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#15 Study on Physiognomy

 


Lesson Objectives:

At the end of this module, you should be able to:

1. paraphrase the concept of physiognomy; and

2. rate the concept on human physiognomy in today’s generation of criminal offenders


ETYMOLOGY OF THE TERM PHYSIOGNOMY

 

Physiognomy—from the ancient Greek, gnomos (character) and physis (nature), hence “the character of one’s nature”. Middle English phisonomie, from Anglo-French phisenomie, from Late Latin physiognomonia, physiognomia, from Greek physiognōmonia, from physiognōmōn judging character by the features, from “physis” nature, physique, appearance plus gnōmōn interpreter (Merriam-Webster’s Dictionary).

Giambattista della Porta also called Giovanni Battista Della Porta, (1535-1615) an Italian physician and natural philosopher. He founded the school on human physiognomy. Physiognomy deals with the study of facial features and their relation to human behavior. According to Porta, a thief had large lips and sharp vision. Porta’s findings were in correlation with the argument of the Father of Modern Criminology-Cesare Lombroso when he said that criminals frequently have huge jaws and strong canine teeth, characteristics common to carnivores who tear and devour meat raw (Adler et al, 2010). His widely disseminated book on the subject, De humana physiognomia, was instrumental in spreading physiognomy throughout Europe. Illustrations in the book depict human and animal heads side by side, implying that people who look like particular animals have those creatures’ traits.

Two centuries later, Johann Kaspar Lavater (1741-1801), Swiss writer, Protestant pastor was able to revive the work of Porta (Adler et al, 2010)




Today, scholars are still studying the science of faces and how different traits, features, and expressions affect us. For example, it’s well established that faces with rounded contours attract us, because they signal childlikeness and evoke parental instincts. We even have a tendency to view “baby-faced” people as less likely to commit premeditated crimes. Unfortunately, if you’ve got an angular face, you’re probably a criminal.



Q1. Is the theory applicable in today’s society?
Answer: Not at all times, because some of the suspects nowadays are now pretty and handsome.
Q2. Why is physiognomy important?
Answer: It is important because it will serve as a meaningful course for examination to make clear
connections between the physical body and moral character.



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