Biological Positivism in depth Flashcards
Ceseare Lombroso
founding father of Biological Positivism. Saw criminals as atavistic - genetic throwbacks to earlier evolution.
Identified 4 types of criminal:
Born criminal
Insane criminal
Occasional criminal
Criminals of passion
Criminal behaviour for all four types is the result of an innate propensity rather than a result of their own fire will.
[However, later work was less reductionistic and included multifactoral approach - social, economic and cultural considerations]
4 types of criminal (Lombroso)
1) The born criminal – true atavistic types – identified by biological details
2) The insane criminal – criminal due to mental illness
3) The occasional criminal – opportunistic criminals who possess innate traits that lead them to commit crime
4) Criminals of passion – offending as a result of some irresistible force
Enrich Ferri
3 causes of crime: anthropological, organic constitution (physical anomalies) of the individual, social environment
Wilson and Herrnstein (1985)
Crime as result of human nature, as it makes any act possible
(Conservative outlook - no need to make changes to society as blames individual actors)
Enduring influences
Wilson and Herrnstein 1985
Influence upon sociologically informed approaches) – emphasis on determinism. Look at factors EXTERNAL to individual (e.g social environment)
Multi-factor approaches
Criminal career approaches – high emphasis on use of data
Continuing emphasis of policy responses on treatment or incapacitation – some forms of biological positivism have informed harsh policies such as Nazi eugenics (castration)
Form of law
Social law - scientific experts determine social harm and proper form of punishment
Purpose of sentencing
Treatment and reform
Focus
Criminal person
Criminological experts
Scientists; treatment through experts
