| What was Lombroso's theory? | 1876 - suggested that criminals were 'genetic throwbacks' and primitve sub-species who were biologically differen to non-criminals
They have innate tendency and lack evolutionary development, they were savage and can't fit into society. |
| What was the aim and method of Lombroso's research? | Aim: establish a biological link to explain offender profiling
Method: examined the facial and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones |
| What was the findings of Lombroso's research? | Criminals behaviour are biologically determined. Criminals are physically different, 40% of criminals would be accounted for by the atavistic form |
| Examples of atavistic characteristics? (5) | -Strong jaw
-Dark skin
-Insensitivty to pain (tattoos and pericings)
-High cheekbones + sloping brow |
| What would murders have? (3) | Bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears |
| What would divants have? (3) | Glinting eyes, swollen/fleshy lips, projecting ears |
| Strength of the atavistic approach? | -Lombroso made significant contributions to the field of criminiology
-Known as the ‘father of criminology’ as he was the first to scientifically look at offender profiling.
-Less previous idea of ‘weak morals’ causing crime and more towards scientific approach, looking at genetic and evolutionary influences – removing blame from offender.
-Despite the flaws, it signalled the start of a new scientific field of research: positivist criminology |
| A weakness of atavistic form? | -Critics draw attention to the racial undertones of Lombroso's work.
-Outlined several atavistic forms of a criminal can be seen to be racist stereotypes at the time, which were mainly associated of an African descent. This can be seen through the features such as: dark skin, thick lips, curly hair which reflects racism within Italy at the time he was working.
-Described atavistic form as ‘uncivilised, primitive + savage’ - could support eugenics philosophy that were prominent at the time.
-May have been unintentional on Lombroso's part, but it has ethical implications that have overshadowed the approach |
| A weakness of the atavistic form? | -Issues with methodology
-Lombroso did not compare sample to non-criminal control group - if he had, there may not have been so many different features. Also likely to have non-criminals with an atavistic form. It is unclear as to whether facial characters cause offedngin or vice versa.
-High cheekbones/strong jaw could have been due to poor diet/povery which again are confounding variables
-Hard to establish cause and effect relationship between atavistic form and criminals due this data - low internal validity |
