Biological positivism

Question 1

What are the names of the theorists for biological positivism?

Answer 1

Lomboso and Sheldom

Question 2

how does positivism relate to classism?

Answer 2

Positivism challenged classical theory by arguing that classical theory could not be correct since deterrence techniques (prisons) are not effective and therefore people are not rations.
They argued instead that there must be something in a persons genes which makes them inherently criminal.

Question 3

What are the basis of the theory?

Answer 3

• People are ‘born’ criminal (Lombroso); it is in their genes; they are comprised of deficits which make them more likely to become criminals

Question 4

What techniques/differences were first observed?

Answer 4

• Began by comparing physical features, such as head size and shape, distance between eyes, symmetrical or not, etc.
• Sheldom looked at body shape: endomorphs, mesomorphs and ectomorphs
• Lombroso later divided criminals into epileptic, insane and occasional criminals
• Argued that women who commit crimes are more genetically like men that ‘normal women’

Question 5

What are Sheldom’s body types and what did he hypothesise about each one?

Answer 5

Endomorphs: large, round: some criminals
Mesomorph: athletic, strong, tall: most criminals
Ectomorph: skinny, weak: no criminals

Question 6

How is this theory applied to ‘solve’ crime?

Answer 6

• Develop scientific research to determine characteristics which define a criminal
• Focus on techniques to deal with and treat/cure ‘born criminals
• Punishment/treatment needs to be individual specific to target the cause of the deficit

Question 7

What are examples of evidence supporting the theory?

Answer 7

• Family studies
• Twin Studies
• Adoption studies
• Brain scans

Question 8

What do family studies show?

Answer 8

75% of parents who had criminal history had a child who was then convicted of some crime

Question 9

What do twin studies show?

Answer 9

Identical twins had the same criminal tendencies

Non-identical twins had different criminal tendencies

Question 10

What do adoption studies show?

Answer 10

50% of adopted children whose biological mother had a criminal record became criminal
Only 5% of adopted children whose biological mother did not have a criminal record became criminal

Question 11

What do brain scans show?

Answer 11

Psychopath’s brains had different part which function/do not function, compared to ‘normal’ brains.
Psychopaths have a ‘warrior’ gene.

Question 12

Criticisms of positivism?

Answer 12

1. Too much focus on street crime; evidence doesn’t explain white collar crime
2. Studies are done on criminals: there could be many others out there with the same characteristics who are not criminal (correlation v causation)
3. Racist conclusion can result
4. Depends greatly on the definition of crime: which is fluid and based on moral norms
5. The theory only discovers people after they offend
   - how do we reduce/PREVENT criminal behaviour?
   - can you punish someone for having the ‘wrong genes’ before they actually engage in criminal behaviour?