lesson 3 - atavistic form

Question 1

explain a historical approach to offending

Answer 1

In 1876, Cesare Lombroso, an Italian physician, suggested that criminal
individuals were ill-suited to modern society. He believed that criminals were genetic throwbacks, a primitive sub-species, who were biologically different from non-criminals.

Question 2

how did lombroso view offenders

Answer 2

Offenders were seen by Lombroso as lacking evolutionary development, their savage and untamed nature meant that they would find it impossible to adjust to the demands of civilized society and would inevitably turn to crime. As such,
Lombroso saw criminal behaviour as a natural tendency, rooted in the genealogy of those who engage in it.

Question 3

what did lombroso claim ab atavistic form

Answer 3

Lombroso argued that the criminal sub-species could be identified by a set of particular physiological characteristics that were linked to particular types of crime. These were biologically determined atavistic (meaning reversion to something ancestral) characteristics, mainly features of the face and head,
which indicate that criminals are physically different from the rest of us.

Question 4

what is atavistic form in term if cranial characteristics

Answer 4

In terms of cranial characteristics, the atavistic form included a narrow,
sloping brow, a strong prominent jaw, high cheekbones and facial asymmetry. Other physical features included dark skin and extra, toes, nipples or fingers. Murders were described as having bloodshot eyes, curly hair, and long ears. Sexual deviants as having glinting eyes, swollen/fleshy lips and projecting ears. Lips of fraudsters were thin and ‘reedy’.

Question 5

what other characteristics did lombroso say criminals were born w

Answer 5

Besides physical traits Lombroso also suggested that there were other
characteristics of the born criminal, including insensitivity to pain, use of
criminal slang, tattoos and unemployment.

Lombroso meticulously examined the facial and cranial features of Italian convicts, both living and dead, and proposed that the atavistic form was associated with a number of physical anomalies which were key indicators of criminality. In total, Lombroso examined the skulls of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones, and concluded that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by the criminal subspecies.

Question 6

strengths of atavistic form

Answer 6

The atavistic form had an important role in the shift away from theories
based on feeble-mindedness, wickedness and demonic possession. It was the forerunner to more biological explanations (evolutionary and genetic).

Question 7

weaknesses of atavistic form

Answer 7

Several critics have drawn attention to the distinct racist undertones in
Lombroso’s work. Many of the features he described as atavistic (e.g. dark skin and curly hair) are most likely to be found in people of African descent. His claim that atavistic characteristics were uncivilized, savage and primitive
supported the eugenic philosophy.

• Goring (1913) set out to establish if there were any physical or mental
  abnormalities among the criminal classes. After conducting a comparison of 3,000 criminals and 3,000 non-criminals he 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.
• Lombroso did not compare his criminal sample to a non-criminal control group. If he had done then the differences he reported may have disappeared.
• Even if criminals have atavistic characteristics this not necessarily mean that these characteristics cause their criminal behaviour. Facial and cranial features
  can be influenced by poverty and poor diet, which can also lead people to crime.