Biological- Historical Explanations For Crime

Question 1

This approach can also be called the atavistic theory of crime

Question 2

What does this biological/ historical explanation suggest and who suggests it

Answer 2

Lombroso
-Explains criminal behaviour based on biological factors
-Suggests people are born criminals and can be identified by the way they look
-these are called atavistic features

Question 3

What are the atavistic feature

Answer 3

Large ears
Sloping brows
Curley hair
High cheekbones
Prominent jaw

Question 4

Lombrosos study

Answer 4

Examined the feature of 4000 criminals and 400 skulls (post mortum)
-40% had atavistic features
-suggests they aren’t responsible for their actions and it’s down to their innate physiology.

Question 5

Kurtzbergs study supporting biological explanations for offending

Answer 5

He found prisoners who had undergone facial surgery were 42% less likely to re-offend and of those who didn’t get surgery 70% re committed.
-supports atavistic feature causing crime.

Question 6

Evaluation of lombrosos bio/ historical theory

Answer 6

Limitations
❌- the theory was branded racist as many of the atavistic features such as dark skin and curly hair, are mainly associated with those of African descent.

❌ too determination - as it proposes that we offend depending on our biological makeup and doesn’t allow people free will

❌- Goring- compared 3000 criminals to 3000 non criminals (control group) and found no differences between the groups atavistic features.

✅influencial
first attempt to explain criminal behaviours in a more scientific way, by considering physiology and genetics. This helped pave the way for further investigation into biological explanations.