Bernard Hollander

Portrait of Bernard Hollander. Wellcome L0002614

Bernard Hollander (1864–1934) was a prominent British psychiatrist and author, known for his work in the field of phrenology, a discipline which involves the measurement of bumps on the skull to predict mental traits. He was born in Vienna, Austria, but spent much of his professional life in London, England, contributing significantly to the psychiatric and phrenological literature of his time.

Biography

Bernard Hollander was born in Vienna, Austria, in 1864. He moved to London, where he established himself as a psychiatrist. Hollander's interest in phrenology was influenced by the work of Franz Joseph Gall, the founder of phrenology, and his follower Johann Spurzheim. Despite the decline in popularity and credibility of phrenology in the scientific community, Hollander remained a staunch advocate for its relevance in understanding personality and mental abilities.

Throughout his career, Hollander wrote extensively on the subject, publishing several books and articles that argued for the scientific basis of phrenology. His works often discussed the relationship between certain areas of the brain and specific mental functions and characteristics. Hollander's approach attempted to modernize phrenology, integrating it with contemporary psychiatric knowledge.

Major Works

Among Bernard Hollander's most notable publications were "Scientific Phrenology" and "The Mental Function of the Brain," in which he sought to provide a scientific foundation for phrenology. He also explored the implications of phrenological analysis for education, career selection, and criminal reform. Hollander believed that understanding an individual's phrenological profile could lead to more personalized and effective approaches in these areas.

Legacy

Despite his efforts to revive phrenology, Bernard Hollander's work is largely viewed with skepticism by the modern scientific community. Phrenology is considered a pseudoscience, with no empirical evidence supporting its claims to accurately assess personality or cognitive abilities based on skull shape. However, Hollander's writings provide insight into the history of psychiatry and the persistence of phrenological thought into the early 20th century.

Hollander's legacy is a testament to the enduring appeal of phrenology for some, even as the field of psychiatry moved towards more evidence-based practices. His work is of historical interest, offering a window into the theories and practices of an era when the boundaries of science and pseudoscience were actively negotiated.

See Also

• Phrenology
• History of Psychiatry
• Franz Joseph Gall
• Johann Spurzheim

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