Ernst Kretschmer, a German psychiatrist, developed a typology linking physical constitution to personality traits and psychopathology, identifying four body types: pyknic, asthenic, athletic, and dysplastic. His theory suggests certain mental disorders are more prevalent in specific body types, but it has faced criticism for being based solely on his patient observations and the controversy surrounding the concept of fixed personality types. Despite this, Kretschmer's ideas have influenced popular culture and psychological research.

1. Krestchmer’s Typology : Type
Approaches of Personality

2. Ernst Krestchmer (1888-1964)
• German psychiatrist
• Student of medicine, philosophy and
theology
• Körperbau und Charakter (1921; Physique
and Character)
• Studied human constitution and established
a typology
• Developed a differential diagnosis between
schizophrenia and manic depression
2

3. Theory of personality
• According to Krestchmer, a person’s physical constitution or
morphology is associated with certain personality traits and
psychopathology in extreme forms.
• The theory states that certain mental disorders were more
common among people of specific physical types.
• Based on his observation of his patients.
• 4 types of body.
• Kretschmer’s ideas to some extent entered into popular
culture and generated further psychological research.
3

4. Pyknic type
• Round robust built
• Stocky body with short wide neck
• Usually short body
• Extrovert
• Cycloid personality
• MDP
4

5. Asthenic type
• Thin and tall
• Fragile looking
• Introvert
• Schizoid personality
• Schizophrenia
5

6. Athletic type
• Muscular built
• Not too tall, not too short
• Ambivert
• MDP
• Epilepsy
6

7. Dysplastic type
• Unproportioned body
• Mix of other three types - personality
• Often due to hormonal imbalance
7

8. 8

9. Criticism
• Solely based on Krestchmer’s patients.
• His thinner Schizophrenic patients were younger
than his pyknic manic depressive patients.
Therefore, the differences in the body type could
be explained by the differences in their ages.
• The existence of personality types remains
extremely controversial.
9

10. References
• https://www.britannica.com/biography/Ernst-Kretschmer
• https://www.britannica.com/topic/Physique-and-Character
• https://psychology.fandom.com/wiki/Ernst_Kretschmer
• https://www.researchgate.net/publication/264789751_Funda
mentals_of_Personality_Type_1_What_is_Personality_Type
10

11. Thank You