forensic explanations Flashcards
Atavistic Form
Biological Explanation
Biological approach to offending behaviour that attributes criminal activity to the fact that offenders are genetic throwbacks or a primitive sub-species ill-suited to conforming to the rules of modern society. Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial characteristics.
Atavistic Form
Lombroso 1876
Examined features of Italian convicts 383 dead and 3839 living criminals, concluding that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by atavistic characteristics
proposed that the atavistic form was associated with a number of physical anomalies which were key indicators of criminality.
Atavistic Characteristics
Lombroso 1876
cranial features: narrow, sloping forehead strong prominent jaw high cheekbones facial asymmetry dark skin extra toes or fingers
murderers: bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears
sexual deviants: glinting eyes, swollen lips, projecting ears
fraudsters: thin lips
Atavistic Form
summary of evaluation
Contributed to criminology
Scientific racism: Matt Desli
Contradictory evidence: Charles Goring (1913)
Poor Control
Correlation, not causation
Atavistic Form
Strengths
Contributed to criminology:
Hollin praised Lombroso as the ‘father of modern criminology’
Shifted crime research from moralistic disclosure (offenders were judged as weak-minded and wicked)towards a more scientific and credible realm
Atavistic Form
Weaknesses
Scientific Racism: Matt Desli - racial undertones. Many atavistic features found among African descent. Supports eugenic philosophies and social Darwinism
Contradictory Evidence: Goring compared 3000 criminals and 3000 non-criminals. No evidence supporting the theory (suggested it was lower intelligence instead)
Poor Control: Researcher bias and no control group.
Causation: Characteristics influenced by other variables, like poverty. Environmental factors could be the influence.
Genetic Explanation
Biological Explanation
Suggest offenders inherit a gene, or combination of genes hat predispose them to commit crime. Genes consist of DNA which produces ‘instructions’ for physical features (size of brain structures) These impact psychological features (mental disorder and intelligence)
Neural Explanation
Biological Explanation
Explanation of behaviour and its disorders in terms of (dys)functions of the rain and nervous system. Neural differences in the brains of criminals and non-criminals.
Investigation of antisocial personality disorder (psychopath)
