Sheldon's Theory of Personality (Type Theory)

Intro

In the 1940's, William Herbert Sheldon associated body types with human temperament types. He

claimed that a body type could be linked with the personality of that person. He says that a fat person with a large bone structure tends to have an outgoing and more relaxed personality while a more muscular body typed person is more active and aggressive. A slim or scrawny person with thin muscles is usually characterized as quiet or fragile. He split up these body/personality types into three categories called somatotypes.

Endomorphic

An Endomorphic somatotype is also known as a viscerotonic. The characteristic traits of this somatotype usually includes being relaxed, tolerant, comfortable, and sociable. Psychologically, they are also fun loving, good humored,even tempered, and they love food and affection. The Endomorph is physically "round". They have wide hips and narrow shoulders that give a pear shape. They tend to have a lot of extra fat on their body and on their arms and thighs. They have skinny ankles and wrists that make the rest of their body look even bigger. The Endomorph is physically quite 'round', and is typified as the 'barrel of fun' person. 

They tend to have:

• Wide hips and narrow shoulders, which makes them rather pear shaped.
• Quite a lot of fat spread across the body, including upper arms and thighs.
• They have quite slim ankles and wrists, which only serves to accentuate the fatter other parts.

Psychologically, the endomorph is:

• Sociable
• Fun loving
• Love of food
• Tolerant
• Eventempered
• Good humored
• Relaxed
• With a love of comfort
• And has a need for affection

Ectomorphic

An ectomorph is the complete opposite of the Endomorph. Physically, they have narrow shoulders, thin legs and arms, little fat on the body, a narrow face and a narrow chest. They may eat just as much as the endomorph but never seem to gain any weight. They always stay skinny. Personality wise, they tend to be selfconscious, socially anxious, artistic, thoughful, quiet, and private. They always keep to

themselves and are a afraid to branch out.

Physically, they tend to have:

• Narrow shoulders and hips
• A thin and narrow face, with a high forehead
• A thin and narrow chest and abdomen
• Thin legs and arms
• Very little body fat
• Even though they may eat as much as the endomorph, they never seem to put on weight (much to the endomorph's chagrin). 

Psychologically they are:

• Selfconscious
• Private
• Introverted
• Inhibited
• Socially anxious
• Artistic
• Intense
• Emotionally restrained
• Thoughtful

Mesomorphic

The mesomorph is in between the endomorph and thin ectomorph. They have an attractive and desirable body. Physically, they tend to have a large head and broad shoulders with a narrow waist.

They have a strong muscular body and strong arms and legs and little fat on the body. They work

for the body they have so that they could have an attractive body.Psychologically, the mesomorph is adventurous and courageous. They are not afraid to break out and do new things with new people. They are assertive and competitive and have a desire to have power and be dominant. They love taking risks and chances in life. The mesomorph is somewhere between the round endomorph and the thin ectomorph. 

Physically, they have the more 'desirable' body, and have:

• Large head, broad shoulders and narrow waist (wedge shaped).
• Muscular body, with strong forearms and and thighs
• Very little body fat
• They are generally considered as 'well proportioned'.

Psychologically, they are:

• Adventurous
• Courageous
• Indifferent to what others think or want
• Assertive/bold
• Zest for physical activity
• Competitive
• With a desire for power/dominance
• And a love of risk/chance

Is This True?

Profiling psychologically based on physical features is very unreliable but these observations tend to be true. These patterns are noticed by society. Most of society would agree with these with these observations made by Sheldon.

The best approach is to use this as a test. When you meet a person who seems to fit in with the physical characteristics above, be curious to see if they also fit into the psychological profile. If it all works as predicted, then well and good (it may be that they are actually in a self fulfilling prophesy, where they fit themselves to the appropriate model). Otherwise, look elsewhere for ways to understand the person.

Sheldon's original work included attempts to characterize criminals (in the style of Lombroso's original work in this area). Unsurprisingly, he found that a number were muscular mesomorphs, as violent crimes are likely to be carried out by strong men. The trap beyond this is to assume that all mesomorphs are criminal in nature.