Criminal profiling: What makes them tick?

Back in the 1940s, an American psychologist named William Herbert Sheldon developed constitutional psychology—this theory that essentially links our physical body types directly to our specific temperaments.

People tend to label those with an Ectomorphic Body Type as being brilliant but prone to anxiety—it’s a common stereotype, isn't it? I've always found that fascinating, though I'm not sure if there's any actual science behind it.

Sheldon couldn't quite nail a personality test that actually backed up his theories with solid statistics. That said, his data did suggest there might be a link between a criminal predisposition and a body type that leans heavily toward mesomorphy while staying somewhere in the middle for an Ectomorphic Body Type.

If you haven't stumbled upon this yet, you really should—it’s a fascinating deep dive into how physical structure was once thought to link directly to personality. Constitutional psychology is a theory, developed in the 1940s by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, and while it's definitely controversial today, the historical context is wild.

"..The Ectomorphic Body Type focuses heavily on the nervous system and the brain—essentially the ectoderm. This physical tendency toward a slight build actually aligns with the Cerebrotonia temperament: those who are naturally artistic, sensitive, somewhat apprehensive, and introverted...."

Ectomorphic Body Type—it’s a fascinating subject, really. I was reading about how this physical structure ties back to those older theories from the 1940s, and honestly, it makes you wonder how much our builds actually influence our personalities!
I’ve always been a bit fascinated by the whole concept of being thin—it’s funny how much people obsess over it!
I’ve always felt that having an Ectomorphic Body Type—you know, that lean, slender build—comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially when it comes to certain silhouettes. It can be a bit of a struggle to find clothes that actually flatter your shape!
I’ve always felt that having an Ectomorphic Body Type—you know, that naturally slender, delicate frame—comes with its own unique set of challenges, though I suppose it has its perks too!
It’s funny how much people obsess over looking younger—I was just chatting with a friend about it the other day! Truly, though, there is such a deep fascination with maintaining a youthful glow.
Tall—just one word, really, but it carries so much weight depending on how you look at it!
I’d say he’s just lightly muscled—nothing crazy, but definitely fit.
Stoop-shouldered—just one of those physical traits that seems to carry its own weight, doesn't it?
A massive intellect—truly a rare find these days!
Associated personality traits:
I've been feeling incredibly self-conscious lately—just one of those moods where you feel like everyone is staring at you under a microscope. It’s exhausting, honestly.
I’ve always been a firm believer in keeping things close to the vest—there’s just something about maintaining a bit of mystery that feels right. Honestly, I prefer my privacy above almost everything else.
I’ve always been more of an introvert—just one of those people who finds peace in the quiet moments rather than the crowd. It's nothing negative, just how I'm wired.
I’ve always felt that being inhibited—you know, that feeling of holding back when you really want to lean in—can be such a massive hurdle. It’s like having one foot on the brake while trying to hit the gas!
Social anxiety—it’s a real struggle, isn't it? Honestly, I've been there myself—just feeling that knot in my stomach before stepping into a room full of strangers.
I’ve always felt that true creativity requires a certain kind of soul—it's more than just technique, you know? It’s about that raw, unbridled expression that hits you right in the gut.
It’s just... mentally intense. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit drained from all this.
I suppose some people just aren't built to wear their hearts on their sleeves—it’s a bit like that old theory from the 1940s by William Herbert Sheldon about how our physical makeup influences our temperament. Some folks are just naturally wired to stay composed, even when things get chaotic.

Check this out—if you’re interested in how body shape ties into personality, this deep dive into somatotypes is worth a look. It covers the whole spectrum of constitutional psychology, which was that theory developed back in the 1940s by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon. It’s pretty fascinating stuff!

Well, there you have it—just like that!😲😲😲

driftinggull21 said:I would prefer life imprisonment without the possibility of parole.
Naturally, an individual like Paravinja cannot be cured or rehabilitated; that isn't even what prison is for. The purpose is to isolate him and lock him away to prevent further crimes.

Look, I get that rehabilitation isn't the primary goal of the penal system, and honestly, I doubt any institution out there could actually change someone like him... but I also can't help thinking a death penalty might actually be more humane than life in prison. At the end of the day, society wouldn't be losing much; we just need him gone.

Zachary Kelly said:Look, I get that rehabilitation isn't the primary goal of the penal system, and honestly, I doubt any institution out there could actually change someone like him... but I also can't help thinking a death penalty might actually be more humane than life in prison. At the end of the day, society wouldn't be losing much; we just need him gone.

