Criminal Justice Practice Exam

Which theorist is known for studying the relationship between personality types and delinquency?

1. Sigmund Freud

2. William Sheldon

3. Cesare Lombroso

4. Albert Cohen

The correct answer is: William Sheldon

William Sheldon is recognized for his research that linked personality types to delinquency. He developed a somatotype theory that categorized individuals based on their body types—endomorphs, mesomorphs, and ectomorphs—and argued that these physical types could correspond with particular personality traits and tendencies towards certain behaviors, including delinquency. Sheldon's work suggests that mesomorphs, who are typically muscular and athletic, are more predisposed to delinquent behavior. His ideas emerged from a biological perspective, proposing that physical predispositions relate to psychological characteristics. This connection between body type and personality traits offered a framework for understanding the potential for delinquent behavior based on inherent physical characteristics. Other theorists mentioned have different focal points. Freud concentrated on psychological processes and unconscious motives rather than direct personality types. Lombroso's work was primarily focused on the physical characteristics of criminals and the idea of the "born criminal," linking criminality to biological determinism rather than personality types. Cohen examined social structure and subculture influences on delinquency but did not specifically analyze the relationship between personality types and delinquency as Sheldon did.