Aarushi was a friendly, outgoing and relaxed girl who could be described as fat, round and soft. According to Sheldon's typology, Aarushi falls under which category?
Answer & explanation
Correct answer: option 4
The correct answer is Option (4) → Endomorphic
Sheldon used body build and temperament as the basis of his typology: endomorphic, mesomorphic and ectomorphic.
Option (1) Ectomorphic — Incorrect. Ectomorphs are thin, long and fragile in body build, and by temperament brainy, artistic and introvert. Aarushi is fat and round, and outgoing.
Option (2) Mesomorphic — Incorrect. Mesomorphs have strong musculature and a rectangular, strong body build, and are energetic and courageous.
Option (3) Phlegmatic — Incorrect. Phlegmatic is one of the four types of Hippocrates (sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric), whose typology rests on the body’s fluids or humours. It is not one of Sheldon’s types.
Option (4) Endomorphic — Correct. Endomorphs are fat, soft and round, and by temperament relaxed and sociable, and Aarushi is all of these: fat, round and soft, friendly, outgoing and relaxed.
NCERT (2025-26): “Type Approaches … The Greek physician Hippocrates had proposed a typology of personality based on fluid or humour. He classified people into four types (i.e., sanguine, phlegmatic, melancholic and choleric); each characterised by specific behavioural features.…” “Type Approaches … Within psychology, the personality types given by Sheldon are fairly wellknown. Using body build and temperament as the main basis, Sheldon proposed the Endomorphic, Mesomorphic, and Ectomorphic typology. The endomorphs are fat, soft and round. By temperament they are relaxed and sociable. The mesomorphs have strong musculature, are rectangular with a strong body build. They ar e energetic and courageous. The ectomorphs are thin, long and fragile in body build. They are brainy, artistic and introvert.…” |