Sheldon “studied 200 boys between the ages of 15 and 21 at the Hayden Goodwill Institute in Boston and concluded that four basic body types characterized the entire group,” and through this study Sheldon believes he found the most likely body type to be the body to contain a criminal. Sheldon’s body types are: Mesomorph, Endomorph, Ectomorph, and Balanced type. Mesomorphs were “concluded the most likely to be criminal” (Schmalleger). Mesomorphs are characterized as “athletic and muscular, and large bonded,” Endomorphs are characterized as “soft and round,” overweight; Ectomorphs are described as “thin and fragile ‘poorly muscled extremities,’” and Balanced Type are “average build without being overweight, thin, or overly muscular” (Schmalleger). People believe that attempting to identify criminals prior to their criminal acts is an admirable endeavor, however, it does not seem to have any credence attempting to identify these potential criminals by their physicality, their genetic makeup, or other measurable ways. There are some possible biological processors to criminal behavior (such as XYY males, chemical factors, etc.), however, the social influences make the biological one’s pale in
Sheldon “studied 200 boys between the ages of 15 and 21 at the Hayden Goodwill Institute in Boston and concluded that four basic body types characterized the entire group,” and through this study Sheldon believes he found the most likely body type to be the body to contain a criminal. Sheldon’s body types are: Mesomorph, Endomorph, Ectomorph, and Balanced type. Mesomorphs were “concluded the most likely to be criminal” (Schmalleger). Mesomorphs are characterized as “athletic and muscular, and large bonded,” Endomorphs are characterized as “soft and round,” overweight; Ectomorphs are described as “thin and fragile ‘poorly muscled extremities,’” and Balanced Type are “average build without being overweight, thin, or overly muscular” (Schmalleger). People believe that attempting to identify criminals prior to their criminal acts is an admirable endeavor, however, it does not seem to have any credence attempting to identify these potential criminals by their physicality, their genetic makeup, or other measurable ways. There are some possible biological processors to criminal behavior (such as XYY males, chemical factors, etc.), however, the social influences make the biological one’s pale in