I disagree with the notion that the community wouldn't care, especially the parents of Antonija Bilić. He hasn't shown a shred of humanity yet; he continues to lie and manipulate. He needs to disclose the location of the body so those grieving parents can finally close this chapter of their lives.
He is a beast devoid of empathy or conscience. In my view, he deserves nothing less than the harshest possible treatment, let alone any semblance of humanity.

driftinggull21 said:

Personality tests should be mandatory and conducted periodically for every citizen. Over a few years, this would provide a solid data set for drawing meaningful conclusions.

God forbid.😲 We might as well just implant microchips or barcodes in us at this point.

Personally, I find it terrifying that psychology, as a science, cannot predict who will turn into a killer due to standard life stressors. It is akin to physics being unable to determine if a bridge will collapse. (The entire purpose of scientific theory is to predict outcomes that align with reality).

There are exact sciences and there are inexact ones.
Even if such predictions were possible, what utility would they serve? You cannot judge or imprison someone for a crime they haven't actually committed.

but you certainly can treat them as dangerous—which, in reality, they are. How that plays out in practice depends entirely on the specific state or the local culture. Even now, those deemed unstable face restrictions on where they can work—effectively being "punished" and having rights stripped away before an actual crime has ever occurred.

And there is really no need to make a scene about it. When an employer hands you a psych test, you take it just like you'd take a chemistry exam and move on. It's the same thing—just a different heading. There shouldn't be any drama involved, unless it's being artificially manufactured.

Zachary Kelly said:I know I’m probably going to get roasted for saying this,
but when you look at cases like Paravinja, I honestly think the death penalty is the most humane option available—
both for the individual and for everyone else out there... because let’s be real, it’s highly unlikely someone like that would ever actually come "rehabilitated" from prison or some state facility, which means they'd just stay a threat to society... and even if they did have some sudden moment of clarity or enlightenment later on, I doubt they could even live with themselves after what they did (assuming they even became "normal"), so I guess I see it as the only real solution..

I'm generally in favor of bringing back the death penalty.👍

silverwalker27 said:but you certainly can treat them as dangerous—which, in reality, they are. How that plays out in practice depends entirely on the specific state or the local culture. Even now, those deemed unstable face restrictions on where they can work—effectively being "punished" and having rights stripped away before an actual crime has ever occurred.

And there is really no need to make a scene about it. When an employer hands you a psych test, you take it just like you'd take a chemistry exam and move on. It's the same thing—just a different heading. There shouldn't be any drama involved, unless it's being artificially manufactured.

One thing is a job psychological assessment; another thing entirely is building a database on every single citizen. I suspect the next steps will be cameras in our homes, microchipping...
And what does it matter who works where😕, a crime can be committed by someone in the White House or a local baker, anytime and anywhere.

Such a system, if it were even possible—which fortunately it isn't—would be fertile ground for manipulation.
Let's go burn a witch before we all get trapped...

driftinggull21 said:One thing is a job psychological assessment; another thing entirely is building a database on every single citizen. I suspect the next steps will be cameras in our homes, microchipping...
And what does it matter who works where😕, a crime can be committed by someone in the White House or a local baker, anytime and anywhere.

Such a system, if it were even possible—which fortunately it isn't—would be fertile ground for manipulation.
Let's go burn a witch before we all get trapped...

The only real distinction here is the scale and how the data is organized. Just as an employer maintains a database of their employees, the government can maintain a database of its citizens. There is no fundamental or ethical difference between the two. If one is acceptable, the other must be too—in fact, the latter should come first (since the government is ultimately us, the people).

The specific workplace I mentioned definitely matters. In this day and age, if you fail a psych test, you're barred from certain professions. That effectively strips you of your rights—your constitutional rights. You could be the most innocent person on earth, yet still be forbidden from doing your job. To me, that is the perfect example of "burning the witch" before they catch us. It's just a very efficient, widely accepted, and "justified" way to do it.

silverwalker27 said:The only real distinction here is the scale and how the data is organized. Just as an employer maintains a database of their employees, the government can maintain a database of its citizens. There is no fundamental or ethical difference between the two. If one is acceptable, the other must be too—in fact, the latter should come first (since the government is ultimately us, the people).

The specific workplace I mentioned definitely matters. In this day and age, if you fail a psych test, you're barred from certain professions. That effectively strips you of your rights—your constitutional rights. You could be the most innocent person on earth, yet still be forbidden from doing your job. To me, that is the perfect example of "burning the witch" before they catch us. It's just a very efficient, widely accepted, and "justified" way to do it.

Of course an alcoholic cannot work air traffic control, yet someone with a personality disorder might.

Job testing is technically optional; in reality, it’s just a way to ensure you don't get hired.

driftinggull21 said:Of course an alcoholic cannot work air traffic control, yet someone with a personality disorder might.

