FORENSIC PSYCHOLOGY - biological explanations: A historical approach - Atavistic approach

Question 1

Define Atavistic form.

Answer 1

An early biological explanation which proposed that criminals are a sub-species of genetic throwbacks that cannot conform to rules of modern society. Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial characteristics.

Question 2

whos theory is the Atavistic form?

Answer 2

Lombroso (1876)

Question 3

How is Lombroso’s approach biological?

Answer 3

Lombroso saw offender behaviour as a natural tendency, rooted in the genes of those who engage in it =
Offending behaviour is innate

Question 4

What are the offender types?

Answer 4

Atavistic characteristics =
CRANIAL CHARACTERISTICS :
- high cheekbones
- facial asymmetry
- prominent jaw

Other characteristics:
- dark skin
- extra toes
- extra fingers

MURDERERS : blood shot eys, curly hair, long ears
SEXUAL DEVIANTS: glinting eyes, swollen lips, thin and reedy lips

Question 5

Explain Lombroso’s research.

Answer 5

• examined facial and cranial features of living and dead Italian convicts
  -concluded there was an atavistic form
• concluded that these features were key indicators of criminality
• 40% of criminal acts are committed by people with atavistic characteristics

Question 6

Explain the Eugenics movement?

Answer 6

genetically unfit people should be prevented from breeding (Galton 1880)

Question 7

Give strengths of the Atavistic approach.

Answer 7

+ Lombroso’s research changed the face of the study of crime= Shifted crime research to a more scientific and credible position. Indicated the beginning of offender profiling = Increases value of study

Question 8

Give limitations of the Atavistic approach.

Answer 8

• SCIENTIFIC RACISM = De Lisi (2012) = many of the atavistic features defined are specific to people of African descent. eg curly hair and dark skin = The atavistic theory is highly subjective than objective, influenced by racial prejudices at the time.
• CONTRADICTORY EVIDENCE = Goring (1913) - after comparing 3000 criminals against 3000 non criminals = concluded there is no evidence of facial characteristics being distorted in criminal groups. = challenges the idea that offenders can be physically distinguished.
• POOR CONTROL = there are no control groups and there are many CV’s = Lombroso’s research doesn’t meet modern scientific standards = this decreases the validity of Lombroso’s findings.