AC 2.1: describe biological theories of criminality.

Question 1

What is the basic idea behind all the biological theories?

Answer 1

Criminals are biologically different from non-criminals and this difference causes them to commit crime.

Question 2

What are the biological theories?

Answer 2

• Lombroso: born criminals theory.
• Sheldon: somatotypes theory.

Question 3

What is Lombroso’s born criminal theory?

Answer 3

• first physiological theory.
• Italian doctor Cesare Lombroso in 1876.
• spent years measuring and recording details of the heads and faces of thousands of prisoners.
• ‘us and them’ theory.

Question 4

What does Lombroso’s born criminal theory state?

Answer 4

• argued criminals were physically different from non-criminals.
• different types of criminals had different facial features
  ↳ murdered had ‘aquiline’ noses whereas thieves had flattened noses.
• we are normal and criminals are abnormal and fundamentally different from us.

Question 5

What did Lombroso believe different criminals looked like?

Answer 5

• thieves
  ↳ expressive faces.
  ➝ manual dexterity.
  ➝ small wandering eyes.
  ➝ thick close eyebrows.
  ➝ distorted noses.
  ➝ thin beards and hair.
  ➝ sloping foreheads.
• rapists
  ↳ jug ears.
  ➝ sparkling ears.
  ➝ delicate features.
  ➝ swollen lips and eyelids.
  ➝ frail.
  ➝ some hunchbacked.
• habitual murderers
  ↳ cold, glassy stares.
  ➝ bloodshot eyes.
  ➝ big hawk-like noses.

Question 6

What is meant by “atavism”?

Answer 6

The primitive stage of evolution where criminals were pre-social, unable to control their impulses and had reduced sensitivity to pain.

Question 7

What is the link between atavism and criminality?

Answer 7

• criminals were like savages or even apes.
• in a more primitive society they would be normal but in modern society they are abnormal.
• some had an unusual shaped coccyx perhaps where a tail should be.

Question 8

What are the two types of criminals Lombroso identified?

Answer 8

• insane criminals.
• epileptic criminals.

Question 9

What are examples of insane criminals?

Answer 9

• alcoholics.
• kleptomaniacs.
• nymphomaniac.
• child molesters.

Question 10

What is Sheldon’s somatotypes theory?

Answer 10

• certain body types are linked to criminal behaviour.

Question 11

What does Sheldon’s somatotypes theory state?

Answer 11

• criminals are physically different from non-criminals.

Question 12

What are the somatotypes Sheldon identifies?

Answer 12

• endomorph.
• ectomorph.
• mesomorph.

Question 13

What does sheldon describe endomorphs to be like appearance wise?

Answer 13

• rounded.
• soft.
• tending to fat.
• lacking muscle or tone.
• wide hips.

Question 14

What does sheldon describe ectomorphs to be like appearance wise?

Answer 14

• thin.
• fragile.
• lacking fat and muscle.
• flat chested.
• narrow hips and shoulders.
• high forehead.

Question 15

What does sheldon describe mesomorphs to be like appearance wise?

Answer 15

• muscular.
• hard bodied.
• little fat.
• strong limbs.
• broad shoulders.
• narrow waist.

Question 16

What does sheldon describe endomorphs to be like personality wise?

Answer 16

• sociable.
• relaxed.
• comfortable.
• outgoing.

Question 17

What does sheldon describe ectomorphs to be like personality wise?

Answer 17

• self-conscious.
• fragile.
• inward looking.
• emotionally restrained.
• thoughtful.

Question 18

What does sheldon describe mesomorphs to be like personality wise?

Answer 18

• adventurous.
• sensation-seeking.
• assertive.
• domineering.
• enjoy physical activity.

Question 19

Which somatotype does sheldon believe is more likely to be a criminal?

Answer 19

MESOMORPH
- more likely to be attracted to risk-taking crime involves.
- imposing physique and assertive can be important assets in crime.

Question 20

What does the genetic theories of criminality state?

Answer 20

• if crime is inborn as Lombroso claimed, then it is passed down from parent to child.
• explains why crime often runs in families.
• Osborn and West found sons of criminal fathers were much more likely to have a criminal record too.

Question 21

Why does crime run in families?

Answer 21

• family members who are blood relatives share many of the same genes.
• if one member had ‘criminal genes’ it is likely that their blood relatives will too.
• why criminals have relatives who are also criminals.

Question 22

What are the genetic theories?

Answer 22

• twin studies.
• adoption studies.

Question 23

What are twin studies?

Answer 23

• identical twins share the same genes as they both developed from the same fertilised egg.
• if one twin is criminal the other twin ought to be criminal too.