Atavistic Form Flashcards
What is the atavistic form?
An early biological explanation which proposed that criminals are sub species of genetic throwbacks that cannot conform to the rules of modern society.
What are they distinguishable by?
Facial and criminal characteristics
What did Lambroso do?
Investigated facial and cren features in living and dead Italian criminals and found 40% were accounted for by atavistic characteristics
Criminals
Strong prominent jaw
High cheekbones
Dark skin
Extra toes, nipples or fingers
Murderers
Blood shot eyes
Curly hair
Long ears
Sexual deviant
Glinting eyes
Swollen fleshy lips
Fraudsters
Thin and reedy lips
Other non physical traits
Unemployment
Tattoos
Use of criminal slang
What is Eugenics?
Genetically unfit people should be prevented from breeding. Lambroso accused of scientific racism. Matt DeLisi (2012)
What IDAs?
Reductionism
Practical Applications
Contribution to criminology
More scientific and credible realm
Created typologies - top down approach
Goring (1913)
3000 criminals v 3000 non criminals
No evidence
Poor control for Lambroso
No control group
Other important variables e.g. History of psychological disorders
Causation issue
Atavistic elements may not be a cause of offending. May be influenced by other factors such as poverty and diet
