Physiological Explantions Of Criminality Flashcards
Lombroso’s theory
He believed that criminals were a separate species and called atavistic feature theory. They were throwbacks to an earlier stage of human development that manifested as a tendency to commit crimes.
Examples of atavistic features
Heavy brow, very small or big ears, large jaws and excessively long arms.
How Lombroso studied this theory
He examined 4000 living and 400 dead criminal facial and cranial features he concluded that 40% had atavistic features. He concluded that they held other physical traits such as insensitive to pain, use of criminal slang and unemployment. He had no control group as he only looked at criminals.
Criticisms of lombroso’s theory
Goring found no correlation in his London study as he found no facial features that linked to criminality.
A study that supports Lombroso
Chinese study supported this as ID photos of 1856 men half of which had a criminal conviction were entered into an artificial intelligence programme. It correctly flagged criminal men 83% of the time (But incorrectly identified innocent men 6%)
Sheldon’s theory
He examined over 4000 photos of front, side and back. Sheldon argued there were 3 fundamental body types known as somatotypes.
3 Somatotypes of bodies
Endomorph- fat and soft and tend to be sociable and relaxed
Ectomorph- thin and fragile and tend to be introverted and refrained
Mesomorph- muscular and hard and more aggressive and adventurous
Criminals who committed violent and aggressive acts were mesomorphic and the least likely is ectomorph.
Evaluations of somatotypes
Criminals may purposely work out and become a mesomorph
Might lead to labelling of innocent people
Focused on violent crime, crimes that need physical prowess
Body types can be altered via behaviour, upbringing, circumstances
