BIOLOGICAL THEORIES OF CRIME : PHYSIOLOGICAL

Question 1

what two theories are physiological biological theories of crime?

Answer 1

Sheldon

Lombroso

Question 2

what did Sheldon look at?

Answer 2

body types and how they link to criminality

Question 3

how many different body types did Sheldon identify?

Answer 3

3

Question 4

what are the three body types that Sheldon identified?

Answer 4

ectomorphic
endomorphic
mesomorphic

Question 5

what is an ectomorphic body type?

Answer 5

fat and soft

Question 6

what are the characteristics of an ectomorphic person?

Answer 6

sociable and fun loving

Question 7

what is an endomorphic body type?

Answer 7

thin and fragile

Question 8

what are the characteristics of an endomorphic body type?

Answer 8

anxious and private

Question 9

what is a mesomorphic body type?

Answer 9

muscular and built

Question 10

what are the characteristics of mesomorphic body type?

Answer 10

aggressive and violent

Question 11

what does Sheldon say about the mesomorphic body type?

Answer 11

they are more likely to commit crime as they will be more aggressive with testosterone

Question 12

what is research to support Sheldon’s theory?

Answer 12

Glueck and Glueck who found 60% of mesomorphs in a crim population and 31% in a non-crim population

Question 13

what are some limitations of Sheldon’s theory?

Answer 13

not all mesomorphs are criminals
someone’s body type is not fixed
mesomorphs may be targeted because of the way that they looks
other body types can commit crime

Question 14

what is Lombroso’s theory about?

Answer 14

atavistic (ancient) characteristics

Question 15

what did Lombroso argue criminals are?

Answer 15

a throwback to an earlier stage of human evolution

Question 16

give some examples of atavistic characteristics

Answer 16

large jaws
extra fingers
monobrows
long limbs

Question 17

who did he compare these atavistic characteristics to?

Answer 17

italian prisoners and italian soldiers

Question 18

men needed … of these characteristics to be seen as criminal

Answer 18

5

Question 19

women needed … of these characteristics to be seen as criminal

Answer 19

3

Question 20

what is one strength of Lombroso’s theory?

Answer 20

It bought scientific credibility to criminology

Question 21

what year did DeLisi criticise Lombroso’s work?

Answer 21

2012

Question 22

what phrase did DeLisi use to describe Lombroso’s work?

Answer 22

scientifically racist

Question 23

what does the phrase scientific racism mean?

Answer 23

means that the atavistic characteristics that he found were all common in those of African descent

Question 24

what can Lombroso’s theory be described as?

Answer 24

deterministic meaning people cannot escape their fate of criminality