forensic psychology - atavistic form

Question 1

define the atavistic form

Answer 1

Atavistic form is a biological approach to explaining offending. criminal activity -> to a lack of evolutionary development.

Question 2

what does lombroso (1876) suggest ?

Answer 2

suggests that criminality is inherited and that someone “born criminal”’ could be identified by the way they look.

distinct biological class of people  that are 'throwbacks' -> prone to criminality. 
biological characteristics from early human development -> manifested into criminality

Question 3

what did lombroso do in terms of research and what did he find

Answer 3

study of 383 dead Italian criminals and 3839 living ones he found 40% of them had atavistic characteristics

Question 4

what are some atavistic characteristics

Answer 4

large jaw, forward projection of jaw, low sloping foreheads, high cheekbones, flattened or upturned nose, handle-shaped etc
some are specific to particular crimes committed by offender
eg sexual deviants -> fleshy lips

Question 5

what is a strength of atavistic form (contribution to criiminology)

Answer 5

lombroso and his theory of the atavistic form has made major contributions to science of criminology

eg - led the shift from emphasis on moralistic discourse towards more scientific + credible perspective (evolutionary influences + genetics)

started beginning of criminal profiling
hailed father of modern criminology

Question 6

what is a limitation of the atavistic form (racism)

Answer 6

has distinct racist undertones by critics

eg features Lombroso identifies to be criminal
curly hair, dark skin -> found among people of African descent

as result this could be seen as socially sensitive
creates an controversial + uncomfortable perspective to profiling

Question 6

what is a limitation of the atavistic form (racism)

Answer 6

has distinct racist undertones by critics

eg features Lombroso identifies to be criminal
curly hair, dark skin -> found among people of African descent

as result this could be seen as socially sensitive
creates an controversial + uncomfortable perspective to profiling

Question 7

what is another limitation to the atavistic approach (evidence against)

Answer 7

there is contradictory evidence to lombroso

eg Goring (1913) conducted comparison between 3000 criminals + 3000 non criminals 
no evidence of offenders having distinct facial and cranial features 

this questions key element of theory - criminals are different in terms of appearance
suggest - not accurate + shouldn’t be used

Question 8

what is another limitation of atavistic form

Answer 8

• just because link between atavistic elements in facial appearance and criminals
• doesn’t mean facial differences causes offending
• appearance can be influenced by poverty, poor diet etc.
• reduced effectiveness for evolutionary explanation