Wikipedia

Characterology

Also found in: Dictionary, Medical, Encyclopedia.
This article is about the branch of personality studies in German psychology. It is not to be confused with Physiognomy, which is sometimes referred to in similar terms.

Characterology (from Ancient Greek χαρακτήρ 'character', and ‑λογία, ‑logia) is the academic study of character which was prominent in German-speaking countries during the late 19th and early 20th centuries.[1][2] It is considered an historic branch of personality psychology, which extended into psychoanalysis and sociology.[3]

The name dates from 1867, having been introduced by the German philosopher Julius Bahnsen, though the discipline itself dates back to classical antiquity.[4] In German psychology, the term character was often used in place of personality. As such, characterology was the study of personality, its development, and its differences between individuals. The term personality however, which was dominant in English use, came to be preferred after the end of World War II.[1]

In the 1920s, the term characterology was appropriated by American writer Leander Hamilton McCormick to promote a physiognomical and phrenological pseudoscience. McCormick's views have further been regarded as scientific racism.

List of notable characterological psychologists

See also

References

  1. ^ a b
    • "Characterology". Merriam-Webster.com Medical Dictionary. Merriam-Webster. Retrieved September 28, 2020.
    • "Characterology". Collins English Dictionary (Complete and Unabridged, 12th ed.). 2014. Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
    • Popov, Iu. N.; Puzyrei, A. A. (1970–1979). "Characterology". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
  2. ^ Arens, Katherine (1986). "Schnitzler and Characterology: From Empire to Third Reich". Modern Austrian Literature. 19 (3/4): 97–127. ISSN 0026-7503. JSTOR 24647600.
  3. ^
    • Stone, Michael H. (1980). "Traditional Psychoanalytic Characterology Reexamined in the Light of Constitutional and Cognitive Difference Between the Sexes". Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. 8 (3): 381–401. doi:10.1521/jaap.1.1980.8.3.381.
    • Heidegren, Carl-Göran. "Social Characterology". Distinktion: Scandinavian Journal of Social Theory. 6 (2): 87–95. doi:10.1080/1600910X.2005.9672915.
    • Popov, Iu. N.; Puzyrei, A. A. (1970–1979). "Characterology". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
  4. ^
    • Popov, Iu. N.; Puzyrei, A. A. (1970–1979). "Characterology". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
    • "Typologies". International Encyclopedia of the Social Sciences. Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via Encyclopedia.com. A related historical tradition also going back to classical antiquity is the field of characterology and personality studies.
  5. ^ a b c d e Popov, Iu. N.; Puzyrei, A. A. (1970–1979). "Characterology". The Great Soviet Encyclopedia (3rd ed.). Retrieved September 28, 2020 – via TheFreeDictionary.com.
  6. ^ Stone, Michael H. (1980). "Traditional Psychoanalytic Characterology Reexamined in the Light of Constitutional and Cognitive Difference Between the Sexes". Journal of the American Academy of Psychoanalysis. 8 (3): 381–401. doi:10.1521/jaap.1.1980.8.3.381.
This article is copied from an article on Wikipedia® - the free encyclopedia created and edited by its online user community. The text was not checked or edited by anyone on our staff. Although the vast majority of Wikipedia® encyclopedia articles provide accurate and timely information, please do not assume the accuracy of any particular article. This article is distributed under the terms of GNU Free Documentation License.

Copyright © 2003-2025 Farlex, Inc Disclaimer
All content on this website, including dictionary, thesaurus, literature, geography, and other reference data is for informational purposes only. This information should not be considered complete, up to date, and is not intended to be used in place of a visit, consultation, or advice of a legal, medical, or any other professional.