AP Psychology Practice Test

What was phrenology?

1. A division of the nervous system

2. A method to stimulate neural networks

3. A theory linking skull bumps to traits

4. An automatic response like a reflex

The correct answer is: A theory linking skull bumps to traits

Phrenology was a theory developed in the early 19th century that proposed a relationship between the shape and bumps on the skull and a person's character traits and mental abilities. Its central idea was that the brain is the organ of the mind, and that certain areas of the brain corresponded to specific traits and characteristics. Proponents of phrenology believed that by examining the skull, they could determine an individual's personality and intelligence levels. The other options relate to different aspects of psychology and neuroscience that do not connect to the core principles of phrenology. For instance, the first option discusses the nervous system's organization, and the second relates to neural network stimulation, both of which are based on more modern scientific understandings rather than the pseudoscientific basis of phrenology. The last option refers to reflexive actions, which are physiological responses that are distinctly separate from character analysis linked to cranial features. Thus, the correct identification of phrenology as the theory linking skull bumps to personality traits aligns with its historical context and significance in the development of psychological thought.