Physiognomy or the art of face reading may be dismissed offhanded as a pseudoscience. Nonetheless, people practise it every time they look at each other for the first time. The first impression is important. In any face-to-face communication or exchange of words between two unfamiliar persons, the physical feature, especially the face of each one tells the other of something related to character and personality. An idea of the overall disposition of each other is gradually formed depending on how both conduct themselves.
Sure enough, if there is no involvement of personal interests, the tete-a-tete is likely to be unpretending and there is no attempt to present a contrived image. But the problem with modern people, particularly in an urban situation, is that the majority of them try to be what they really are not. Even a segment of village people have learnt the art of hiding their true sly self and presenting one of the ultimate simplicity and innocence. In urban space, the deception can be outrageous because the veneer of suavity and modesty is so subtly used to cover up the craftiness, complex and intriguing mind that the impression can be misleading.
Then there are the fogy minds and characters which put the other party in doubt and confusion. Much as these people may try to send their devious notions and features into the mental closet, they leave a trail for even the unsuspecting people to sense there is something foul. Something causes irritation even if they promise to maintain further communication or advance relations or have already committed to do some business transactions.
In case of romantic relationship, physiognomy certainly plays a crucial role. How the opposite sexes fall for each other at the first sight is indeed a mystery. Do physical features clinch the day for each? It often does. Or, there is a striking feature that one has discovered in each other. But the problem brews when the chemistry does not work for both. One may have found what one has been looking for until the fatal moment. The infatuation or attraction is so complete that the helpless one submits everything to the other with no hope of extricating from the charm. The other one may find such supplication unsolicited, allergic and even repugnant. How such a tragic mental tryst ends up is not beyond imagination.
Physiognomy has fallen to disrepute also because of misleading assessment of characters and personality. For example, some of the highly regarded people known for their intellectual enlightenment and creativity with not so good looking or impressive facial features have proved how misleading face reading can be. Similarly, people priding themselves with enviably fine physical attributes have hosted the worst criminal dispositions in them and often caused unbounded tragedies.
With its origin in ancient Greece and India, physiognomy enjoyed some popularity during Aristotle's time. The philosopher himself was attracted by this face reading practice. In India Siddhars defined Samudrika Shastra where personal characteristics were identified with body features. The art had its heyday in the Middle Age England. Even English universities had taught physiognomy before Henry VIII of England outlawed it in 1530 or 1531. But it witnessed its abuse in the 19th century when it served as the basis for scientific racism. At that time it was referred to as anthroposcopy. Another such art called phrenology also developed during this century. It judged characters on the basis of human skull's contours.
What is intriguing is that physiognomy has become a subject of renewed scientific interest with the development of artificial intelligence (AI). Since AI relates to machine learning and facial recognition technology, the algorithm of face may scan the inner minds in meticulous details. Collated, the data can tell a lot about the relations between facial features and personal character of individuals. However, such probe into facial features is likely to violate privacy of people.
Judging a person by the physical feature is, therefore, unacceptable. However much correct facial recognition algorithm may be, its wider use open up the vision of the 'Big Brother' that will be always lurking before every citizen. In case of criminal track records, some may be brought under the scanner. Even the conventional method of identifying criminals, con man, fraud or trickster is enough. People like Mohammad Shahed of the Regent Group ultimately get caught. So, AI use in facial recognition of character and personality, with rare exceptions, should be avoided.
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