Characterology () is the academic study of character which was prominent in German-speaking countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries. It is considered an historic branch of

personality psychology Personality psychology is a branch of psychology that examines personality and its variation among individuals. It aims to show how people are individually different due to psychological forces. Its areas of focus include: * construction of a c ...

, which extended into

psychoanalysis PsychoanalysisFrom Greek: + . is a set of theories and therapeutic techniques"What is psychoanalysis? Of course, one is supposed to answer that it is many things — a theory, a research method, a therapy, a body of knowledge. In what might b ...

and sociology. The name dates from 1867, having been introduced by the German philosopher

Julius Bahnsen Julius Friedrich August Bahnsen (30 March 1830 – 7 December 1881) was a German philosopher. Bahnsen is usually considered the originator of characterology and a real- dialectical method of philosophical reflection which he laid down in his ...

, though the discipline itself dates back to

classical antiquity Classical antiquity (also the classical era, classical period or classical age) is the period of cultural history between the 8th century BC and the 5th century AD centred on the Mediterranean Sea, comprising the interlocking civilizations of ...

. In German psychology, the term ''character'' was often used in place of ''personality''. As such, characterology was the study of personality, its development, and its differences between individuals. The term ''personality'' however, which was dominant in English use, came to be preferred after the end of

World War II World War II or the Second World War, often abbreviated as WWII or WW2, was a world war that lasted from 1939 to 1945. It involved the vast majority of the world's countries—including all of the great powers—forming two opposing ...

. In the 1920s, the term characterology was appropriated by American writer Leander Hamilton McCormick to promote a

physiognomical Physiognomy (from the Greek , , meaning "nature", and , meaning "judge" or "interpreter") is the practice of assessing a person's character or personality from their outer appearance—especially the face. The term can also refer to the general ...

and phrenological pseudoscience. McCormick's views have further been regarded as

scientific racism Scientific racism, sometimes termed biological racism, is the pseudoscience, pseudoscientific belief that empirical evidence exists to support or justify racism (racial discrimination), racial inferiority, or racial superiority.. "Few tragedies ...

List of notable characterological psychologists

References

{{psychology-stub 19th century in Germany 19th century in science 20th century in Germany 20th century in science History of psychology Physiognomy

List of notable characterological psychologists

See also

References