Lombroso's atavistic form- FORENSICS

Question 1

Summary of Lombroso’s theory

Answer 1

• historical biological explanation
• criminals are genetically different to non-criminals, this can be seen in their faces
• criminals have distinguishing physical features originating from a primitive stage of development ———–>
  less civilised, wilder, not suited to society or culture

Question 2

What are some physical characteristics of murderers?

Answer 2

• thin lips
  -curly, abundant hair
• long ears
• strong jaw
• cold, glassy, blood-shot eyes

Question 3

What are some physical characteristics of sex offenders?

Answer 3

• glinting eyes
• projecting ears
• lots of hair
• thick lips
• strong jaws

—> Lombroso argued that criminals aren’t to blame for their activities as behaviour is determined by their physiology

Question 4

Study for Lombroso’s theory

Answer 4

GORING

• studied 3000 English convicts
• found anatomical differences weren’t as extreme as Lombroso claimed, but found a common factor of low intelligence
• at the time, intelligence regarded as genetically determined so criminal behaviour too was linked to genetic inheritance

—> any possibility of social factors influencing outcome is minimalised

Question 5

AO3- Lombroso’s atavistic form

Answer 5

• his methodology wasn’t rigorous and he came to strange conclusions, main fault was that he didn’t recognise that correlation doesn’t imply causality
• He only measured the features of criminals and didn’t use a control group, hard to draw conclusions as comparisons can’t be made
• critics have drawn attention to racial undertones in his work, many features defined as criminal are found in people of African descent

KAPLAN
- self derogation theory—> states that poor social interactions can bring about criminal behaviour due to poor-self esteem and reluctance to conform

• his sample may’ve included people with learning difficulties, may’ve skewed results as often learning difficulties have an effect on physical features

POSITIVE=====
- prior to his work, criminality seen in a religious way, caused by devil or bad spirits.
- although his theory lacks the scientific rigour of today, an attempt was made to bring explanations of criminality into the realms of science.