Forensic psychology: Lombroso's atavistic form

Question 1

What type of explanation is the atavistic form?

Answer 1

• Biological explanation
• Specifically a historical approach

Question 2

What did Lombroso describe criminals as?

Answer 2

A genetic subspecies which are less developed on an evolutionary level resulting in savage and untamed behaviour.

Question 3

What does it mean if criminals are inferior/ a subspecies to non criminals?

Answer 3

They cannot adjust to civilised society so criminal activity is inevitable.

Question 4

What type of markers are consistent with criminals?

Answer 4

Physiological markers involving the face and head e.g. narrow sloping brow, strong jaw, facial asymmetry, dark skin and insensitivity to pain.

Question 5

How did Lombroso categorise criminals?

Answer 5

Categorised offender types in terms of physiology

Question 6

Which physiological markers are associated with murderers?

Answer 6

Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears.

Question 7

Which physiological markers are consistent with sexual deviants?

Answer 7

Glinting eyes, swollen fleshy lips, projecting ears.

Question 8

What does atavistic mean?

Answer 8

A tendency to revert to an ancestral type.

Question 9

Which physiological markers are consistent with fraudsters?

Answer 9

Thin reedy lips

Question 10

What general features are consistent of criminals?

Answer 10

Insensitive to pain, use criminal slang, have tattoos, unemployed

Question 11

Describe Lombroso’s research

Answer 11

• Studied facial and cranial features of over 4000 italian convicts (383 dead, 3839 living)
• 40% of criminal acts completed by people with an atavistic form
• Concluded there are physiological features consistent with criminality

Question 12

Limitation: Lombroso’s research was correlational

Answer 12

• Assumes a link between physical defects in the face and skull and behaviour.
• However, Lombroso’s research lacked control: no non-offender control group
• Confounding variables to be considered –> e.g. physical defects due to poor nutrition in childhood.

Question 13

Limitation: contradictory evidence

Answer 13

• Goring (1913)
• Compared 3000 offenders + non-offenders
• No evidence to support atavistic form
• However, found evidence that criminals are less intelligent.

Question 14

Limitation: Lombroso’s research is scientifically racist

Answer 14

• De Lisi (2012)
• Atavistic features consistent with African descent/ people from lower class society
• Subjective + prejudice.

Question 15

Strength: Father of modern criminology

Answer 15

• First person to make crime and criminals a specific area of study
• Led to improved theories of offending and offender profiling

Question 16

Limitation: Biological determinism

Answer 16

• States that the cause of criminal behaviour is because of an uncontrollable inborn factor.
• Implies people have no control over behaviour so shouldn’t accept responsibility
• Not consistent with the justice system