what does skull size have to do with intelligence?

Question

does the view that there is such a link have its roots in phrenology?

Answer 1

Ah, phrenology- the racist, propagandist, pseudoscience quackery of the nineteenth century- Yes, the view that there is a link between skull size and intelligence does have its roots in phrenology.

If I'm not mistaken, someone mentioned craniology. Craniology has certainly been used in order to "identify" racial "types". But craniology itself isn't negative, as it's merely the scientific study of the characteristics of the skull. It's what people do and claim with the data gathered (or supposedly gathered) that may cause/support racism (or other forms of prejudice). This is what phrenology has done (cause/support prejudice), as it theorizes that character, personality traits, and intelligence are determined based upon shape and protuberances of the skull.

Phrenology asserts that....

"The skull of the male is larger than the female. The skulls of different races and nationalities differ widely in form, and these differences are found to correspond with the known differences of racial and national character, such as the Italians gaining recognition as lovers and the British for their calmness. In the Caucasian, the forehead is prominent and high, the coronal region is elevated and the back-head (back of head) is moderately projected. The facial angle is approximately 80 degrees. The special organs in which the Caucasian brain most excels are Mirthfulness, Ideality, and Conscientiousness." (Leek, 1970 p.44)

To answer the first question- NO, skull size has nothing to do with intelligence. Firstly, intelligence cannot be measured with accuracy. How would any one person or group be capable of measuring intelligence independent of his/her/their own personal, cultural, and environmental bias? I challenge anyone to answer that question with absolute proof that such could be achieved. Secondly, while no one has concrete evidence that there isn't a possibility that genetics play some sort of role in intelligence, it can easily be argued that culture and environment are definitely factors.

The above applies to character and personality traits, as well.

I'm no expert, but....If intelligence, mental capacity, character, and/or personality could be determined based upon anything physical/biological then there would be little to no differences between certain groups of people. It's as simple as that.

EDIT: OOPS- What I meant to say is that, if intelligence, mental capacity, character, and/or personality could be determined based upon anything physical/biological, there would be little to no differences AMONG certain groups of people.
There would be little to no differences WITHIN physically/biologically similar groups but HUGE differences BETWEEN them. Such isn't the case, therefore culture and environment are our influences.

Answer 2

The linkage between skull size and intelligence was a theory that was popular in the 19th century. It was a flawed theory that directly catered to racist attitudes that caucasian people were smarter because of generally larger skull sizes in comparison with other races, often after packing the skull with seeds and counting which skull held more. Because a caucasian skull presumably held more seeds than others, the caucasian was somehow thought to be more intelligent because of the size of the brain.
This theory is bunk for many obvious reasons, not the least of which that if brain size was an indicator of intelligence, then humpback whales would be the most intelligent animals on the planet. This theory has been disproven for at least a century.
As for Phrenology, I would think that bumps on the head in relation to personality and intelligence are just as meaningless as actual skull capacity, but I admit that I don't know much about it.

Answer 3

What you are describing sounds like phrenology, which is a pseudoscience that says the structure of the skull determines a person's character and mental capacity. There's no evidence of this at all. Brain size basically doesn't matter for intelligence. How do you define and accurately measuring intelligence among animals, particularly among humans with different educational and cultural backgrounds? Also, there is the functional diversity and connectional complexity of the brain to consider. So, the answer is no - intelligence is not measured by brain size (unless there is some pathology like microcephaly). It also does not validate any sort of evolutionary theory - one race is not "smarter" than another race.

Answer 4

Craniometry is the study relating to the measurement of bones in the skull. I believe the answer to the question relating to modern man is no. It has been believed in the past and also has been a tool for racism. I remember from my criminal justice class (I think it was) that Lombroso claimed to have a profile of a born criminal by very specific measurements and body description. I just read a short paper I wrote on it while I was taking the class the other day. Also, the human skull has gotten bigger in evolution. I don't at all pretend to know the answer if you are comparing intelligence in species or even really believe that we can relate our intelligence to another species.

Answer 5

Nothing really, it's not directly related, but if you have a large skull, then you have room for a large brain, and the larger the brain, the more room for the wrinkle thingys(forgot the name), which are the actual memories/things learned. Intelligence is you ability to learn, so I guess it could factor in somewhere, but it rarely every affects people because generally the brain doesn't have any reason or way to get any bigger than the skull.

Answer 6

It has not proven to be true.
Phrenology is outdated.

Phrenology, which focuses on personality and character, should be distinguished from craniometry, which is the study of skull size, weight and shape, and physiognomy, the study of facial features. However, these disciplines have claimed the ability to predict personality traits or intelligence (in fields such as anthropology/ethnology), and were sometimes posed to scientifically justify racism.

Answer 7

skull size along does not determine intelligence, for instance an elephant has huge brain, but not smarter than human.

What matters is the ratio of the size of an animals brain to their body size.

However, for humans just because some one has a larger head to body ratio does not mean they are smarter.

Answer 8

skull size has nothing to do with intelligence. this came from quack science of the early twentieth century and bigots.

Answer 9

In my exprience it has nothing to do with intelligence. Some people can have big skulls filled with nothing but cobwebs.

Answer 10

I don't think it has anything to do with anything.
Although; Einsteins brain/skull was larger then the normal humans'.
soo.. who knows.