Historical Explanations

Question 1

Atavistic (Ancestral) Form:

Answer 1

• Early biological explanation
• Proposed criminals are a subspecies of genetic throwbacks that cannot conform to the rules of modern society
• Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial characterisitcs

Question 2

Cesare Lombroso

Answer 2

• Father of modern criminology - created it as a scientific discipline for the first time
• Investigated facial and cranial features of hundreds of Italian convicts - both living and dead
• Examined ~4K living criminals - concluded that 40% of crimes were accounted for by atavistic characteristics
• First attempt at any form of criminal profiling
• Strongly against ‘free will’ explanations

Question 3

Atavistic form

Answer 3

• Assumes innate psychological makeup of the person causes criminality (i.e. born to be criminal)
• Offenders - ‘genetic throwbacks’ or ‘primitive subspecies’ who were biologicall different from non-criminals
• Lack evolutionary development - savage/untamed nature - unable to conform to demands of civilised society
• Distinguished by particular features & cranial characteristics

Question 4

Atavistic Characteristics

Answer 4

• Facial & Cranial: Narrow/sloping brow, strong/prominent jaw, high cheekbones, facial asymmetry
• Body: Dark skin, extra toes/nipples/fingers
• Other: Insensitivity to pain, use of sland, tattoos, unemployment

Question 5

Atavistic form: different types of criminals

Answer 5

• Murderers - bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears
• Sexual deviants - glinting eyes, swollen/fleshy lips
• Fraudsters - thin/reedy lips

Question 6

Somatotypes - Body Shape (Kretschmer 1921 & Sheldon 1954)

Answer 6

Studied over 4K criminals and came up with classifications
* Ectomorph - Tall and thin - petty crimes
* Mesomorph - Tall & Muscular - violent crimes
* Endomorph - Short & fat - deception
* Dysplastic - multiple types - crimes against morality

Question 7

Eugenics

Answer 7

Genetically ‘unfit’ people should be prevented from breeding

Question 8

Contradictory Evidence - Goring (1913)

Answer 8

• Compared 3K criminals with 3K non-criminals
• Concluded there is no evidence of facial characteristics being distinc in the criminal group
• Upheld view that criminals generally have lower IQ

Question 9

Contradictory Evidence - DeLisi (2012)

Answer 9

Scientific racism evident in the fact that atavistic features defined are specific to people of African descent

Question 10

Contradictory Evidence - Lombroso

Answer 10

Revised earlier theory to include fact that criminals can also be made due to variety of environmental factors