A “pithecoid feature” in skulls confirming possible neuro-psychiatric disorders. The diagnoses of an anthropologist of the nineteenth century

Rosagemma Ciliberti; Anna Siri; Silvia Iorio; Liliana Lorettu

A “pithecoid feature” in skulls confirming possible neuro-psychiatric disorders. The diagnoses of an anthropologist of the nineteenth century

Authors

Rosagemma Ciliberti Università di Genova
Anna Siri Unesco Chair, Antropology of Health. Biosphere and healing systems, Dept. Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy
Silvia Iorio Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of History of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy
Liliana Lorettu Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences - University of Sassari -AOU Sassari, Italy

Keywords:

Giuffrida Ruggeri, aggressiveness, Structural Cognitive Modifiability, Neuroscience, epigenetics, violence, Determinism, free will

Abstract

Background and aim: The interest for the morphological research of degenerative signs aimed at identifying personality pathologies characterized positive anthropology of the late nineteenth century. The increasing exploitation of statistical-epidemiological methodologies together with the recent neuroscientific acquisitions, risk dangerous effects on mono-factorial models on the understanding of antisocial behavior. Methods: Through historical analysis of the research carried out by the positivist anthropologist Giuffrida Ruggeri on the lack of the glenoid dimple of the temporal of the alienated, the authors examine the criticality of rigid and one-way psychopathological interpretative approaches also in relation to recent applications of neuroscience. Results: Increasingly, the scientific approach seems to abandon an interpretative vision anchored to rigid biological and statistical parameters to embrace a dimension adequate to the singularity and complexity of man. In this approach, neurosciences contribute to supporting the circularity of the interpretative model of antisocial behavior. Conclusion: Far from a deterministic return that assigns a decisive role to constitutional factors, new knowledge leads us to reflect on mutual, continuous and harbingers of biology and the environment in the characterization of the human being, in a constructive dialogue with ethics.

Author Biographies

Anna Siri, Unesco Chair, Antropology of Health. Biosphere and healing systems, Dept. Educational Sciences, University of Genoa, Italy

The following are statements from the Authors:

The Authors certify that this paper consists of original, unpublished work which is not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors confirm that the information on prior publication or the submission elsewhere of any part of the work are not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests;
The manuscript has been read and approved by all of the authors;
Each author has offered its scientific expertise in the realization of research.

Silvia Iorio, Department of Molecular Medicine, Unit of History of Medicine, Sapienza University of Rome, Italy

The following are statements from the Authors:

The Authors certify that this paper consists of original, unpublished work which is not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors confirm that the information on prior publication or the submission elsewhere of any part of the work are not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests;
The manuscript has been read and approved by all of the authors;
Each author has offered its scientific expertise in the realization of research.

Liliana Lorettu, Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences - University of Sassari -AOU Sassari, Italy

The following are statements from the Authors:

The Authors certify that this paper consists of original, unpublished work which is not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors confirm that the information on prior publication or the submission elsewhere of any part of the work are not under consideration for publication elsewhere;
The Authors declare that there are no conflicts of interests;
The manuscript has been read and approved by all of the authors;
Each author has offered its scientific expertise in the realization of research.

llorettu

A “pithecoid feature” in skulls confirming possible neuro-psychiatric disorders. The diagnoses of an anthropologist of the nineteenth century