One’s personality and characteristics both come through nurture and nature; it is both innate and shaped by the society and everyday interactions. Due to the fact that it is innate and biological, it is possible to think that other innate characteristics can predict personality. For example, one’s physical characteristics might be a factor that determines his personality. Physiognomy, as Britannica Encyclopedia defines it, is the study of the systematic correspondence of psychological characteristics to facial features or body structure. This study allows people to make predictions about one’s temperament, personality, and implicit characteristics based on their physical anomalies. Moreover, it is possible to make predictions about one’s intelligence based on his physical appearance. Due to the fact that predictions are made based one’s physical appearance, for …show more content…
Many believers of pseudoscience intend to rely on these false beliefs since it comforts them or it is in their favor. However, due to the invalidity of these beliefs, it can raise social issues, such as scientific racism. This paper not only discussed the history and the origins of facial physiognomy, but it also discussed the social aspect of facial physiognomy. It explained how people are socialized to treat individuals within the boundaries of social stereotypes based on their physical characteristics. It conditions people to behave in certain ways. More specifically, the ways in which people expect them to behave. Furthermore, this paper thoroughly elaborated the dangers of refocusing on facial physiognomy. It brings painful historical memories, most importantly, the justified racism. Facial physiognomy is invalid and even threaten the social harmony that is established in our civilized