How to Read Human Nature: Its Inner States and Outer Forms

by William Walker Atkinson

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.