What does phrenology study?

Phrenology is a field that examines the relationship between the shape and contours of the skull and various aspects of an individual's personality and mental capabilities. This theory posits that different regions of the brain are responsible for different traits or behaviors, and that these areas can be assessed by the shape of the skull. Therefore, the study of phrenology revolves around the belief that one can infer a person's character and intellectual abilities by feeling the bumps and indentations on their skull, thus directly correlating skull shape with mental faculties. This concept fueled interest in the connections between physical attributes and psychological traits during its height in the 19th century, even though it has since been regarded as a pseudoscience.