Sheldon

• what were the 3 somatotypes Sheldon identified?

  endomorph

  mesomorph

  ectomorph
• what is the character and shape of a endomorph?


  sociable and outgoing

  round body shape with a lack of muscles
• what is the shape and character of a mesomorph?

  Muscular, strong limbs and broad shoulders

  sensation seeking, risk taking and domineering
• what is the shape and character of a ectomorph?

  thin, lacking fat and muscle

  self-conscious and emotionally restrained
• which somatotype did Sheldon make a link to criminality and why?

  mesomorphs

  their physical stature is beneficial in crime, more likely to engage in risk taking behaviours than other somatotypes.
• strengths?

  -been replicated by other people (Gleuk and Gleuk investigated the somatotypes of prisoners, 60% were mesomorphs)

  -Sheldon conducted other studies and found the most delinquent and deviant offenders were the most mesomorphic in body shapes
• weaknesses?


  -hard to dismantle relationship between body shape and criminality (likely criminality causes body shape) for someone to become a successful criminal, they might change their appearance to be more muscular so they are feared

  -relationship between body shape and crime might not be direct (WC males more likely to be convicted of a crime, their jobs would be physically demanding so their acquire the muscular physique so crime is more influenced by social class than body type or it could be a combination of all factors)