Biological Explanations Of Criminal Behaviour - Atavistic Form

Question 1

What is an atavism?

Answer 1

When an ancestral genetic trait that has disappeared reappears

Question 2

What is the idea of Lombroso’s theory ‘Atavistic Form’?

Answer 2

The idea that criminality represents the behaviours of earlier, more savage, pre-human species.

Question 3

According to Lombroso, what are 4 of the distinctive features that criminals may have?

Answer 3

• Strong, protruding jaw
• Large ears
• Dark skin & curly hair
• Extra fingers/toes

Question 4

What else did Lombroso argue in terms of criminal facial features?

Answer 4

That different types of criminal have different facial features. (E.g. he argued that murderers typically have curly hair & bloodshot eyes, whereas sex offenders have swollen & fleshy lips)

Question 5

What did Lombroso do to support his theory?

Answer 5

He collected measurements of facial features of thousands of Italian criminals. He did not use a control group.

Question 6

What is a limitation of Lombroso’s theory? (Methodological concerns)

Answer 6

Didn’t use a non-criminal control group to compare his measurements of criminals against - Impossible to say whether criminals do actually have distinctive features

Question 7

What is a limitation of Lombroso’s theory? (Ethical concerns)

Answer 7

It’s socially sensitive - racist - could lead to stereotyping/discrimination based on the way a person looks - gives racism ‘scientific credibility’

Question 8

What is a strength of Lombroso’s theory? (Historical importance)

Answer 8

Despite being dismissed now, it played an important role in advancing criminology & scientific explanations of criminal behaviour - paved the way for more scientific expl. and modern criminology

Question 9

What is a limitation of Lombroso’s theory? (Contradictory evidence)

Answer 9

Goring (1913) - comparison between 3000 criminals & 3000 non-criminals - concluded no evidence that offenders are a distinct group with unusual facial features