Sheldon's Somatotypes Theory

• Physical characteristics are linked to criminal behaviour
• There are three distinct body shapes; ectomorph, endomorph and mesomorph
• Ectomorphs; thin and fragile - fragile, self - conscious, emotionally restrained.
• Endomorphs; round and soft - sociable, relaxed and outgoing.
• Mesomorphs; muscular and hard - bodied - adventurous, sensation seeking, domineering and assertive.
• Uses a correlation study (connection between two things), he found out that many convicts were mesomorphic and they were least likely to be ectomorphic.
• Mesomorphs - likely to have a high pain threshold, be callous and ruthless therefore committing more violent crimes.
• Criminal behaviour is inherited.
• SUPPORTED - Glueck & Glueck - 60% of offenders in their studies were mesomorphs.
• IGNORES - Too simplistic - Glueck & Glueck - criminality couldn't be explained by biology alone - psychological and environmental factors also need to be considered.
• INFLUENCED - Helps us understand that labelling may be a part in the crime -> if mesomorphs are labelled as troublemakers then the self - fulfilling prophecy may occur.
• NOT ALL PEOPLE - Doesn't take into account that endomorphs and ectomorphs also commit crimes. Also fails to mention women and why they commit crime.
• NOT ALL CRIMES - Suggests mesomorphs take part in crime because of their personality being callous and ruthless, however not all crimes require this personality; white collar crime and technological crimes may be committed by ectomorphs.