L3 - Atavistic Form Flashcards

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1
Q

Cesare Lombroso

A

Italian physician who suggested criminals were genetic throwbacks, biologically different from non criminals

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2
Q

How did Lombroso see offenders?

A

People that lacked evolutionary development - savage and untamed nature

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3
Q

Why did Lombroso see offending as a natural tendency?

A

Their lack of development means it’s too hard for them to keep up with the demands of society so they inevitably turn to crime

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4
Q

What is atavistic form?

A

(L) argued that criminals could be identified by a set of physical characteristics that were linked to particular crimes. Mainly features of the face and head which indicate criminals are physically different to the rest of us

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5
Q

Atavistic

A

Reversion to something ancestral

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6
Q

Atavistic form characteristics

A

Narrow, sloping brow, strong prominent jaw, high cheekbones and facial asymmetry. Other features include dark skin, extra toes, nipples or fingers

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7
Q

Murderer characteristics as described by Lombroso

A

Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears

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8
Q

Sexual deviant characteristics

A

Glinting eyes, swollen lips, projecting ears

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9
Q

Fraudsters characteristics

A

Thin and reedy lips

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10
Q

Alternative criminal characteristics suggested by Lombroso (non physical)

A

Insensitivity to pain, use of criminal slang, tattoos and unemployment

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11
Q

LOMBROSO’s study on Italian convicts outline

A

He examined the head and faces of living and dead Italian convicts, he proposed that atavistic form was associated with a number of physical anomalies which indicated criminality

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12
Q

LOMBROSO STUDY results

A

He examined 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones. Concluded that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by the criminal subculture

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13
Q

EV: (+) foundation for more biological approaches

A

The atavistic form was important because it helped shift away from theories based on wickedness and demonic possession which isn’t very scientific, it laid foundations for future biological explanations

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14
Q

EV: (-) racist

A

This explanation for criminality has distinct racist themes, many of the features he described as atavistic (dark skin and curly hair) are most likely to be found amongst African people. It supports the eugenic philosophy which is very bad

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15
Q

EV: (-) GORING’s study

A

Conducted a comparison of 3000 criminals and 3000 non criminals and concluded that there was no evidence that offenders had particular facial and cranial characteristics.

However, he did suggest that criminals are more likely to have a below average intelligence

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16
Q

EV: (-) LOMBROSOs initial study

A

Lombroso did not compare his criminal sample to a non criminal control group, if he had then the differences might not have been present

17
Q

EV: (-) cause and effect

A

Even if criminals do have these characteristics it doesn’t mean that these characteristics caused their criminal behaviour - there are multiple factors that lead a person to committing crime and these factors may have also caused the physical characteristics seen in their face and head such as poor diet and poverty