Type Theories - Thiyagusuri

Type Theories of Personality (Galen, Sheldon, Kretschmer)

1. PERSONALITY
THEORIES
TYPE THEORIES
K.THIYAGU, Assistant Professor, Department of Education, Central University of Kerala, Kasaragod

2. Type Theory
•Type theorists have
explained personality on
the basis of physique and
temperament.

•Temperament refers to
emotional aspect of the
personality like changes
in mood, tensions,
excitement, etc.

3. Sheldon's Personality Theory

4. In the 1940's, William
Herbert Sheldon
associated body
types with human
temperament types
(Personality types)

5. Constitutional Theories
•Sheldon coined the term “constitutional
psychology” to capture the link between
personality and physical attributes

•Sheldon concluded that a relationship existed
between one’s body type and personality

•Physique and Crime

6. Personality Types
Sheldon’s Somatotype Theory

•Three main body types
-Ectomorphic
-Mesomorphic
-Endomorphic

7. Sheldon (1942) (Somatotype)
•He argued that an individual’s body shape
was correlated with their personality. From a
study of 300 male body types he characterised
three main body types:

•The Ectomorph
•The Endomorph
•The Mesomorph

9. Chaplin

10. Endomorphic / Endomorph:
(viscerotonic)
•Wide hips and narrow
shoulders (pear-
shaped).
•Lot of fat on the body
•Lot of fat on the upper
arms and thighs

11. Endomorphic / Endomorph:
(viscerotonic)
Psychologically
•Sociable
•Fun-loving
•Love of food
•Tolerant
•Good humored
•Relaxed
•With a love of comfort

12. Ectomorphic / Ectomorph:
(Cerebrotonia)
•An ectomorph is the
complete opposite of the
Endomorph.

Physically, they tend to have:
•Narrow shoulders and hips
•A thin and narrow face, with
a high forehead
•A thin and narrow chest and
abdomen
•Thin legs and arms
•Very little body fat

13. Ectomorphic / Ectomorph:

Psychologically they are:
•Self-conscious
•Private
•Introverted
•Reserved
•Socially anxious
•Artistic
•Emotionally controlled
•Thoughtful

14. Mesomorphic / Mesomorph:
(Somatotonia)
•The mesomorph is in between
the endomorph and thin
ectomorph.

Physically, they have the more
'desirable' body, and have:
•Large head,
•broad shoulders and narrow
waist (wedge-shaped).
•Muscular body, with strong
forearms and thighs
•Very little body fat

15. Mesomorphic / Mesomorph:

Psychologically, they are:
•Adventurous
•Courageous
•Indifferent to what others
think or want
•Assertive/bold
•Zest for physical activity
•Competitive
•With a desire for
power/dominance
•And a love of risk/chance

16. Fat vs Thin

17. Study
•In a study of 200
college students
and 200 male
delinquents,
Sheldon rated a
full-length picture
of participants
according to each
of the three body
types. The pics
were given scores
out of 7.

BUILD STUDENTS DELINQ
End 3.2 3.4
Ect 3.4 1.8
Mes 3.8 5.4

18. Kretschmer’s Classification
Born October 8, 1888
Died February 8, 1964 (aged 75)
Nationality Germany
Fields Psychiatry
Institutions Marburg University
Known for Typology

19. Kretschmer’s Classification
•Pyknic - fat body
•Athletic - balanced body
•Asthenic / Leptosomatic - lean and
thin body

20. Pyknic
•Sociable
•Jolly
•Easy-going
•Good natured
Manic Depressive Psychosis (MDP)

21. Athletic
•Energetic
•Optimistic
•Adjustable

Manic Depressive Psychosis (MDP)

22. Asthenic/
Leptosomatic
•Unsociable
•Reserved
•Shy
•Sensitive
•pessimistic
Mr. Bean
Schizophrenia

23. Dysplastic type
•UnProportionate body
•It happen hormonal imbalancement
•Personality are also imbalanced

24. Four Humors Ancient Greeks /
Hippocrates (400 BC) / Galen’s Theory of the
Four Temperaments (130-200 A.D.)

25. Hippocrates Galen’
Child expression

28. Sanguine
Choleric
Melancholic
Plegmatic

29. 23 faces

30. Sanguine /
Blood
•Optimistic leader
•Light hearted
•Optimistic
•Happy
•Hopeful
•Accommodating

31. Phlegamatic /
Plegmatic
•Relaxed and peaceful – calm
•Cold
•Slow or sluggish

32. Choleric /
Yellow bile
•Irritable
•Angry
•Strong with active
imagination

33. Melancholic/
Black bile
•Analytical and
quiet – depressed
•Sad
•Pessimistic

34. Facial Reaction
My face

35. THANK YOU
JAI BHARATH!