Sheldon - Somatotypes

• William Sheldon


  Developed a theory that criminal behaviour is linked to a person's physical form
• William Sheldon's theory


  • Based on a meticulous examination of photographs showing the front, side and back views of 4,000 scantily clothed men
  • Identified three fundamental body types or somatotypes
• Somatotypes


  • Endomorphic (fat and soft)
  • Ectomorphic (thin and fragile)
  • Mesomorphic (muscular and hard)
• Endomorphic


  Tend to be sociable and relaxed
• Ectomorphic


  Are introverted and restrained
• Mesomorphic


  Are more aggressive and adventurous
• Sheldon found that many criminals prone to committing violent and aggressive acts were mesomorphic, and the least likely to be ectomorphic
• Delinquents rated higher on average mesomorphy (4.6) than college students (3.8)