Have you ever been afraid of or attracted to someone just because of
the way the person looks? When you first meet someone, it is not unusual to
react to his or her appearance. But these are first impressions, and most
people assume that it takes time to find out what someone is really like. It is
possible, however, that a person’s appearance reveals more than we realize.
According to some experts, a person’s face, head, and body can reveal a
great deal about personality.
Since ancient times, people have practiced the art of physiognomy,
or reading character from physical features. The ancient Greeks compared
the human face to the faces of various animals and birds, such as the eagle
and the horse. They believed people shared certain character traits with the
animals they resembled. A person with an equine, or horselike, face was
thought to be loyal, brave, and stern. A person with an aquiline, or eaglelike,
nose was believed to be bold and courageous, as well as arrogant and selfcentered.
Physiognomists study such features as the shape of the head, the
length and thickness of the neck, the color and thickness of the hair, and the
shape of the nose, mouth, eyes, and chin. They believe that round-faced
people are self-confident. Prominent cheekbones show strength of character,
while a pointed nose reveals curiosity. Heavy arched eyebrows belong to a
decisive individual, while thin arched eyebrows signal a restless and active
personality. Almond-shaped eyes reveal an artistic nature. Round, soft eyes
belong to dreamers. Downturned lips reveal a proud character, while a long,
pointed chin indicates someone who likes to give orders.
A related — though not as ancient — art is phrenology, the study of
the bumps on the head. Phrenologists have identified 40 bumps of various