The idea of a specific antagonist to Self-esteem was never entertained in the phrenological school, but it is obviously indispensable, for Humility, which gives an humble or servile character, and disqualifies for any high position, is as positive an element as the opposite, and is very common in the dependent and humble classes of society. This organ diminishes our psychic energy in proportion to its distance in front of the ear and qualifies for submission instead of command.
If we look for the seat of Modesty, we should look in front of the ear, but not so far forward as for Intellect. We would look near the horizontal line, not to the upper surface, and would see the propriety of locating it in the temples at the letters Mo. For its antagonism in Ostentation we should look to the occiput. That species of modesty which produces a bashful and yielding character will be found just below the horizontal line, while that form of modest sentiment which produces the highest refinement rises into connection with love at the upper surface. The organ thus runs obliquely upward, corresponding to the position of the convolutions. The antagonist, Ostentation, extends above and below the letters Ost. on the occiput.
If we seek the organs that impel to contention and combat, we would naturally look to the lower posterior region, but not the lowest. We find Combativeness behind the ear, marked Com. Its antagonist, which shuns strife and seeks harmony, must evidently be in the superior anterior region, and near the intellectual organs which it resembles in function by facilitating a mutual understanding, and giving a spirit of concession. The location is marked Har. for Harmony. It embraces a group of organs of harmonious tendency, such as Friendship, Politeness, Imitation, Humor, Pliability and Admiration, as the Combative group is hostile, stubborn, morose and censorious.
For the sentiment of Love we look to the upper surface of the brain as the seat of the nobler sentiments. Being a stronger sentiment than Harmony, it should be located farther back where we place the letters Love. Its antagonism must be on the basilar surface, and a little behind the vertical line, as Love is before it. This antagonistic faculty would domineer and crush. Its extremest action would result in Hatred. Its location is marked by the letters Ha. and Do.