biological explanation: Atavistic form Flashcards
Atavistic form
A primitive subspecies which are biologically different from non-criminals, less evolved
- big lips
- curly hair
- dark skin
- unemployment
- tattoos
Biological approach
Due to lack of evolution, their savage and untamed nature couldn’t adjust to modern society so would turn to crime. Saw this as a natural tendency rooted in genetics. Offending is innate so offender isn’t to blame
Founding research
Lombroso examined facial cranial features of 383 dead convicts and 3839 living ones he concluded 40% of criminal acts are committed by people with atavistic features
Positive Legacy
Lombroso hailed as ‘father of modern criminology’. He shifted emphasis away from moralistic discourse to a scientific position.
Describing how types of people are more likely to commit types of crime heralded the beginning of offender profiling
Negative Legacy
DeLisi (2012) Racist undertones within his work, many atavistic features are common amongst those of African descent e.g. dark skin curly hair - fitted 19th century eugenic attitudes. Theory is highly subjective influenced by racial prejudices of the time
Contradictory evidence
Goring (1913), tried to establish if offenders had physical atypicalities. Compared 3000 offenders with 3000 non-offenders. Found no evidence to support there is a distinct group with facial and cranial characteristics. Put focus on offenders having a low intelligence. Challenges idea offenders can be physically distinguished
Poor control
Unlike Goring, Lombroso didn’t have a non-offender control group so could not control for confounding variables. Links between crime and social conditions and poor educational outcomes, explains why offenders more likely to be unemployed
Nature or nurture
Atavistic form suggests crime has a biological cause (genetics). Atavistic features may be a result of environment e.g. cranial difference could be due to poor diet rather than inherited
