The Historical, Biological Approach

Question 1

Lombroso’s atavistic form:

Answer 1

Lombroso proposed that criminals were:
- genetic throwbacks
- biologically different
- lacked evolutionary development
- primitive subspecies

Their savage and untamed nature means that they are not suited for a civilised society and inevitably turn to crime.

It is therefore an innate tendency - not their fault.

Question 2

Biologically determined physical markers (and issues)

Answer 2

• Darker skin - racially motivated
• Language difference, slang - racially motivated
• Extra toes, nipples, fingers
• Tattoos
• Unemployed - classist
• High cheekbones, strong prominent jaw

Question 3

Physiological marker linked to particular crimes

Answer 3

Murderers: bloodshot eyes, curly hair, long ears

Sexual deviants: fleshy lips, glint in their eyes

Question 4

Lombroso’s research in Italian prison:

Answer 4

meticulously examined the cranial and facial features of 400 dead convicts and 4,000 living criminals of criminals across Italy.

He concluded that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by people with the atavistic form. Based only on the prison population.

Question 5

Ao3 strengths:

Answer 5

+ Lombroso played an important role in a shift away from theories based on feeble-mindedness, wickedness and demonic possession e.g Salem witch trials. Consequently, Lombroso is a forerunner of more scientific biological explanations.

+ Lombroso shifted the emphasis in crime research away from moralistic to scientific. This also initiated offender profiling by linking particular types of people committing particular types of crime. This demonstrates that Lombroso made a huge contribution to the field of criminology from a scientific point of view.

Question 6

AO3 weaknesses:

Answer 6

• Many features that Lombroso identified are common of the African descent, a view that fitted 19th century eugenic attitudes (to prevent these groups procreating). This implies that theory is subjective and hugely influenced by racial prejudice.
• research shows living conditions such as poverty is a factor associated with offending. This implies that Lombroso’s research is not empirical by todays standards. !! Facial and Cranial differences may be influence by other factors such as poverty, poor diet or other environmental factors. This suggests that the concept of an innate atavistic form as a predisposing factor for criminality has little to no value in explaining offending behaviour.
• methodological issues (based on restricted sample, beta bias as men used only, culturally relative)
• Socially sensitive research (racially motivate, classist)

Also, suggesting that criminality is innate raises many issues with the criminal justice system as it is unethical to punish people acting on innate principles that are out of their free will.