biological - physio Flashcards
What do biological theories focus on in relation to crime?
The idea that physical characteristics make some people more likely to commit crimes than others.
These theories suggest that criminal tendencies can be genetic and inherited.
What is the main premise of physiological theories?
They focus on a criminal’s physical characteristics.
Who is considered the father of criminology?
Cesare Lombroso.
What did Lombroso study in relation to criminality?
Facial features, body type, and tattooing.
What is atavism according to Lombroso?
The belief that criminals are less evolved than the rest of society.
What were some key physical features Lombroso associated with criminals?
- Enormous jaws
- High cheekbones
- Large eye sockets
- Prominent eyebrow arches
- Ear shape
- Long arms
- Acute eyesight.
How many criminals did Lombroso examine in his studies?
383 dead criminals and 3,839 living criminals.
What percentage of criminal acts did Lombroso attribute to atavistic characteristics?
40%.
What traits did Lombroso conclude were associated with criminals?
- Insensitivity to pain
- Use of criminal slang
- Tattoos
- Unemployment.
What are the three types of criminals identified by Lombroso?
- Insane criminals
- Epileptic criminals
- Criminaloids.
What did recent AI studies find regarding criminal identification?
It incorrectly flagged innocent men as criminals 6% of the time but correctly identified 83% of real criminals.
What is a strength of Lombroso’s theory?
It used scientific methods and had a large sample size.
What is a weakness of Lombroso’s theory?
It only studied criminals and lacked a control group.
Who was Sheldon and what was his focus?
An American psychologist who focused on human physiques and temperaments.
What are Sheldon’s three body types?
- Ectomorphs
- Mesomorphs
- Endomorphs.
