Coverage of the Phineas Gage Story in Introductory Psychology Textbooks

Most introductory textbooks discuss the story of Phineas Gage and his terrible accident in which he survived a three-and-a-half-foot-long tamping iron that weighed 13¼ pounds exploding through his head. Twenty-three current introductory textbooks were analyzed for the accuracy of their coverage of Gage’s subsequent (post-accident) history and psychosocial recovery and for inclusion of recently discovered photos of Gage and the most recent digital reconstruction of the path of the tamping iron through his head. Although coverage was generally accurate when included, only half a dozen textbooks discussed Gage’s subsequent history or recovery. Inclusion of the photos and recent modeling work was also lacking. Explanations for these coverage deficiencies and suggestions for improved coverage for teachers and textbook authors are offered.