2.1. Theories of Crime- Biological Flashcards
Biological theories tend to be:
Deterministic and based heavily on the body.
The Humours (4th century) are based on work by who?
Hippocrates and Galen.
The Humours theory argues that:
Personality (including criminal tendancies) are based on the imbalance of fluids (humours) in a person.
Melancholic humour
Black bile- sad and depressed.
Choleric humour
Yellow bile- Cranky, easily upset.
Related to crimes such as common assult.
Phlegmatic Humour
Phlegm- Inactive, appathetic.
Related to crimes such as fencing of goods.
Sanguine Humour
Blood- changeable, tempremental.
Related to “crimes of passion” such as murder, rape, assult ect.
Give a date for Phrenology and who’s work it was based on.
1796, Franz Joseph
In Phrenology, what did Franz Joseph Gall suggest?
That one’s personality is reflected by the shape of the skull. Thus was used by the british ruling class to demonstrate the inferiority of colonial subjects.
Explain the theory of body types? Include a date and name.
1949- Based on the work of William Sheldon who argued that there were three distinct body types and that these types were related to personality.
Endomorphic is:
Larger
Mesomorphic is:
Athletic
Ectomorphic is:
Taller and thinner
Larger
Edndomorphic
Athletic
Mesomorphic
Taller and thinner
Ectomorphic
Endomprphic characteristics are:
Love of comfort, good humour, relaxed, need for affection.
Unlikely to commit criminal acts.
Mesomorphic characteristics are:
Adventurous, desire for power or dominance, love of risk, indifferent to what others think.
Tend to commit violent crimes requiring strength and speed.
Ectomorphic characteristics are:
Socially anxcious, mentally intense, emotionally restrained, preferance for privacy.
Tend to commit non-physical crimes, esspecially those motivated by jealosy or revenge.
(Sherlock Holmes)
