Physiological theories Flashcards
What year was Lombroso’s theory
1876
What did Lombroso argue
Criminals were physically different from non-criminals
What did Lombroso spend many years measuring and recording
Heads and faces of thousands of prisoners
What did Lombroso conclude
criminals could be identified by their distinctive physical features
What physical features did Lombroso think Criminals had
High cheek bones, handle-shaped ears, Prominent eyebrow arches, exceptionally long arms, large eye sockets extremely acute eye sight.
What did Lombroso argue that murders looked like
‘aquiline’ noses like beak of an eagle
What did Lombroso argue that thieves looked like
Flattened noses
What did Lombroso see criminals as
atavistic, they are ancient, from the primage stages
What were atavistic individuals like
pre-social, unable to control their impulses and had a reduced sensitivty to pain
What did Lombroso therefore argue
criminals were like ‘savages’ or even apes, he claimed that in a primitive society, they would be normal.
What was William Sheldon’s view?
Certain body types ‘somatotypes’ are linked to criminal behaviour
What is Endomorphs somatotype
rounded, soft and tending to fat, lacking muscle or tone, wide hips.
What’s Endomorphs personality
sociable, relaxed, comfortable and outgoing
What is Ectomorphs somatotypes
thin and fragile, lacking both fat and muscle, flat chested, narrow hips and high forehead
What is Ectomorphs personality
Self-conscious, fragile, inward looking, emotionally restrained, thoughtfu
