L3 - Atavistic Form

Question 1

Cesare Lombroso

Answer 1

Italian physician who suggested criminals were genetic throwbacks, biologically different from non criminals

Question 2

How did Lombroso see offenders?

Answer 2

People that lacked evolutionary development - savage and untamed nature

Question 3

Why did Lombroso see offending as a natural tendency?

Answer 3

Their lack of development means it’s too hard for them to keep up with the demands of society so they inevitably turn to crime

Question 4

What is atavistic form?

Answer 4

(L) argued that criminals could be identified by a set of physical characteristics that were linked to particular crimes. Mainly features of the face and head which indicate criminals are physically different to the rest of us

Question 5

Atavistic

Answer 5

Reversion to something ancestral

Question 6

Atavistic form characteristics

Answer 6

Narrow, sloping brow, strong prominent jaw, high cheekbones and facial asymmetry. Other features include dark skin, extra toes, nipples or fingers

Question 7

Murderer characteristics as described by Lombroso

Answer 7

Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears

Question 8

Sexual deviant characteristics

Answer 8

Glinting eyes, swollen lips, projecting ears

Question 9

Fraudsters characteristics

Answer 9

Thin and reedy lips

Question 10

Alternative criminal characteristics suggested by Lombroso (non physical)

Answer 10

Insensitivity to pain, use of criminal slang, tattoos and unemployment

Question 11

LOMBROSO’s study on Italian convicts outline

Answer 11

He examined the head and faces of living and dead Italian convicts, he proposed that atavistic form was associated with a number of physical anomalies which indicated criminality

Question 12

LOMBROSO STUDY results

Answer 12

He examined 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones. Concluded that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by the criminal subculture

Question 13

EV: (+) foundation for more biological approaches

Answer 13

The atavistic form was important because it helped shift away from theories based on wickedness and demonic possession which isn’t very scientific, it laid foundations for future biological explanations

Question 14

EV: (-) racist

Answer 14

This explanation for criminality has distinct racist themes, many of the features he described as atavistic (dark skin and curly hair) are most likely to be found amongst African people. It supports the eugenic philosophy which is very bad

Question 15

EV: (-) GORING’s study

Answer 15

Conducted a comparison of 3000 criminals and 3000 non criminals and concluded that there was no evidence that offenders had particular facial and cranial characteristics.

However, he did suggest that criminals are more likely to have a below average intelligence

Question 16

EV: (-) LOMBROSOs initial study

Answer 16

Lombroso did not compare his criminal sample to a non criminal control group, if he had then the differences might not have been present

Question 17

EV: (-) cause and effect

Answer 17

Even if criminals do have these characteristics it doesn’t mean that these characteristics caused their criminal behaviour - there are multiple factors that lead a person to committing crime and these factors may have also caused the physical characteristics seen in their face and head such as poor diet and poverty