Atavistic Form

Question 1

Lombroso

Answer 1

.Criminals were ‘genetic throwbacks’ - biologically different from non-criminals
. Offenders lack evolutionary development - impossible to adjust to civilised society
. Criminal behaviour rooted in genetic makeup

Question 2

What are atavistic characteristics

Answer 2

Particular physiological ‘markers’ that are linked to types of crime

Question 3

Lombroso Research

Answer 3

Examined facial and cranial features of Italian convicts - proposed atavistic form associated with several physical anomalies
^ examined 383 dead and 3839 living, concluded 40% of criminal acts could be accounted by atavistic characteristics

Question 4

What are the atavistic characteristics of:
- Murderers
- Sexual Crimes
- Fraudsters

Answer 4

M = bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears

S = glinting eyes, fleshy lips, projecting ears

F = lips thin and ‘reedy’

Question 5

The Eugenics movement

Answer 5

Galton - survival of the fittest became cornerstone of theory
. Not everyone born equal, desirable traits inherited/found in some social or cultural groups more than others

Question 6

Evaluation
(Strengths)

Answer 6

Contribution to criminology
- shifting emphasis in crime research away from moral discourse and towards more scientific one

Question 7

Evaluation
(Weaknesses)

Answer 7

Scientific Racism
- many features Lomboso found were amongst African descent

Contradictory Evidence
- Goring compared 3000 criminals and 3000 non-criminals and found no evidence facial characteristics correlate to crime

Poor control in research
- didn’t compare criminal sample to non - criminal control group