5.3. Historical Biological Explanation Flashcards
Nature or nurture?
Innate -> not their fault
How would you be able to tell if someone was a criminal?
By looking at someone, they would have physical markers.
What did Lombroso study that criminals have/ are?
What is this known as?
- genetic throwbacks
- primitive
- a different species
- biologically different -> not suited to a civilised society
The atavistic form
What are characteristics of the atavistic form?
- darker skin
- facial asymmetry
extra fingers/ nipples/ toes
-narrow brow
What are the physical markers that indicate a murderer?
- bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears
What are the physical markers that indicate sexual deviants?
Glint in their eyes, fleshy lips
Who did Lombroso analyse?
-388 dead criminals’ facial and cranial features and 3839 living prisoners (only) in Italian prisons.
- The atavistic form accounted for 40% of the prison population.
Strength: first person
Lombroso was the first person to move explaining criminality away from demonic (religious) possession.
Strength: paved way
Lombroso paved the way for a more scientific and moral way to explain criminal behaviour -> pinpointing traits
Weakness: only prisoners used
- Only prisoners used in Lombroso’s study -> no comparison to the general population
- We don’t know how many non-convicts the atavistic form accounted for = less scientific
Weakness: gender bias
Only males used in Lombroso’s study = beta bias as generalised to all criminals
Weakness: Goring
- Analysed 3000 criminals and 3000 general population and found no diffs other than criminals have lower IQ
- Lombroso lacks validity and scientific rigour
Weakness: socially sensitive
Lombroso’s research is socially sensitive and caused racial prejudice by saying those with darker skin are criminal.
Weakness: alpha bias
Lombroso said females are naturally jealous, insensitive to pain and have lower IQ -> those that commit crime are more masculine -> he saw women as inferior
