Superiority of race by measuring nose, ear, body size, etc.?

Question

I remember reading about a procedure before WWII where people had parts of their bodies measured and examined to determine by way of statistics, what their tendencies would be, but then the practice was abondoned due to the way the n**i party manipulated it, among other tactics, to claim racial superiority, and was a part of the initial spark of the Holocaust. What was this practice called?

Answer 1

I think it was eugenics, but I could be wrong.

Answer 2

In the early years after Darwin espoused his theory of evolution, some skewed his thoughts in order to justify the opinion that they were part of a superior race.

They attempted to misuse scientific theory to justify their prejudices.