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Professional Psychology: Debating Chamber · Psychology Journals · Psychologists
William Herbert Sheldon (1899-1977) was an American psychologist known for his use of anthropometry in the development of his categories of somatotypes.
Biography
Born in [Warwick, Rhode Island, Sheldon distinguished himself in both fields; in psychology.
He received a Ph.D. in psychology from the University of Chicago in 1925 and an M.D. from there in 1933.
He taught at:
- University of Texas in 1923-1924
- University of Chicago, 1924-1927
- University of Wisconsin, 1927-1930
- University of Chicago Theological Seminary, 1931-1938
- Harvard University, 1938-1942
- University of Oregon Medical School, 1951-1970
He died in Cambridge, Massachusetts in 1977.
Psychological work
Sheldon pioneered the use of anthropometry in the development of his categories of somatotypes and in his day was extremely influential. Through the use of many photographs and measurements of nude figures (mainly Ivy League students), Sheldon assigned people into three categories of body types in the 1940s: endomorphic, mesomorphic, and ectomorphic. He also assigned personality traits to the body types as well. Ectomorphics had fat, soft, and round body types, and their personality was described as relaxed, fond of eating, and sociable. Mesomorphics were muscular, rectangular, strong, and personality-wise were filled with energy, courage, and assertive tendencies. Endomorphics were thin, long, fragile, as well as brainy, artistic, and introverted; they would think about life, rather than consuming it or acting on it.
Sheldon's star has dimmed somewhat in recent years. By and large, most psychologists no longer accept the validity of somatotype theory.
Numismatics
In numismatics, Sheldon authored Penny Whimsy, the first work to extensively catalog the varieties of early American large cent. He also developed the "Sheldon scale" that graded coins on a numeric basis from 1 to 70 [1]. But [2], later revelations that Sheldon used his access to the American Numismatic Society's large cent collection to engage in theft [3] have called his role in numismatic history into question. Nonetheless, his "Sheldon scale" for coin grading is still standard today among American numismatists.
See also
Publications
Books
- Sheldon, W. H. (1954) Atlas of Men: a Guide for Somatotyping the Adult Male At All Ages, New York: Harper & Row.
- Sheldon, W. H. (1940)The varieties of human physique: An introduction to constitutional psychology (New York: Harper & Brothers,).