biological explanations of crime

• What is the Atavistic Form according to Lombroso?

  Criminals lack evolutionary development
• What are some atavistic characteristics identified by Lombroso?

  Facial asymmetry and high cheekbones
• What did Lombroso's research on Italian convicts reveal?

  Identified physical anomalies in 40% of criminals
• What traits are associated with murderers according to Lombroso?

  Bloodshot eyes and curly hair
• What is Investigative Psychology?

  Matching crime details with past behavior patterns
• What is a significant contribution of Lombroso to criminology?

  Shifted focus to scientific approaches in crime
• What did Goring's study conclude about atavism?

  No distinct facial features linked to crime
• What is a limitation of Lombroso's research methods?

  Did not use a control group of non-offenders
• What is the Atavistic Form according to Lombroso?

  Criminals lack evolutionary development
• What is a criticism of biological explanations of crime?

  They ignore environmental influences on behavior
• What are some atavistic characteristics identified by Lombroso?

  Facial asymmetry, dark skin, tattoos
• How many offenders did Lombroso study?

  4,222 offenders
• What types of offenders did Lombroso identify?

  Murderers, sexual deviants, fraudsters
• What are the evaluations of the Atavistic Form?

  • Paved the way for modern criminology
  • Lack of evidence linking atavism to crime
  • Poorly controlled investigation methods
• What did Goring conclude about criminals?

  No distinct unusual facial features
• What did Goring suggest about criminals' intelligence?

  Criminals have lower than average intelligence
• What was a significant flaw in Lombroso's methods?

  No control group of non-offenders
• Who proposed the atavistic form theory of offending?

  Cesare Lombroso
• What are atavistic features according to Lombroso?

  Primitive physical characteristics of criminals
• What did Lombroso conclude about criminal acts?

  40% could be accounted for by atavistic features
• What is a strength of Lombroso’s theory?

  It shifted the study of crime to a scientific basis
• What is a major limitation of Lombroso’s research?

  Lack of scientific rigor and control groups
• What did Goring (1913) find regarding Lombroso’s claims?

  No significant differences in facial features
• What criticism does the atavistic form theory face regarding determinism?

  It implies individuals are born criminals
• What social harm can arise from the atavistic form theory?

  Reinforcement of negative stereotypes