Delinquency and body structimre

After Lombroso's theory of born criminality was disproved, others continued to search for biological explanations of criminality. William Sheldon (1949) advanced the idea of body structure in terms of three general types: ectomorphs, who were tall, thin, and fragile; endomorphs, who were short, and fat; and mesomorphs, who were muscular and athletic. Sheldon noted that no one conforms exactly to any of these pure types. Rather, he thought the average person shows some combination of body types, although one type usually predominates. After comparing hundreds of young men — half of whom were known to have been engaged in criminal activity and half of whom, were believed to be noncriminal - Sheldon reported an apparent association between criminality and the mesomorphic body type. In other words, he found a link betw een criminality and a muscular, athletic body structure. Like Lombroso, however, Sheldon was criticized for basing his work on samples that were not representative of the entire population.

Further, more carefully designed research based on these basic body types was conducted by Sheldon and Eleanor Glueck (1950). The Gluecks also concluded that there is a link between criminality and a mesomorphic body structure, although they did not claim that physical characteristics are a direct cause of criminality. Rather, they concluded that the mesomorphic body type is associated with personal characteristics -- such as insensitivity to frustration — that seem likely to promote criminality. The Gluecks also noted the importance of social environment in explaining criminality; they found that young men with mesomorphic builds were typically raised with little affection and understanding from family members. Although these findings indicate that there may be an association between body type and criminality, they do not establish any causal connection between the two. Indeed, the association may very well have a social explanation. Young men with muscular builds have the ability to be the «bullies on the block», which some of them may become.

VII. Speak on:

a) Lombroso's theory of criminality b) Goring's research c) Sheldon's types of criminals d) the Gluecks' findings.

VIII. Express your personal opinion of brain drain problem. Is it as dismal as it seems to be?

IX. Translate the following word-combinations into Russian:

Detrimental brain drain; the rest of the world; to emigrate for good; temporary grants; scientific diaspora; exotic destinations; the process of intellectual migration; to create new communication technologies; some fresh blood.

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