328 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 195 2 



of this subject have remained in a static state. The problems of human 

 growth should break down, to a considerable extent, this situation. 



The physical anthropologists are now studying gross morphology 

 of normal individuals and are comparing this with that found in 

 slightly abnormal individuals. This sort of information is giving us 

 a dynamic approach to our problem. The physical anthropologists 

 in recent years, under the leadership of Weigenrich, Broom, Dart, 

 and von Koningeswald, have been actively engaged in the study 

 of ancient man. There seems to be no particular agreement among 

 them as to man's exact origin. More practical problems in physical 

 anthropology have been approached by Hooton at Harvard. Such 

 vital studies as size and shape of gas masks, the dimensions of cock- 

 pits in airplanes, and dimensions of all types of garments in the cloth- 

 ing industry are practical examples in which the physical anthro- 

 pologist has played a vital role. Probably the most exciting type of 

 study among this group of researchers is the work of Sheldon in 

 establishing what he calls the three morphogenic types. They are 

 the endomorph, the mesomorph, and the ectomorph. From his studies 

 these three groups of individuals have general types of behavior 

 and mental outlook upon life. According to his classification, the 

 man possessing endomorphy is a rather rotund, jolly individual who 

 has a rather large gut and enjoys eating; in fact, he greatly enjoys 

 life. The mesomorph, on the other hand, is a muscular heavy -bodied 

 individual. The mesomorphs are the men who do the work of the 

 world — sell life insurance and in general see that the wheels of society 

 move along. The ectomorph, on the other hand, is a rather lean, 

 brainy individual, less given to physical activity and has tendencies 

 toward intellectual activity. These are broad general terms, and 

 when a single individual is being studied charts are so prepared 

 that the subject shows the greater emphasis in one type, but with 

 characteristics in one or both of the others. Psychiatrists have made 

 use of this classification. These groupings aid them in a general way 

 to point toward their diagnoses. 



Certain philosophers, especially the school led by Charles Morris 

 of Chicago, using Sheldon's classification, have shown that persons 

 with these different tendencies seem to have, in general, attitudes to- 

 ward life with a certain physiological and psychological bent. For 

 example: Morris, who has given us 13 ways for patterns of living, has 

 presented statistical data showing that these three classifications of 

 Sheldon follow within certain paths and ways of life. It is interesting 

 to see how a physical anthropologist classifies individuals into three 

 categories, then how this classification is taken and used by a phi- 

 losopher who has turned scientist (Morris) to study ways by which 

 man lives. These two systems — one by a philosopher-scientist and 

 one by a physical anthropologist — dovetail very satisfactorily. 



