The Physiognomical Society

The Physiognomical Society was a 19th-century group focused on studying human physical features, especially facial characteristics, to assess personality traits or moral qualities. Rooted in physiognomy, the belief that outward appearances reveal inner qualities, the society aimed to develop scientific methods for such assessments. While popular in its time, its ideas are now considered pseudoscience, as modern research shows little evidence linking physical features to personality. The society played a role in the broader historical context of trying to understand human nature through observable traits, though its methods lack scientific validation.