Atavistic Form Flashcards
What type of explanation is the atavistic form?
A biological explanation.
Who created the idea of the atavistic form?
Cesare Lombroso.
After creating the atavistic characteristic list, Lombroso went on to categorise particular types of criminals. Murderers were described as having what characteristics?
- Bloodshot eyes.
- Curly hair.
- Long ears.
Besides physical traits, Lombroso suggested there were other aspects of the born criminal, what are some of these?
- Insensitivity to pain.
- Use of criminal slang.
- Tattoos.
- Unemployment.
In L’Huomo Delinquente, what did Lombroso say caused criminality?
He suggested criminals were ‘genetic throwbacks’, they were a primitive sub-species who were biologically different from non-criminals.
Why did Lombroso say someone would become a criminal?
Offenders lack evolutionary development, their savage and untamed nature meant that they would find it impossible to adjust to the demands of civilised society and would inevitably turn to crime.
After creating the atavistic characteristic list, Lombroso went on to categorise particular types of criminals. Sexual deviants were described as having what characteristics?
- Glinting eyes.
- Swollen fleshy lips.
- Projecting ears.
When did Lombroso create the atavistic form explanation?
1876.
Describe Lombroso’s research into the atavistic form:
He examined the facial and cranial features of hundreds of Italian convicts, living and dead. He studied 383 dead criminals and 2839 living ones.
What are atavistic characteristics?
- A narrow, sloping brow.
- A strong prominent jaw.
- High cheekbones.
- Facial asymmetry.
- Dark skin.
- Existence of extra toes, nipples or fingers.
After creating the atavistic characteristic list, Lombroso went on to categorise particular types of criminals. Fraudsters were described as having what characteristics?
- Thin and ‘reedy’ lips.
Why was Lombroso’s explanation seen as genetic and biological?
It is rooted in the genealogy of those who contain the criminal ‘features’.
Who was Lombroso?
An Italian Physician who wrote a book L’Huomo Delinquente which contained the atavistic form as an explanation for crime.
AO3 - Contribution to criminology.
Lombroso has been hailed the ‘father of modern criminology’. He was credited with shifting the emphasis of crime research away from a moralistic discourse towards a scientifically credible realm. Lombroso’s theory also heralded the beginning of criminal profiling to make a major contribution to criminology.
AO3 - Scientific racism.
Critics have drawn attention to the distinct racial undertones within Lombroso’s work. Many of his atavistic features such as curly hair and dark skin are typical of those from African descent. His descriptions would lend support to many of the eugenic philosophies at the time.
AO3 - Contradictory evidence.
Goring (1913) studies 3,000 criminals and 3,000 non-criminals and concluded that there was no evidence that the offenders had atavistic characteristics which opposes the idea they are physiologically distinct. However, he suggested IQ can affect criminality.
AO3 - Poor control.
Lombroso did not compare his criminal sample with a non-criminal control group. This means the differences he found may not be irregular, rather normal. He also used only Italians which means the characteristics he found may be present in non-criminals.
AO3 - Causation.
Facial and cranial features may be influenced by other factors such as poverty, accidents, surgery, disease or poor diet rather than delayed evolutionary developments.
What is meant by ‘atavistic characteristics’?
Physiological ‘markers’ linked to particular crimes.