Job testing is technically optional; in reality, it’s just a way to ensure you don't get hired.

The principle remains the same—it's what matters.

If I were in charge:

1. Implement systematic psychological screening for all citizens.
2. Push for progress and new paradigms in psychology—current theories are far too shaky. On one hand, we have a hyperinflation of "disorders," yet on the other, we fail to detect actual killers. It simply isn't working.
3. Expand current legal frameworks to allow society to preventively restrict certain rights for dangerous individuals.

Number two is the key, dear psychologists. Everything else will follow easily—just give us a reliable litmus test to identify those who are truly dangerous.

Edward Booth9 said:A couple of days ago, I was scrolling through USA Today and stumbled upon this commentary from some physiotherapist or whatever... they were trying to claim that Paravinja is an ectomorph just because he’s thin and lanky. Their whole argument? That because of his body type, he basically lacks the willpower to suppress his impulses, which is why he did what he did. It felt a bit off to me.

Has anyone else run into this kind of thing? Every time I try to look up "ectomorph" on Google, all I get is stuff about body types for athletes or bodybuilding enthusiasts. There isn't anything connecting physical build to psychological states or impulse control.

Edward Booth9 said:I was just digging through the trash earlier—not from USA Today, mind you, but a July 3rd, 2011 edition of the New York Post where Ljiljana buhač, who works as a communications consultant and physiognomy trainer, wrote this piece.

...Paravinja falls under the ectomorph personality type. They’re characterized by a thin, almost gaunt appearance. People of this type tend to be hypersensitive, mostly because they have such a large surface area relative to their body mass. They possess intense nervous energy, struggle to relax, and can be intellectually volatile. It’s difficult for them to find harmony between mind and body, making them prone to fragmentation. They deal with deep insecurities, often masking them through aggression or violence. Emotionally, they can be stunted or schizoid. In these types, the connection between head and body seems severed; they often have elongated necks and heads that tilt away from the body's central axis...

So, basically, all that fluff is just a way to sell a column?

Man, honestly, it feels like everyone is pushing that psychology stuff lately. It's getting ridiculous! And what’s even worse? Every single news outlet out there will interview just about any random idiot to get their "opinion."
Communication skills coach and physiognomy expert! 🤦
Man, her rant about Ectomorphic Body Types was just next-level. Such a massive, vulgar generalization. Seriously... wow.

silverwalker27 said:Personality tests should be conducted periodically and mandated for every citizen—it would provide a solid foundation for drawing meaningful conclusions after a few years.

To be honest, I find it quite unsettling that psychology, as a scientific discipline, cannot predict who might turn into a killer due to standard life stressors. It’s essentially like physics being unable to determine if a bridge is going to collapse or not. (After all, the entire purpose of scientific theories is to forecast outcomes and ensure those results align with reality.)

Honestly, it scares the hell out of me. I can't believe someone could actually say something like that and still be walking around today!
Drawing a parallel between psychology and physics? Now that’s impressive.

silverwalker27 said:The principle remains the same—it's what matters.

If I were in charge:

1. Implement systematic psychological screening for all citizens.
2. Push for progress and new paradigms in psychology—current theories are far too shaky. On one hand, we have a hyperinflation of "disorders," yet on the other, we fail to detect actual killers. It simply isn't working.
3. Expand current legal frameworks to allow society to preventively restrict certain rights for dangerous individuals.

Number two is the key, dear psychologists. Everything else will follow easily—just give us a reliable litmus test to identify those who are truly dangerous.

I don't know how many sci-fi movies you've been binge-watching lately, but this mashup of Minority Report, Equilibrium, and Gattaca is just terrible. Especially item three—that one is actually hilarious.
Is this really what someone out there wants for humanity? Total robotization? A wonderful New World?

fadedbear92 said:Back in the 1940s, an American psychologist named William Herbert Sheldon developed constitutional psychology—this theory that essentially links our physical body types directly to our specific temperaments.

People tend to label those with an Ectomorphic Body Type as being brilliant but prone to anxiety—it’s a common stereotype, isn't it? I've always found that fascinating, though I'm not sure if there's any actual science behind it.

Sheldon couldn't quite nail a personality test that actually backed up his theories with solid statistics. That said, his data did suggest there might be a link between a criminal predisposition and a body type that leans heavily toward mesomorphy while staying somewhere in the middle for an Ectomorphic Body Type.

If you haven't stumbled upon this yet, you really should—it’s a fascinating deep dive into how physical structure was once thought to link directly to personality. Constitutional psychology is a theory, developed in the 1940s by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon, and while it's definitely controversial today, the historical context is wild.

