atavistic form

• Who conducted a biological explanation of offending behaviour in 1876?

  Lombroso
• What was the sample size of Lombroso's analysis of criminals?

  around 400 dead criminals and 4000 living criminals
• What percentage of criminal acts did Lombroso propose could be accounted for by atavistic features?

  40%
• What term did Lombroso use to describe criminals as genetic throwbacks?

  Atavism
• According to Lombroso, why would criminals inevitably turn to a life of crime?

  Because of their savage and untamed nature
• What did Lombroso argue about the nature of criminals?


  That they are born, not made
• What are some physical features Lombroso associated with criminals?

  Large protruding jaws, low sloping foreheads, high cheekbones, flattened noses, facial asymmetry, dark skin, possible extra toes, nipples, or fingers
• How did Lombroso categorize murderers based on their physical characteristics?

  Murderers have bloodshot eyes, curly hair, and long ears
• What physical traits did Lombroso associate with sexual deviants?

  Glinty eyes, swollen and fleshy lips, and projecting ears
• What did Lombroso link to fraudsters in terms of physical characteristics?

  Thin reedy lips
• What title has Lombroso been given in the field of criminology?

  The father of modern criminology
• What shift did Lombroso's work represent in the understanding of criminal behaviour?

  It shifted the focus from moral judgment to genetic and evolutionary processes
• What contribution did Lombroso make to offender profiling?

  He linked physical features to types of criminal
• What criticism has been directed at Lombroso's theory regarding race?

  It has been labeled as racist due to its association of certain features with African descent
• How is Lombroso's description of atavistic form linked to the eugenics movement?

  It suggested that not all people are born equal and that some groups possess desirable traits
• What was Goring's sample size in his analysis of criminals?

  3,000 criminals and 3,000 non-criminals
• What did Goring find regarding the physical characteristics of criminals?

  He found no evidence that criminals possess certain facial or cranial characteristics
• What link did Goring propose between intelligence and criminality?

  A link between low intelligence and criminality
• Why is Goring's research considered more scientifically trustworthy than Lombroso's?

  Because Goring used a control group
• What does Kaplan's "self-derogation" theory suggest about individuals with poor interactions?

  They will develop lower self-esteem and increased frustration, making them more likely to commit criminal behaviour
• What is Kaplan's theory regarding the causes of behaviour?

  • Interactionist approach
  • Interaction between biological aspects of appearance and treatment by others
  • Suggests criminality is caused by both NATURE and NURTURE
• How does Lombroso's theory differ from Kaplan's interactionist approach?

  Lombroso's theory suggests criminality is purely biological, while Kaplan's approach includes both nature and nurture
• What is a clear weakness of Lombroso's theory?

  It is not holistic as it does not consider both biological and environmental factors