William Herbert Sheldon Research Paper
William Herbert Sheldon’s Theory: Somatotypes
Criminology 212, Semester 1 Professor Alan Skrocki December 7, 2009
Mr. Skrocki,
criminology
04 Dec. 2009
Somatotypes
William Herbert Sheldon was born in 1898, growing up in Warwick, Rhode
Island. He was an American Psychologist and a Numismatics. He wrote a couple books, two of
them being Penny Whimsy and Atlas of Men. William went through many years of schooling, all
paying off when he received his A.B. degree in 1919, his masters at the University of Colorado,
his Ph.D in 1925 from the University of Chicago …show more content…
They generally have small hands while having larger upper
arm and thighs. A large amount of their mass is located in the abdominal area. This type benefits
in sports where bulk is needed. A sport that needs a large lung capacity. And where they can
increase muscle mass more easily than the other two types.
The second body type is called Mesomorphy. This focuses on the circulatory system
(mesoderm) which has the tendency towards muscularity. It corresponds to being courageous,
having a energetic, active,aggressive, and assertive personality. Mesomorphs are also big risk
takers. They have a hard muscular body with a rectangular shape, a overly mature
appearance, think skin, a upright posture and they grasp the skin on the back of their hands. A
Mesomorph tans or detans easily. The men of this type usually have a “V” shaped for their upper
body and the females usually have an hourglass shape. They are adventurous, competitive, have
a desire to be in control, and indifferent to what others think and want. Types of Mesomorphs
would include triathlons, soccer, rugby and baseball players. They respond very well …show more content…
Along with the discrepancies
between the body image they think they have and their actual body image.
Another test was done at the Pennigton Biomedical Research Center in Baton
Rouge, LA. This test consisted of 536 adults ( men and women) who were from ethnicity of
African- American and Caucasian. The study of convergent was done. They found that the BMA
2.0 was reliable with valid computerized measures of discrepancy. It provided them with an
estimate of body size compared to people of the same gender and body mass.
The last test I am going to talk about was done at the University of Zagreb in Croatia.
This test took 15 sprinters, 16 endurance sprinters, 10 mid distance, and 13 long distance
runners. The body fat percent, somatotype and body mass was added up. The test showed a
Edge 5
difference within the different running events. There was no difference of the longitudinal and
transversal dimensions of the bones. This test also showed that the sprinters have a higher thigh
and lower leg circumference. For mid distance runners the test showed that they have a
Criminology 212, Semester 1 Professor Alan Skrocki December 7, 2009
Mr. Skrocki,
criminology
04 Dec. 2009
Somatotypes
William Herbert Sheldon was born in 1898, growing up in Warwick, Rhode
Island. He was an American Psychologist and a Numismatics. He wrote a couple books, two of
them being Penny Whimsy and Atlas of Men. William went through many years of schooling, all
paying off when he received his A.B. degree in 1919, his masters at the University of Colorado,
his Ph.D in 1925 from the University of Chicago …show more content…
They generally have small hands while having larger upper
arm and thighs. A large amount of their mass is located in the abdominal area. This type benefits
in sports where bulk is needed. A sport that needs a large lung capacity. And where they can
increase muscle mass more easily than the other two types.
The second body type is called Mesomorphy. This focuses on the circulatory system
(mesoderm) which has the tendency towards muscularity. It corresponds to being courageous,
having a energetic, active,aggressive, and assertive personality. Mesomorphs are also big risk
takers. They have a hard muscular body with a rectangular shape, a overly mature
appearance, think skin, a upright posture and they grasp the skin on the back of their hands. A
Mesomorph tans or detans easily. The men of this type usually have a “V” shaped for their upper
body and the females usually have an hourglass shape. They are adventurous, competitive, have
a desire to be in control, and indifferent to what others think and want. Types of Mesomorphs
would include triathlons, soccer, rugby and baseball players. They respond very well …show more content…
Along with the discrepancies
between the body image they think they have and their actual body image.
Another test was done at the Pennigton Biomedical Research Center in Baton
Rouge, LA. This test consisted of 536 adults ( men and women) who were from ethnicity of
African- American and Caucasian. The study of convergent was done. They found that the BMA
2.0 was reliable with valid computerized measures of discrepancy. It provided them with an
estimate of body size compared to people of the same gender and body mass.
The last test I am going to talk about was done at the University of Zagreb in Croatia.
This test took 15 sprinters, 16 endurance sprinters, 10 mid distance, and 13 long distance
runners. The body fat percent, somatotype and body mass was added up. The test showed a
Edge 5
difference within the different running events. There was no difference of the longitudinal and
transversal dimensions of the bones. This test also showed that the sprinters have a higher thigh
and lower leg circumference. For mid distance runners the test showed that they have a