Biological Explanation To Offending (Atavistic Form) Flashcards

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1
Q

What does the atavistic form theory propose?

A
  • It was proposed by Lombroso in the 1890s
  • It is a historic approach to explain criminal behaviour, based on biological factors
  • It suggests that some people are born with a criminal personality (innate), and that criminals can be identified by the way they look
  • It suggests that was distinct biological class of people that were prone to criminality, who exhibit atavistic (primitive) features
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2
Q

Lombroso (1876)- key study

A
  • He aimed to identify distinguishing physical features among male criminals, which set them apart as offenders
  • He examined the features and measurements of nearly 4000 criminals and skulls of 400 dead criminals
  • He found that 40% of those examined had atavistic features
  • These characteristics indicate that such people were not individuals were not responsible for their actions as it was down to their innate, inherited physiology
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3
Q

Atavistic features (SHREK)

A
  • Sloping brow
  • High cheekbones
  • Really large jaws
  • Ears are long
  • Kan’t feel pain
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4
Q

Kurtzberg (1968)- research support for atavistic features as an explanation for offending

A
  • He found that prisoners behaviour had improved following facial surgery
  • Those who had surgery had a recidivism rate of 42%
  • Those who did not have surgery had a recidivism rate of 70%
  • Those who had facial surgery tended to do better on release from prison than those who did not
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5
Q

Evaluation of atavistic form

A
  • Lombroso was the first person to bring science to the study of crime
  • It has the potential to be racist by judging whether someone is a criminal through the way they look
  • Unscientific approach
  • Correlational does not mean causation
  • Deterministic approach
  • It may cause a lack of responsibility to be taken by the criminals and simply blaming it on an innate tendency
  • Goring (1913) tested the atavistic form using 3000 criminals and compared them to 3000 non-criminals. He found there to be no difference between the groups in terms of facial features
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