Physiological Theories (bio) Flashcards
(10 cards)
What are the two main physiological theories
Cesare Lombroso (1876) -atavistic form theory
William Sheldon (1949)- theory of somatotypes/ body shapes
What is Lombroso’s theory?
Cesare Lombroso (1876) -atavistic form theory - Criminals have ‘primitive’ features.
criminals were ‘throwbacks’ (evolutionary throwbacks)- individuals that had failed to evolve at the same pace as the remainder of the human race.
What was Sheldon’s theory?
William Sheldon (1949)- theory of somatotypes/ body shapes
Mesomorphs are more likely to be criminals than endo and ectomorphs.
What are examples of atavistic characteristics?
Large jaw, high cheekbones, flattened or upturned nose, ‘monkey-like’ ears, excessive wrinkles, insensitivity to pain.
What method did Lombroso use to investigate his theory?
He used a control group (soldiers) and compared their features to an experimental group (the prisoners) and concluded the theory with his findings.
He was relying on racial stereotypes to back up his theory.
He was combining phrenology and physiognomy, two types of pseudoscience that purported to explain a persons personality and behaviour based on his skull and facial features.
What are some criticisms of Lombroso’s methods?
Both study types are pseudoscientific and he relied on racial stereotypes. It is also extremely deterministic and assumes we can’t escape destiny.
What evidence is there to support Atavistic Form theory as a way of explaining causes of crime?
Henderson (2018) citing a University of China study:
ID of 1856 Chinese men, ½ of whom had a previous conviction were entered into an AI computer programme. The programme wrongly flagged 6% of innocent men as guilty but correctly identified 83% of the real criminals.
BUT are less attractive people just more likely to be convicted due to discrimination?
How did Sheldon investigate his theory of somatotypes?
he used a correlation study and found that many convicts were mesomorphic, and they were least likely to be ectomorphic.
He compared 200 boys in a residential rehabilitation home with a control group of 200 students. He gathered extensive family backgrounds on each and also monitored their growth for 8 years.
He published all of his results in 1954 in a book called ‘Atlas Of Men’.
What are criticisms of Sheldon’s theory?
Doesn’t explain how endo and ectomorphs can also be criminals. Doesn’t take into account that body types change over time, maybe mesomorphs are considered more criminal and the criminal justice system label them as criminal automatically.
