biological explanations: atavistic form

Question 1

cesare lombrosso

Answer 1

• father of modern criminology
• investigated the facial and cranial feature of hundreds of Italian convicts
• concluded that majority of crimes were accounted for by atavistic characteristics

Question 2

atavistic form

Answer 2

• atavis = ancestor
• some people are born with a criminal personality, linked to primate form
• determined by their physiological makeup

Question 3

atavistic features in criminals

Answer 3

• strong, prominent glow
• high cheekbones
• darkskin
• extra toes, nipples or fingers

Question 4

atavistic features in murderers

Answer 4

• bloodshot eyes
• curly hair
  long ears

Question 5

atavistic features in sexual deviants

Answer 5

• hunting eyes
• swollen, fleshy lips

Question 6

atavistic form in fraudstars

Answer 6

• thin and reedy lips

Question 7

empirical evidence

Answer 7

• lombrosso conducted post mortem examinations of criminals
• examined over 5000 bodies
• italy - looked at 383 dead and 3839 living criminals
• 21% had just 1 atavistic trait, however 43% had at least 5

Question 8

environmental factors

Answer 8

• lombrosso considered the interaction between innate characteristics and particular environmental factors

Question 9

published 3 types of criminals

Answer 9

• born criminals
• insane criminals
• criminaloids

Question 10

criminaloids

Answer 10

individuals who are predisposed to be criminals if certain factors are present