Bio Exp- Atavistic Form

Question 1

Atavism

Answer 1

Relating to or characterised by reverting back to something ancient or ancestral

Question 2

Atavistic form

Answer 2

1870s
Lombroso
Suggests criminals are more primitive version of humans- a genetic throwback, biologically different to non criminals

Would survive in wild but find hard in civilised world so revert to crime

Born with criminal personality
Not to blame for there crimes as can’t be blamed for innate inherited physiology

Question 3

Lombroso study

Answer 3

Physical facial and cranial features of Italian convicts, living and dead
Around 400 dead, around 4000 living
Found distinct anaomalies, concluding there was an atavistic form
And 40% of crimes are committed by those with atavistic characteristics

Question 4

Characteristics found by Lombroso

Answer 4

Murderers- bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears

Sexual deviants- glinting eyes, swollen fleshy lips, projecting ears

Fraudsters- thin and reedy lips

Question 5

Strength atavistic form (shift)

Answer 5

Hollin- lombroso is father of criminology

Moved crime research away from moralistic discourse to a more scientific and credible approach

By trying to describe people who commit crimes, Lombroso also began offender profiling

More scientific as previously crime was due to feeble mindedness or possession , moved to biology, more scientific

Question 6

Limitation atavistic form (racism)

Answer 6

Scientific racism
Delisi questioned Lombroso theory
Potential racial undertone
Many of features were more likely to be found in African descent (dark skin, curly hair)

Essentially saying Africans more likely to offend- fits with 19th century attitudes

Question 7

Limitation atavistic form (contrast)

Answer 7

Goring
Compared 3000 offenders and 3000 non offenders nd found no evidence of offenders having distinct or unusual facial and cranial characteristics

However did find lower than average intelligence