23 The rise and fall of somatomorphy Flashcards
What morphs are muscly and athletic?
Mesomorphs
What morphs are skinny?
Ectomorphs
What morphs are chubby?
Endomorphs
What is the assumption of constitutional psychology?
That mental function and body morphology are inter-related and should be studied together.
What were Ernst Kretschmer’s 3 body/mental types and their accompanying psychopathologies?
- Pyknic (stocky/plump) - gregarious, interpersonally dependent
- predisposition to bi-polar - Athletic (muscular)
- Ashtenic (thin, small, weak) - introverted, timid
- prone to withdrawn schizophrenia
Who developed the endo/ecto/mesomorph typology?
William H Sheldon
Why are endo/ecto/mesomorphs named as such?
Endomorphs – derives from endodermal embryonic layer. Dominated by stomach and intestines
Ectomorphs - derives from ectodermal embryonic layer. Greatest surface area and brain relative to mass. Thus more sensitive (more of them is the outside).
Mesomorphs - derives from mesodermal embryonic layer. Muscles, bones and connective tissue.
What system was developed by Sheldon to rate somatotype?
The 7-7-7 system.
Score out of 7 on:
- Endomorphy
- Ectomorphy
- Mesomorphy
What are the three temperaments that correspond with the three somatotypes?
Endotonia: love of relaxations, comfort, food and people. Biological introverts; social extroverts.
Mesotonia: assertiveness, competitiveness and a love of action.
Ectotonia: privacy, restraint and a highly developed self-awareness, mental stimulation.
What are Hippocrates’ four temperaments?
Sanguine (blood) - sociable and pleasure-seeking; impulsive and charismatic
Choleric (yellow bile) - ambitious and leader-like; agressive, energetic
Melancholic (black bile) - introverted, thoughtful, cautious; creative, innovative
Phlegmatic (phlegm) - relaxed, sluggish; kind, reliable
These are combined to give 12 dual components. E.g. phleg/melan; san/chol
How could environment explain somatomorphy?
People in active professions become muscular and more active.
How could evocativeness explain somatomorphy?
People behave as they are expected to based on somatotype?
How could stereotypes explain somatomorphy?
We notice more jolliness in the chubby; more energy in the muscly and more shyness in the skinny. Our interpretations of personality are affected by somatomorphic stereotypes.
