Sheldon

• Sheldon's theory- developed by William Sheldon in the 1959s, he claimed that criminal behaviour is linked with appearance.
• Sheldon saw criminals as physically different than non-criminals.
• Sheldon introduced the idea that different somatotypes/body shapes are linked to certain behaviours.
• Endomorph- lack of muscles, soft/round features. Linked with a relaxed and sociable personality.
• Ectomorph-thin, fragile and delicate. Linked with a self-conscious, emotionally restrained personality.
• Mesomorph- muscular with broad shoulders. Linked with an adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive personality.
• Sheldon examined 4000 students and criminals and rated their physical features on the mesomorph body scale.
• Sheldon found that criminals had a higher average mesomorph rating than students. The higher the mesomorph the more likely a person is to be a criminal.