How to Read Human Nature: Its Inner States and Outer FormsAtkinson, William Walker
Science
How to Read Human Nature: Its Inner States and Outer Forms
Atkinson, William Walker
Character; Personality; Phrenology; Physiognomy
ACQUISITIVENESS. This Quality manifests in a strong desire either to
acquire, or else to hold property, money, or general objects of
possession. In some cases it contents itself with merely "getting,"
while in others it also "holds on" to what is secured, the difference
arising from the combinations of the other Qualities. In itself, it may
be said to be merely the tendency toward "hoarding up," but the
combination with large Combativeness and Destructiveness enlarges its
scope and tends to make its possessor rapacious and grasping. It is the
instinct of the squirrel and the bee, and even the dog manifests it when
he buries a bone for future gnawing purposes. Those in whom it is
developed in connection with large Caution, manifest a strict economy
and even miserliness, while in others it expends itself in merely the
getting for the sake of the getting, the possessions often being
scattered prodigally afterward, the element of Approbativeness entering
largely into the latter action. It manifests outer form in the
lowest-middle section of the head, directly over Alimentiveness (see
group figure).
CONSTRUCTIVENESS. This Quality manifests in a strong desire to invent,
construct, build, create, put together, improve upon, add to, readjust,
etc. It manifests along three general lines, namely (1) Invention; (2)
Construction; and (3) Materialization, by which is meant the "making
real" of _ideals_ previously entertained--the "making come true" of the
dreams previously experienced--the _materialization_ of the ideas,
plans, and projects previously _visualized_. This Quality causes the
person to improve, alter, tinker with, build up, invent, and create
along the lines of his vocation or avocation. These people find it
difficult to refrain from tinkering with, altering, or "improving"
anything and everything with which they have to do. With large Logic,
Analysis, and Perceptives they manifest inventive ability; with large
Imitation they are fond of copying and constructing after models; with
large Ideality they work toward making their dreams come true. This
Quality is not confined to mechanical construction, as the old
phrenologists taught, but manifests itself in business literature, art,
and in fact in every vocation or occupation. With large Destructiveness,
it builds up new structures upon the ruins created by that Quality. In
persons of the Motive temperament it inclines toward mechanical
invention, creation and construction; while in persons of the Mental
temperament it manifests in creating and constructing ideas, thoughts,
theories, scientific classification, literary productions, etc., and in
persons of the Vital temperament it manifests in creating and improving
upon things calculated to appeal to persons of that class. It manifests
outer form in the lower and frontal part of the temples, backward and
upward from the outer corner of the eye-brow (see group figure). Prof.
O. S. Fowler says. "In broad-built and stocky persons it causes this
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