William Sheldon

Somatotype – Physicality That Lets You Unleash Full Potential

The first step to a more fulfilling life is understanding your body.

Each person has a unique physique and physical traits. In constitutional psychology, our bodies can be divided into three somatotypes.

These categories apply to men and women. In this article, we’ll explain each somatotype in greater detail.

What Do You Mean by Somatotype?

As defined by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, your somatotype is your body type.

Understanding your type can help you determine the perfect fitness routine and nutrition. In addition, somatotypes are associated with certain types of behavior.

According to Dr. Sheldon, people with mesomorph body type need to be aware of their competitive spirit and ectomorphs may want to work on developing their assertive communication.

What are the three types of somatotypes?

All people are born with a unique body composition and skeletal frame. And yet, there are common characteristics that you can identify. In fact, there are just 3 somatotypes that group these universal physical traits.

The three main somatotypes are ectomorph, mesomorph, and endomorph. Dr. William Sheldon introduced them in his text on constitutional psychology back in the 1940s. Since then, the theory has been useful in determining individual fitness routine and nutrition.

What Are The 3 Different Body Types?

Here are the features that define ectomorphs, mesomorphs, and endomorphs.

1. Ectomorphs

Most basketball players and fashion models fit the ectomorph category. They are quite tall and lean with minimal body fat. Ectos are not muscular and they might find it difficult to put on weight.

This can be a blessing or a curse, depending on your fitness goals.

On the bright side, there are some quick exercises that can help ectos achieve their desired shape.

2. Mesomorphs

Many people assume mesomorphs are genetically blessed. And this is true in some respects.

Their bodies are inherently muscular and strong. In addition, mesomorphs find it easy to lose and gain weight due to their metabolism.

So, what do mesomorphs actually look like? Well, female mesos usually have an hourglass figure and the males are adorned with broad shoulders and narrow hips.

Mesomorphs usually get quick results regardless of their fitness routine.

3. Endomorphs

Imagine a NFL lineman and you’ll get an idea of what a typical endomorph looks like.

In general, an endomorphic body has both muscle and fat. Endomorphs put on weight easily but shedding the excess pounds is a completely different ballgame. Most endomorphs tend to be a bit rounder than other types, but this doesn’t make them overweight.

For example, Marilyn Monroe is a good example of a female endomorph.

Which body type is aggressive?

According to Sheldon’s theory, physical characteristics go hand in hand with personality.

Sheldon suggests that mesomorphs are usually considered the most aggressive of the three types.

And some may even argue that their uninhibited temperament makes them prone to problematic behavior and delinquency.

Either way, most mesos often display the traits of a “somotonic” personality. As defined by Dr. Sheldon, this means active, always on the go, and exceptionally assertive.

Should we assume that a person is prone to unacceptable behavior just because he or she is a mesomorph? No, because nurture plays just as big a role as nature. And it’s worth nothing that by today’s standards, Sheldon’s ideas on personality are outdated.

The final word

Getting to know your somatotype and everything that comes with it is just the tip of the iceberg.

Because the truth is, to let your full potential shine, you need a healthy balance of exercise and good diet.

As Jon Butcher, Author of Mindvalley’s LifeBook Program says, “Everybody knows how to get in shape. Eat right and exercise more. That’s the bottom line.”