Unit 2: Topic 1 - Biological Approaches To Crime

Question 1

What did Lombroso propose

Answer 1

That criminality is inherited and criminals could be identified through their physical features

Question 2

What 2 areas are Lombroso’s views divided into

Answer 2

Inherited criminality, evolution and atavism

Question 3

Physiological definition

Answer 3

Physical form - could be of the body or brain

Question 4

WHO did Lombroso study

Answer 4

Criminals in prisons, non-criminals and the mentally Ill in asylums

Question 5

Examples of what murders had according to Lombroso

Answer 5

Cold, glassy states, bloodshot eyes, big hawk-like noses

Question 6

Evidence for Lombroso’s theory of inherited criminality

Answer 6

The criminal Man study (1876)
He studied around 3,839 alive and 383 dead criminals, he measured their skull sizes, height, arm span, size of their hands, necks, thighs, legs and feet and eye colour
He found that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by certain physical characteristics

Question 7

What was Lombroso’s theory of atavism

Answer 7

He saw criminals as atavistic based on physical features appearing ape-like
He believed criminals represented an earlier primitive stage of evolution

Question 8

What did Lombroso believe atavistic people were

Answer 8

Pre-social, unable to control their impulses and had reduced sensitivity to pain

Question 9

Evidence for Lombroso’s theory of atavism

Answer 9

In his criminal man study he also identified that criminals shared common physical features such as: heavy jaw, sloping forehead, high cheekbones, receding chin, extra fingers or toes, fleshy lips, excessively long arms

Question 10

Evidence to support Lombroso’s theory of atavism

Answer 10

In his 1876 study ‘the criminal man’, Lombroso identified that criminal shared common physical features such as:
Heavy jaw Sloping forehead High cheekbones
Receding chin Extra fingers or toes Fleshy lips Excessively long arms

Question 11

What is a somatotype