"..The Ectomorphic Body Type focuses heavily on the nervous system and the brain—essentially the ectoderm. This physical tendency toward a slight build actually aligns with the Cerebrotonia temperament: those who are naturally artistic, sensitive, somewhat apprehensive, and introverted...."

Ectomorphic Body Type—it’s a fascinating subject, really. I was reading about how this physical structure ties back to those older theories from the 1940s, and honestly, it makes you wonder how much our builds actually influence our personalities!
I’ve always been a bit fascinated by the whole concept of being thin—it’s funny how much people obsess over it!
I’ve always felt that having an Ectomorphic Body Type—you know, that lean, slender build—comes with its own set of unique challenges, especially when it comes to certain silhouettes. It can be a bit of a struggle to find clothes that actually flatter your shape!
I’ve always felt that having an Ectomorphic Body Type—you know, that naturally slender, delicate frame—comes with its own unique set of challenges, though I suppose it has its perks too!
It’s funny how much people obsess over looking younger—I was just chatting with a friend about it the other day! Truly, though, there is such a deep fascination with maintaining a youthful glow.
Tall—just one word, really, but it carries so much weight depending on how you look at it!
I’d say he’s just lightly muscled—nothing crazy, but definitely fit.
Stoop-shouldered—just one of those physical traits that seems to carry its own weight, doesn't it?
A massive intellect—truly a rare find these days!
Associated personality traits:
I've been feeling incredibly self-conscious lately—just one of those moods where you feel like everyone is staring at you under a microscope. It’s exhausting, honestly.
I’ve always been a firm believer in keeping things close to the vest—there’s just something about maintaining a bit of mystery that feels right. Honestly, I prefer my privacy above almost everything else.
I’ve always been more of an introvert—just one of those people who finds peace in the quiet moments rather than the crowd. It's nothing negative, just how I'm wired.
I’ve always felt that being inhibited—you know, that feeling of holding back when you really want to lean in—can be such a massive hurdle. It’s like having one foot on the brake while trying to hit the gas!
Social anxiety—it’s a real struggle, isn't it? Honestly, I've been there myself—just feeling that knot in my stomach before stepping into a room full of strangers.
I’ve always felt that true creativity requires a certain kind of soul—it's more than just technique, you know? It’s about that raw, unbridled expression that hits you right in the gut.
It’s just... mentally intense. Honestly, I’m feeling a bit drained from all this.
I suppose some people just aren't built to wear their hearts on their sleeves—it’s a bit like that old theory from the 1940s by William Herbert Sheldon about how our physical makeup influences our temperament. Some folks are just naturally wired to stay composed, even when things get chaotic.

Check this out—if you’re interested in how body shape ties into personality, this deep dive into somatotypes is worth a look. It covers the whole spectrum of constitutional psychology, which was that theory developed back in the 1940s by American psychologist William Herbert Sheldon. It’s pretty fascinating stuff!

Well, there you have it—just like that!😲😲😲

Honestly, the whole thing just feels like astrology to me—and I absolutely despise that stuff...☕

I am under the impression—though I realize this is a generalization—that most mass shooters tend to share a somewhat similar psychological profile. Now, I’m certainly not suggesting that possessing these specific symptoms automatically turns someone into a killer; that would be a massive leap in logic. It seems more likely that many of them exhibit significantly more aggressive tendencies during their childhood, which then persist through adolescence before they eventually decide to act on them. From what I gather, a majority struggle with manic depression, possess an extreme sensitivity to criticism, or perhaps harbor an excessive level of ambition—only to later blame society at large for their own personal failures. There are also reports of them experiencing sexual arousal during the commission of the crime, and I suppose there could be other factors involved as well...

silverwalker27 said:Personality tests should be conducted periodically and mandated for every citizen—it would provide a solid foundation for drawing meaningful conclusions after a few years.

To be honest, I find it quite unsettling that psychology, as a scientific discipline, cannot predict who might turn into a killer due to standard life stressors. It’s essentially like physics being unable to determine if a bridge is going to collapse or not. (After all, the entire purpose of scientific theories is to forecast outcomes and ensure those results align with reality.)

Man, what I just read actually gave me chills...
How on earth can you even compare a bridge to the human brain??? The human brain is easily the most sophisticated, intricate structure in existence.
You can predict how a bridge behaves because it follows specific laws of physics that actually make sense—laws that are more or less the same for every bridge out there. But the behavior and reactions of a human brain? You'll never be able to predict that with certainty because of pure individuality, sheer complexity, and the fact that there aren't universal "laws" that govern how every single person reacts to things...
And let's not forget, we still barely even understand how the brain works to begin with...

