Biological Explanation of Offender behaviour

• Who is the founder of the atavistic form in forensic psychology?

  Cesar Lombroso
• What is the atavistic form in the context of forensic psychology?

  It is an early biological explanation of offending behavior.
• What does Lombroso suggest about criminals in his theory?

  He suggests that criminals are genetic throwbacks and biologically different from non-criminals.
• How did Lombroso's view of criminals differ from previous perspectives on crime?

  He viewed crime as a natural tendency rooted in genetics rather than a moral failing.
• What are atavistic characteristics according to Lombroso?

  They are physiological markers linked to criminal behavior, primarily features of the face and head.
• What are some examples of atavistic features identified by Lombroso?

  • Sloping brow
  • Strong jaw
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Curly hair
  • Long ears
  • Dark skin
  • Extra toes or fingers
  • Insensitivity to pain
• How did Lombroso categorize different types of offenders?

  He suggested that different types of offenders possess specific physical and facial characteristics.
• What physical characteristics did Lombroso associate with murderers?

  Bloodshot eyes, curly hair, and long ears.
• What did Lombroso claim about the percentage of criminal acts committed by individuals with atavistic characteristics?

  He claimed that 40% of criminal acts were committed by people with atavistic characteristics.
• What was one major contribution of Lombroso to the field of criminology?

  He shifted the study of crime towards a more scientific and biological perspective.
• What criticism did Delisi raise regarding Lombroso's work?

  Delisi suggested that Lombroso's work had racist undertones and linked physical features to criminality.
• What was the eugenics movement that Lombroso's work is associated with?

  It was a movement that promoted the idea of genetic superiority and selective reproduction.
• What did Goring's research in 1913 conclude about Lombroso's theory?

  Goring found no evidence to support Lombroso's idea of physical or mental abnormalities among offenders.
• What was a significant flaw in Lombroso's research methodology?

  He failed to control important variables and did not have a control group of non-offenders.
• How did confounding variables affect Lombroso's findings?

  Confounding variables, such as links between crime and poverty, could explain the characteristics he observed.
• What are the evaluation points regarding Lombroso's atavistic form?

  • Strength: Shifted crime study to a scientific perspective.
  • Counterpoint: Racist undertones in his work.
  • Contradictory evidence from Goring's research.
  • Methodological flaws due to lack of control variables.