Forensics

• Lombroso compiled a list of 2000 criminals and found that 90% had a distinctive facial structure
• Atavistic characteristic?

  Narrow, sloping brow / strong jaw / high cheekbones / facial asymmetry
• Other physical markers included dark skin, extra toes, nipples and fingers
• Murderers were described as having bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears
• Sexual deviants were described as having glinting eyes, swollen lips and projecting ears
• Lombroso was referred to as the 'Father of modern criminology'
• Lombroso's theory was thought to be the beginning of criminal profiling
• Lombroso did not compared his criminal sample to a non-criminal control group, and many of the criminals studied suffered from psychological disorders
• Atavistic features that lombroso suggested does not mean that this is the cause of their offending behaviour
• Facial and cranial differences may have been influence by other factors such as poverty, poor diet rather than inheritance
• Eugenics?

  The study of or belief in the possibility of improving the qualities of the human species or a human population, especially by such means as discouraging reproduction by persons having genetic defects or presumed to have inheritable undesirable traits
• Socially sensitivity of Lombroso's work?

  Social bias and Negative stereotype
• Hollin 1989?

  Coined the term criminology
• Lombroso emphasised crime research towards a more scientific way with evolutionary influences and genetics causing individuals to not entirely be to blame rather than moralistic discussions in which they were judged as wicked and weak minded
• Matt Delisi (2012)?


  Questioned the positivity of lombroso's work
• Name the biological explanations of offending

  - An historical approach (atavistic form)

  - Genetic and neural explanations
• Name the Italian surgeon responsible for the historical approach of offering

  Cesare Lombroso
• What is Lombroso often referred to as? Why?

  'The father of criminology' because he was one of the first scientists to attempt to study criminal behaviour using scientific methods of observation and measurement.
• Who did Lombroso record the physical and behavioural characteristics of?

  Over 4000 criminals (living and dead)
• When did Lombroso's study take place?

  Late 1800s
• What theory did Lombroso use his observations to propose?

  The 'atavistic form' to describe the characteristics of criminals
• What does atavistic refer to?


  The return to the characteristics of more primitive human species.
• Why did Lombroso argue that criminals are atavistic?

  They share physical and behavioural characteristics with more primitive human species.
• Lombroso proposed that criminality is a ...

  genetically inherited characteristic meaning some people are born criminals
• Name the six features of criminals identified by Lombroso


  1. Facial asymmetry

  2. A protruding chin

  3. Dark skin

  4. Tattoos

  5. Insensitivity to pain

  6. Being unemployed
• Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending

  - Evidence from Goring

  - Interpretation of Goring's findings

  - Scientific racism

  - Deterministic

  - Influence
• Evidence from Goring (Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending)

  - A British criminologist,Charles Goring(1913) measured a range of physical characteristics of 3000 criminals and 3000 non-criminals and reported them in ‘The English Convict: A Statistical Study’.- He concluded that there were no consistent differences between the physical features of criminals and non-criminals.
• Interpretation of Goring's findings (Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending)

  - Goring's findings do not support Lombroso's theory of the atavistic form

  - This is because Goring found no consistent evidence that physical characteristics differed between criminals and non-criminals

  - Goring's findings might be considered more credible because he studied criminals and non-criminals, allowing him to draw conclusions of whether there were difference between the two groups
• Scientific racism (Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending)

  - Lomboros's concept of the atavistic form is considered to be an example of scientific racism

  - Scientific racism occurs when researchers suggest there is evidence to support the inferiority of certain racial groups.

  - Lombroso's research is considered an example of scientific racism because he suggests that there is a link between the colour of a persons skin and criminal behaviour, proposing that people with darker skin are more likely to be criminals

  - The potential ethical implication of Lombroso's theory in Italian society at the time is that it could have led to discrimination towards people with darker skin from people with lighter skin
• Deterministic (Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending)


  - The atavistic form is a deterministic explanation of criminal behaviour

  - This is because it suggests that criminal behaviour is caused by genetic factors which are outside of a persons control

  - Therefore, Lombroso's theory is an example of biological determinism

  - Deterministic explanations suggest that criminals are not personally responsible for their actions

  - However, deterministic explanations of crime do not fit in with the principles of the criminal justice system in most countries

  - This is because the criminal justice system holds people personally responsible for their actions
• Influence (Evaluation of the atavistic form explanation of offending)

  - Lombroso's research is seen as influential in establishing criminology as an independent scientific discipline.

  - Prior to his research, criminal behaviour was often explained as a moral weakness.

  - By studying criminals using what he regarded as scientific methods, Lombroso brought criminal behaviour under the remit of science.

  - For this reason, Lombroso is often referred to as 'the father of criminology'.

  - Therefore, while flawed, his initial research is likely to have stimulated further scientific research into criminal behaviour.
• What do biological explanations propose?

  That offending is caused by factors inside the body.
• What do genetic explanations of offending suggest?

  That a person's genes can make them more likely to commit crime.
• Is criminality likely to be a polygenic or monogenic trait? Explain

  Criminality is likely to be a polygenic trait meaning the probability that someone will commit crime is likely to be influenced by variations in many genes, rather than a single gene variant (allele).
• What has research investigating the link between specific genes and offending found is a gene linked to offending?

  The monoamine oxidase A (MAOA) gene is one gene which has been linked to offending.
• What function does the MAOA gene serve in the body?

  The MAOA gene creates an enzyme which breaks down monoamine neurotransmitters including dopamine and serotonin.
• What two abnormalities with the MAOA gene can disrupt its function?

  If a person has a low-activity allele (variant) of the MAOA gene or a mutated MAOA gene, this may lead to problems regulating the levels of monoamine neurotransmitters in the brain.
• Why might this lead to criminal behaviour?

  The neurochemical imbalance caused by an abnormality with the MAOA gene may result in poorer behavioural control leading to criminal behaviour.
• Evidence from Ferguson et al relating to genetic explanations of offending


  -Ferguson et al(2012) analysed the genetic and environmental influences of 400 males in New Zealand from birth to 30 years old.- They found that males with a low-activity allele of the MAOA gene and childhood adversity such as abuse or neglect were significantly more likely to report criminal offending by their early 20s.
• Evidence from Brunner et al relating to genetic explanations of offending


  -Brunner et al(1993) reported on a Dutch family where several of the males had committed violent crimes including rape and assault.- When the genes of the family were investigated, they discovered a mutation in the MAOA gene.