physio sheldon

Question 1

What is the physiological theory of crime?

Answer 1

Said that criminality is caused by the physical traits of an individual

Question 2

What is Sheldon’s theory?

Answer 2

He suggested that criminality could be linked to people soma types, their bodies.

Question 3

What is an endomorph? What are their physiological traits?

Answer 3

-round body shape, lack of muscle and wide hips
-social and outgoing

Question 4

What is an ectomorph? What are their physiological traits?

Answer 4

-thin, lacking fat and muscle, thin faced and flat chested
-self conscious and emotionally restrained

Question 5

What is a mesomorph? What are their physiological traits?

Answer 5

-muscular, strong limbs, broad shoulders
-risk taking and domineering

Question 6

Strength: what was good about Sheldon’s control group and sample size?

Answer 6

His sample size was around 200 people so there was space for a variety of results. His control group was students, non criminals which allowed for space for comparisons.

Question 7

Strength: why does Sheldon’s theory have real life application? What evidence supports his theory?

Answer 7

Could still be used now as a cause of criminal activity.
Putwain and Sammons confirmed a small association between soma types and criminality

Question 8

Weakness: why is Sheldon’s theory deterministic?

Answer 8

It dismisses any biological explanations, people’s body shapes change over time and it doesn’t take into account that peoples somatypes aren’t permanently fixed

Question 9

Weakness: why is Sheldon’s theory not the best to describe criminality? What better ways are there?

Answer 9

Glueck and Glueck found that the best ways to explain criminality is through biological and environmental factors