Lombroso Flashcards
(19 cards)
What are the strengths of Lombroso?
Scientific approach
Focus on typology
Early influence on forensic science
What does it mean for Lombroso to have an early influence on forensic science?
Ground work for forensic science, physical evidence to identify criminals
What does it mean for Lombroso to focus on criminal typology?
Opened the door for further studies, differentiating biological effects of environmental factors
What does it mean for Lombroso to have a scientific approach?
Contribution to criminology, more factual, foundadtion for future research
What are the weaknesses of Lombroso?
Overemphasis on biology
Unscientific method
Racial and cultural bias
Failure to consider the role of social conditions
What does it mean for Lombroso to have an overemphasis on biology?
Overly determined, focused on too much biological factors, ignores role of social, environmental and economic factors
Why are Lombroso’s methods seen as unscientific?
Lacking Preston, relied on subjective observations and drew conclusions based off limited samples of criminals
Why is Lombroso’s study seen as racial and cultural bias?
Associated certain physical features surgery criminality based on observations of specific ethnic groups, reinforcing stereotypes
Why does Lombroso fail to consider the role of social conditions?
Not consider the influence of poverty, education or other social conditions on criminal behaviour
What did Lombroso do?
He studies criminals o physical traits that could distinguish them from non criminals.
Examined thousands of convicts.
Argued that crime is biological
What did Lombroso find out?
Criminals had certain characteristics, they were atavistic
What were the criminal characteristics?
Sloping forehead
Large jaws and ears
Long arms
Monkey like features
What does atavistic mean?
Primitive and less evolved human development
What did Lombroso believe criminal behaviour was?
Biologically determines and people with these characteristics were predisposed to commit crime
What did Lombroso conclude?
Criminals were born, inherited traits and physical anomalies
What were born criminals according to Lombroso?
Natural, biological factors
What were criminaloids according to Lombroso?
Commit crime due to envrionmental factors, have potential for rehabilitation
What are insane criminals according to Lombroso?
Behaviour is linked to mental illness
What is eugenics and how will it help reduce crime?
Controlled reproduction, to reduce criminals reproducing more criminals
