Chapter 8: Early Theories of Criminology

Question 1

Initial theories about crime

Answer 1

focus on religious beliefs and superstition; Judeo-Christian ideas of temptation and possession; crime equated with sin

Question 2

The Enlightenment ideas with crime

Answer 2

rapid social change/scientific revolution; view of the world on experience, not authority; the social contract idea

Question 3

Classical School/Theory (3)

Answer 3

social contract idea is prevalent; people broke laws because of rational self-interest; punishment should fit the crime (proportional to harm done); deterrence is the main focus

Question 4

The ideas of Cesare Beccaria

Answer 4

advocated a system severe enough to deter but not so severe that rights were violated

Question 5

Contributions of the Classical School

Answer 5

led to equality & due process in the legal system as well as the idea of fixed penalties

Question 6

Weaknesses of the Classical School

Answer 6

circumstances vary widely; deterrence doctrine not as effective as hoped; notion of free rational person is over simplified

Question 7

Neoclassical ideas

Answer 7

(Gabriel Tarde) sought for more flexibility in the justice system; take individual characteristics and circumstances into account

Question 8

The Statistical School Founders

Answer 8

Andre-Michel Guerry, Adolphe Quetelet, Henry Mayhew

Question 9

Statistical School Ideas

Answer 9

crime resulted from natural social causes; studied factors such as poverty, population density and education; major contribution was the discovery of the regularity of crime (governed by social laws)

Question 10

Lombroso and the Positive School

Answer 10

based on Darwin’s theories; comparing criminals to non-criminals to determine factors; first to study crime scientifically; argued punishment should fit the criminal; introduced indeterminate sentences

Question 11

Definition: Atavism

Answer 11

born criminals who are throwbacks of an earlier stage of evolution; morally inferior to the rest of the population; distinguished through certain physical/behavioral features (Stigmata)

Question 12

Stigmata in criminals

Answer 12

large jaws, high cheekbones, insensitivity to pain, receding foreheads, small eyes; the more of these traits the more likely you were a born versus being an occaisonal criminal

Question 13

4 other types of criminals defined by Lombroso

Answer 13

1) Epileptics
2) Criminally insane
3) Criminals of Passion
4) Criminaloids

Question 14

Biological Theories of the 20th century

Answer 14

Goring found a correlation between criminality and intelligence; Hooton forwarded a eugenics movement; Sheldon based crime on body types; Goddard focused on intelligence as well

Question 15

Stomatotype Theory

Answer 15

proposed by Sheldon, suggested that mesomorphic body types (muscular) were more likely to commit crime than ectomorphs (skinny) and endomorphs (fat)

Question 16

Eugenics use in Canada and the world

Answer 16

1929-1972 eugenics was used in Alberta (case of Leilani Muir); Nazi’s also used eugenics to justify genocide (Hitler ordered all criminals to be sterilized or killed)