Biological Explanation: A Historical Approach

Question 1

What did Lombroso suggest in his book?

Answer 1

That criminals were ‘genetic throwbacks.’

Question 2

What are genetic throwbacks?

Answer 2

A primitive subspecies who were biologically different from non-criminals.

Question 3

How did Lombroso see offenders?

Answer 3

Lacking evolutionary development - a savage and untamed nature meant it was impossible to adjust to the demands of civilised society and inevitably this would cause them to turn to crime.

Question 4

How did Lombroso see offending behaviour?

Answer 4

As a natural tendency rooted in the genes of those who engage in it.

Question 5

What was Lombrosos new perspective he was suggesting at the time of writing?

Answer 5

Offending behaviour was innate and therefore an offender wasnt to blame for his actions.

Question 6

What did Lombroso argue about offender subtypes?

Answer 6

That they could be identified as being in posession of particular physiological ‘markers’ that were linked to particular types of offences - biologically determined atavistic characteristics.

Question 7

What are biologically atavistic characteristics?

Answer 7

Mainly features of the face and head that make offenders physically different.

Question 8

What are atavistic characteristics in terms of cranial characteristics?

Answer 8

Narrow sloping brow.
Strong, prominent jaw.
High cheekbones.
Facial asymmetry.

Question 9

What are some physical makers of biologically atavistic characteristics (not to do with the cranial)

Answer 9

Dark skin
Existence of extra toes, fingers or nipples.

Question 10

What other traits did Lombroso suggest which aren’t physical traits?

Answer 10

Insensitivity to pain
Use of slang
Tattoos
Unemployment

Question 11

How are murders described?

Answer 11

Bloodshot eyes
Curly hair
Long ears

Question 12

How were sexual deviants described?

Answer 12

Glinting eyes
Swollen, fleshy lips
Projecting ears

Question 13

How were the lips of fraudsters described as being?

Answer 13

Thin and reedy

Question 14

What did Lombroso research?

Answer 14

Examined facial and cranial features of hundreds of Italian convicts - living and dead and concluded there was an ‘atavistic’ form which was a key indicator of criminality.

Question 15

How did Lombroso research?

Answer 15

Examined the skulls of 383 dead convicts and 3839 living ones and concluded that 40% of criminal acts are committed by people with atavistic characteristics.

Question 16

Evaluation:
Lombroso’s research changed the study of crime

Answer 16

Credited for shifting the emphasis in crime research away from a moralistic discourse towards a more scientific approach.
Also trying to describe how particular people are likely to commit types of crime Lombroso in many ways began offender profiling.
This suggests Lombroso made a major contribution to criminology.

Question 17

Evaluation:
Evidence contradicts the link between atavism and crime.

Answer 17

Goring set out to establish whether there was anything physically atypical about offenders.
He compared 3000 offenders and 3000 non-offenders and concluded there was no evidence that offenders are a distinct group with unusual facial and cranial characteristics.
This challenges Lombrosos idea that offenders can be physically distinguished and are therefore unlikely to be a subspecies.

Question 18

Evaluation:
Lombroso’s method of investigation was poorly controlled

Answer 18

Lombroso failed to control important variables within his reasearch.
Lombroso didnt compare his offender sample with a non-offender control group.
This could have controlled for a range of confounding variables that might have equally explained higher crime rates in certain groups of people.
This suggests Lombroso’s research doesn’t meet modern scientific standards.

Question 19

Evaluation:
Lombroso has been questioned for whether Lombroso’s legacy is entirely positive.

Answer 19

Attention has been drawn to racist undertones within Lombrosos work.
Many features Lombroso identified as atavistic are most likely to be found within people of African descent which suggests Africans are likely to be offenders.
This suggests some aspects were highly subjective rather than objective and influenced by racial prejudices of the time.