Somatotyping was proposed by which theorist?

Somatotyping was proposed by which theorist?

• A. William Sheldon
• B. Clifford Shaw
• C. Gabriel Tarde
• D. Edwin Sutherland

Answer: (A)

Somatotyping is an old theory that connects body type to personality and behavior. It was proposed by William Sheldon. He argued that people with a muscular, athletic build—mesomorphs—tend to be more aggressive and impulsive, which he linked to a higher tendency toward delinquent behavior. He also described endomorphs (soft, round) and ectomorphs (thin, fragile) as having different personality tendencies. While this idea helped spur early thought about biology and crime, later research showed that such links are not reliable and that many factors shape behavior. The other names listed are known for different criminological ideas—Shaw for social disorganization, Tarde for imitation, and Sutherland for differential association—so they do not fit somatotyping.

Somatotyping is an old theory that connects body type to personality and behavior. It was proposed by William Sheldon. He argued that people with a muscular, athletic build—mesomorphs—tend to be more aggressive and impulsive, which he linked to a higher tendency toward delinquent behavior. He also described endomorphs (soft, round) and ectomorphs (thin, fragile) as having different personality tendencies. While this idea helped spur early thought about biology and crime, later research showed that such links are not reliable and that many factors shape behavior. The other names listed are known for different criminological ideas—Shaw for social disorganization, Tarde for imitation, and Sutherland for differential association—so they do not fit somatotyping.