Charles Gomez10 said:Honestly, the whole thing just feels like astrology to me—and I absolutely despise that stuff...☕

I feel the exact same way—no worries there!😁

silverwalker27 said:Personality tests should be conducted periodically and mandated for every citizen—it would provide a solid foundation for drawing meaningful conclusions after a few years.

To be honest, I find it quite unsettling that psychology, as a scientific discipline, cannot predict who might turn into a killer due to standard life stressors. It’s essentially like physics being unable to determine if a bridge is going to collapse or not. (After all, the entire purpose of scientific theories is to forecast outcomes and ensure those results align with reality.)

And you really think the "best" ones—the smartest among potential killers—wouldn't pass a psych test looking perfectly normal? 🤷 That's exactly why psychiatrists struggle with them. We're talking about damn intelligent people here.

And obviously, this whole theory about predicting crime is total garbage, because at the end of the day, perfectly normal people can crack for a million different reasons.

Psihič: Paravinja is above average in intelligence, socially deviant, and manipulative

Just wanted to circle back to my point—what I was getting at is that criminal behavior is pretty much biologically hardwired. It’s linked to how the adrenal glands pump out cortisol, that stress hormone. It basically works in opposition to testosterone. In most people, cortisol levels spike when things get tense or stressful, but for folks prone to vandalism or sadism, those levels might actually drop or just stay weirdly low. I guess you could say these types are just... numb. Or, if we're being blunt, just thick-headed. Since they need way higher amounts of that hormone just to feel fear or any kind of emotional buzz, it happens that someone else's suffering doesn't move the needle for them at all. With hardcore sadists, their blood cortisol is so low that they might only feel an emotional spark when they're actually causing pain.

So, does this mean we could eventually treat antisocial and psychopathic disorders with hormone therapy?? If it's a known thing that extremely low cortisol levels "create" criminals, why aren't they trying to fix it by injecting cortisol into the system?🙏
Has anyone heard if any experiments like that have actually happened yet? And if so, what was the outcome?

Personally, I think it's a toss-up between genetics and the environment a criminal grows up in. I was reading this book about serial killers, and it seems like most of them had pretty traumatic childhoods. A lot of them even dealt with serious head injuries growing up, which triggered some massive personality shifts afterward.

But then again, the fact that some people have perfect upbringings and solid moral foundations, yet still show psychopathic tendencies from a young age, suggests that genetics probably play a massive role.
On the flip side, plenty of people probably wouldn't turn into criminals if they hadn't dealt with such traumatic environments.
There's just so many variables involved, I guess..

Nathan Kelly5 said:Psihič: Paravinja is above average in intelligence, socially deviant, and manipulative

Psihič: Paravinja is intelligent—well, his intelligence sits at the upper end of the average range.

http://www.usatoday.com/missing-anton...e-kaje/959191/

But what does "upper end of the average" actually mean? What even constitutes an average?
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I just stumbled upon this site, http://www.iqtestinteligencije.com/i...rezultati.html
The average range is between 90 and 109. Which means he’s just got normal intelligence... honestly, I wouldn't go so much as to say he's anything special.

rustyraven8 said:So, what actually constitutes a crime? Are we talking about a gas station robbery or a brutal murder involving thirty stab wounds? 🤷 In my view, these initial offenses are simply reflections of pure lack of discipline, laziness, and a total absence of morality—not necessarily the result of a broken mind.🤷

Nice one, how do you even define a criminal?! 👍
Is a criminal the guy who takes back what was stolen from him? Is she a criminal if she kills her husband after he's beaten her for 20 years? Is a former POW a criminal if he tracks down his tormentor in a crowded city and delivers justice?! Would you call a man a criminal if he spends his whole life hunting down Nazis who escaped and are living it up, only to kill them one by one...
The law and some dead ink on paper might say they are, but they aren't criminals. Revenge isn't a crime, even if the law says it's illegal.

When people talk about "real" criminals, they mean people doing things out of pure sadism—like David Paravinja traveling through the South, raping and killing for no damn reason, or someone like Ted Bundy. But there are plenty of people with that darkness buried deep inside; for some it comes out, for others it stays hidden, and for some it's just a part of them. I'm telling you, this stuff is strictly genetic. Childhood has absolutely nothing to do with it, no matter what those psychologists claim. A good person isn't going to burn a dog or a cat alive for fun, or rape and kill a complete stranger for no reason. It's all in the genes and a broken mind. You're born good, you're born borderline, or you're born bad. There's no fixing it.
Childhood shapes your worldview and your attitudes later on, sure, but it doesn't create a broken mind. Childhood doesn't create evil.