Historical approach Flashcards
Lombroso research in the historical approach
- Completed an examination of the facial and cranial characteristics of Italian convicts
- 333 dead
- 3839 living
- Concluded 40% crimes are committed by people with atavistic characteristics
Biological approach
Offending behaviour is innate, so offender is not at fault.
Atavistic form
A biological approach to offending that attributes criminal activity to the fact that offenders are genetic throwbacks or a primitive subspecies ill-suited to conforming to the rules of modern society
Cranial characteristics
- Narrow, slopping brows
- Strong, prominent jaw
- High cheekbones
- Facial asymmetry
Physical characteristics
- Dark skin
- Extra toes, nipples and fingers
Other characteristics
- Insensitive to pain
- Used slang
- Had tattoos
- Unemployed
What are the characteristics of murderers
- Blood shot eyes
- Curly hair
- Long ears
What are the characteristics of sexual deviants
- Glinting eyes
- Swollen fleshy lips
What are the characteristics of sexual deviants
- Thin and reedy lips
Biological explanations: an historical approach evaluation points- Lombroso’s legacy
STRENGTH
‘Father of modern criminology’ (Hollin), moved from moralisatic to scientific discourse
Biological explanations: an historical approach evaluation points- Lombroso’s legacy counterpoint
LIMITATION
People of african descent identified as atavistic (racist), fitting eugenic views of the time
Biological explanations: an historical approach evaluation points- Contradictory evidence
LIMITATION
3000 offenders and 3000 non-offenders, no physical differences (Goring)
Biological explanations: an historical approach evaluation points- Poor control
LIMITATION
Confounding variables uncontrolled, e.g. social conditions (Hay and Forrest)
