Atavistic form

• What is the atavistic form explanation? What are some atavistic features?

  • Lombroso (1876) believed criminals were primitive sub-species who are biologically different to non-criminals, lacking evolutionary change
  • Criminals have high cheekbones, dark skin
  • Murderers have long eyes and curly hair
  • Other traits include tattoos, glinting eyes, either thin or swollen lips
• What was Lombroso (1876)'s research?

  • Examined the skulls of 3839 living criminals and 383 dead criminals and concluded that 40% of their crimes were committed by people with atavistic features
  • Argues that a person's atavistic characteristics interacted with the environment in a negative way
• What is a strength of the atavistic form explanation?

  • Carrabine et al (2014): Lombroso's research was more scientific than others at the time - emphasised an evidence-based approach in investigating offending behaviour
  • Challenged paradigms believing crime was simply just free will - he argued crime was biologically determined and advocated for less harsh treatment for criminals
• What is a limitation of the atavistic form explanation?

  • Social sensitivity in scientific racism: Matt DeLisi (2012) pointed out that Lombroso's atavistic features have racist undertones as they are more likely found in people of African descent
  • By suggesting Africans are more likely to be offenders, his theory becomes highly subjective and influenced by racial prejudices at the time, contradicting its' "scientific" basis
• What is another limitation of the atavistic form explanation?

  • Contradictory evidence: Goring (1913) compared 3000 offenders to 3000 non-offenders and concluded there was NO evidence to suggest offenders are a distinct group with unusual facial and cranial characteristics
  • Challenges the idea that offenders can be physically distinguished from the rest of the population, unlikely to be a sub-species
• What is a limitation of Lombroso's research in atavistic features?

  • Poor control of important variables: did not compare his sample to a control group like Goring did with non-offenders, which could have avoided confounding variables
  • Hay and Forrest (2009): links between crime and social conditions like poverty and poor educational outcomes could've explained some atavistic features
  • Suggests Lombroso's research does not meed modern scientific standards