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  • Essay / Phrenology and theory of phrenology by Franz Gall

    46). Based on a person's body shape and size, the theory will classify a person's mental tendencies into one of three categories known as cycloid, schizoid, and displastic. Cycloids are endomorphs, meaning a person has a soft, heavy body shape. Kretschmer noted that cycloids' personality traits range from normal to abnormal and that they are only capable of committing non-violent property crimes (Schmalleger, 2014). Conversely, schizoids possess a mesomorphic, athletic, and muscular body type, tend to commit violent crimes, and are more likely to be schizophrenic. Finally, dysplastics consist of a mix of body types, but are described as being very emotional and unable to control themselves. As a result, displastic sufferers would most likely commit crimes of passion. Expanding further on Kretschmer's work, Sheldon thought the age ranges of Kretschmer's studies were too