selfish Qualities, and is composed of the
following particularqualities: Combativeness; Destructiveness; Cunning; Cautiousness; Acquisitiveness and Constructiveness.
This group manifests in outer form extending along the sides of the lower head
from the back toward the temples. (See Fig. 3.)
Fig. 3
THE MOTIVE QUALITIES
Combativeness. This Quality
manifests in a strong desire to oppose, resist, combat, defy, defend. Those in
whom it is developed enjoy a "scrap," and, in the words of the
familiar saying, would "rather fight than eat." When combined with
Vitativeness it manifests in the tendency to fight hard for life. When combined
with Acquisitiveness it manifests in the tendency to fight for money or
property. When combined with Amativeness it manifests in the tendency to fight for
mates. When combined with the family-loving Qualities it manifests in a
tendency to fight for the family. In fact, its particular direction is
indicated by the development and combination of the other Qualities. It
manifests in outer form at the sides of the lower-back part of the head, a
little back of the top part of the ear (see group figure), giving, when
developed, enlargement of that part of the head—a "broad back-head."
The "broad-headed" animals, birds, and fish have this propensity well
developed, while the "narrow-heads" have it in but a small degree. It
is also indicated by the strong jaw, and by the mouth indicating a "strong
bite."
Destructiveness. This Quality,
manifests in a strong desire to break precedents, doing things in new ways,
asserting authority, extermination, severity, sternness, breaking down,
crushing, "walking over," etc. Its direction is largely governed by
the other Qualities, as for instance in combination with Acquisitiveness, it
manifests in breaking down opposition and precedents in business; while with
large conscientiousness it manifests in tearing down evil conditions, etc., and
in doing the work of "reform." It generally is accompanied with large
Combativeness, as the two go hand-in-hand. It manifests outer form directly
above, and back of the top-part of the ear (see group figure).
Cunning. This Quality
manifests in a strong desire to be cunning, sly, close-mouthed, diplomatic,
deceitful, and generally "foxy." It is best illustrated by the
example of the fox, which animal combines in itself many of its qualities. The
coyote also shows signs of having this Quality well developed, as do birds of
the crow and blackbird family, and certain fishes. With strong Caution it
renders one very secretive and "close-mouthed." With strong
Acquisitiveness it renders one sly and tricky in business. With strong
Approbativeness it renders one apt to tell lying stories which magnify his
importance and gratify his vanity. With a vivid Imagination it inclines one to
draw on that quality and lie for the very love of romancing. It manifests outer
form a little distance above the top of the ear, immediately above
Destructiveness, and back of Acquisitiveness (see group figure).
Cautiousness. This Quality
manifests in a strong desire to avoid danger or trouble; carefulness, prudence,
watchfulness, anxiety, self-protection, etc. In excess it is apt to render
one fearful, over-anxious, and even cowardly, but in combination with other
Qualities it tends to give to one a balance and to restrain him from rashness
and unnecessary risk. Its direction is also largely influenced by the
development of other Qualities. Thus with large Acquisitiveness it makes one
very cautious about money matters; with large family qualities it renders one
very careful about the family; with large Approbativeness it renders one
bashful, self conscious, and fearful of adverse criticism. It manifests outer
form toward the upper-back part of the head, directly over Secretiveness (see
group figure), and when developed is apparent by the enlargement of the
comparatively large area covered by it. An old phrenological authority says of
it: "This is the easiest found of all the organs.... Starting at the
middle of the back part of the ears, draw a perpendicular line, when the head
is erect, straight up to where the head begins to slope back in forming the
top, and Caution is located just at the first turn."
Acquisitiveness. This Quality
manifests in a strong desire either to acquire, or else to hold property,
money, or general objects of possession. In some cases it contents itself with
merely "getting," while in others it also "holds on" to
what is secured, the difference arising from the combinations of the other
Qualities. In itself, it may be said to be merely the tendency toward "hoarding
up," but the combination with large Combativeness and Destructiveness
enlarges its scope and tends to make its possessor rapacious and grasping. It
is the instinct of the squirrel and the bee, and even the dog manifests it when
he buries a bone for future gnawing purposes. Those in whom it is developed in
connection with large Caution, manifest a strict economy and even miserliness,
while in others it expends itself in merely the getting for the sake of the
getting, the possessions often being scattered prodigally afterward, the
element of Approbativeness entering largely into the latter action. It
manifests outer form in the lowest-middle section of the head, directly over
Alimentiveness (see group figure).
Constructiveness. This Quality
manifests in a strong desire to invent, construct, build, create, put together,
improve upon, add to, readjust, etc. It manifests along three general lines,
namely (1) Invention; (2) Construction; and (3) Materialization, by which is
meant the "making real" of ideals previously
entertained—the "making come true" of the dreams previously
experienced—the materialization of the ideas, plans, and
projects previously visualized. This Quality causes the person to
improve, alter, tinker with, build up, invent, and create along the lines of
his vocation or avocation. These people find it difficult to refrain from
tinkering with, altering, or "improving" anything and everything with
which they have to do. With large Logic, Analysis, and Perceptives they
manifest inventive ability; with large Imitation they are fond of copying and
constructing after models; with large Ideality they work toward making their
dreams come true. This Quality is not confined to mechanical construction, as
the old phrenologists taught, but manifests itself in business literature, art,
and in fact in every vocation or occupation. With large Destructiveness,
it builds up new structures upon the ruins created by that Quality. In
persons of the Motive temperament it inclines toward mechanical invention,
creation and construction; while in persons of the Mental temperament it
manifests in creating and constructing ideas, thoughts, theories, scientific
classification, literary productions, etc., and in persons of the Vital
temperament it manifests in creating and improving upon things calculated to
appeal to persons of that class. It manifests outer form in the lower and
frontal part of the temples, backward and upward from the outer corner of the
eye-brow (see group figure). Prof. O. S. Fowler says. "In broad-built and
stocky persons it causes this part of the temples to widen and bulge out, but
in tall, long-headed persons it spreads out upon them, and
hence shows to be less than it really is." It is directly below Ideality
and in front of Acquisitiveness.
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