historical explanations

Question 1

atavistic theory

Answer 1

• offending is an innate tendency rooted in geneaology
• viewed criminals lacked evolutionry development, cant adjust to modern society
• primal features
• genetic throwback
• somatypes

Question 2

atavistic form

Answer 2

• an explanation for criminal behaviour suggesting that certain individuals are born with a criminal personality
• determined by their physiological make up

Question 3

androcentric

Answer 3

• describes a pre-dominantly male perspective that often minimize of completely excludes the female experience and perspective

Question 4

4 somatypes

Answer 4

• leptosome -> tall and thin
• athletic -> tall and muscular
• pyknic -> short and fat
• dysplastic -> more than 1 type of crime/ against morality

Question 5

causation as an issue

Answer 5

• atavistic elements in facial appeareance doesnt necessarily mean they’re the cause for offending
• may have features due to other factors such as diet or poverty
• later acknowledged that it could be environmental factors

Question 6

lombrosos contribution to criminology

Answer 6

• ‘father of modern criminology’
• shifted emphasis in crime research away from moralistic discourse, towards more scientific and credible realm
• contribution to profiling, explained why certain people commit certain crimes

Question 7

statsical evidence in relation to gender bias

Answer 7

• in 2006 80% of sexual offenders were male

Question 8

lombrosos androcentric ideas

Answer 8

• believed women are naturally jealous, passive and low in intelligence
• however have a maternal instincy which neutralises negative traits in them, making them less likely to become criminals
• women who became criminals had masc. characteristics which are fine, but creates a monster in a woman

Question 9

support for somatypes

Answer 9

• Sheldon (1994) studied 200 young adults, discovered differences between criminal and non-criminals body types
• criminals can be identified by psyiological features

Question 10

lombrosos research

Answer 10

• 383 dead, 3839 alive -> italian men
• facial and cranial features
• concluded 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by atavistic characteristics

Question 11

limitations of lombrosos study

Answer 11

• deceased bone structures will detiriorate
• cultural bias, not generalisable
• gender bias, only men