Biological Explanation: Atavism

Question 1

Who?

Answer 1

Lombroso

Question 2

Assumes

Answer 2

Criminals are biologcially different to non-criminals
- they lack evolutionary development so find it difficult to adjust to scoiety so turn to crime
- offending behaviour is innate

Question 3

Offender features - biological

Answer 3

• narrow, sloping brows
• strong, prominent jaw
• high cheekbones
• facial assymmetry
• dark skin
• extra toes, nipples, fingers

Question 4

Offender fearures - psychological and physiological

Answer 4

• insesitivty to pain
• tattoos
• slang
• unemployement

Question 5

Murderer features

Answer 5

• bloodshot eyes
• curly hair
• long ears

Question 6

Sexual deviant features

Answer 6

• glinting eyes
• swollen + fleshy lips

Question 7

Lombroso’s research

Answer 7

examined skulls of 383 dead convicts and 3839 alive convicts
- 40% criminal acts could be accounted for by people with atavistic characteristics

Question 8

AO3 + changed criminology

Answer 8

contributed to the idea of profiling and shifted crime from morality to scientific

Question 9

AO3 - subjective + racist

Answer 9

features most likely to be seen in people with an African descent

Question 10

AO3 - contradicting evidence

Answer 10

GORING
- 3000 offenders and 3000 non offenders
- no distinct group with unusual facial/ cranial characteristics
- but lower IQ

Question 11

AO3 - lack of control

Answer 11

• no control group so no control over cofounding variables
• does no meet modern scientific standards