Atavistic form

• Atavistic form = a biological approach to offending that attributes criminal activity to the fact that offenders are genetic throwbacks or primitive subspecies ill-suited to conforming to rules of modern society. Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial features
• Lombroso's historical approach laid the foundations of profiling 


  Cesare Lombroso (1876) was an Italian physician. He proposed that criminals were 'genetic throwbacks' - a primitive sub-species who were biologically different from non-criminals. This is the 'atavistic form'. His theory of the atavists form, though now discredited, laid the foundation for modern offender profiling.
• Offenders lack evolutionary development 


  Offenders were seen by Lombroso as lacking evolutionary development. Their savage and untamed nature meant that they would find it impossible to adjust to civilised society and would inevitably turn to crime.

  Therefore Lombroso saw criminal behaviour as an innate tendency and thus was proposing a new perspective that the criminal was not at fault. In this way his ideas were revolutionary.
• Atavistic features were biologically determined

  Lombroso argued the criminal sub-type could be identified as being in possession of physiological 'markers'.

  These atavistic characteristics are biologically determined.

  These characteristics are mainly features of the head and face that make criminals physically different from the rest of us
• Cranial and other physical and emotional features

  In terms of characteristics of the skull (cranium), the atavistic form included:

  • A narrow, sloping brow
  • A strong prominent jaw
  • High cheekbones
  • Facial asymmetry

  Other physical features included dark skin and existence of extra toes, nipple or fingers.

  Besides physical traits, Lombroso suggested there were other aspects of the atavistic form including insensitivity to pain, use of criminal slang, tattoos and unemployment
• Different types of criminals have different physical characteristics 


  Lombroso suggested that particular physiological 'markers' were linked to particular types of crime.

  For example, murderers were described as having blood bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears.

  Sexual deviants were described as having glinting eyes with swollen and fleshy lips
• Lombroso's research found 40% of criminal acts accounted for by atavistic characteristics


  Lombroso meticulously examined the facial and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839 living ones. From this research he proposed the atavistic form. He concluded that 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by people with atavistic characteristics.
• What is the atavistic form?

  Early biological explanation - proposed criminals are:

  - Sub-species (genetic throwbacks) that cannot conform to the rules of society

  - Such individuals are distinguishable by particular facial and cranial characteristics
• Who came up with the atavistic form?

  Cesare Lombroso

  
• What are some features of criminals, murderers and sexual deviants? (name 2)

  CRIMINALS:

  •Strong, prominent jaw

  •High cheekbones

  •Dark skin

  •Extra toes, nipples or fingers

  MURDERS:

  •Bloodshot eyes

  •Curly hair

  •Long ears

  SEXUAL DEVIANTS

  •Glinting eyes

  •Swollen, fleshy lips
• What was Cesare Lombroso's study?

  • Investigated facial + cranial features of hundreds of Italian convicts: living and dead.

  • After examining 3839 living criminals:

  • Concluded that 40% of the crimes were accounted for by atavistic characteristics
• What is one strength of Lombroso's Atavistic Form?

  • He paved way to 'criminal profiling' by using more scientific process by searching for atavistic characteristics rather than just attributing criminality to moral influence
• What is one Limitation of Lombroso's Atavistic Form? (racism)

  • DeLisi (2012) - drew attention to distinct racist undertones in Lombroso's work.

  Many of the 'atavistic characteristics' can be found among African decent.

  • Also influence the eugenics movement
• What is one Limitation of Lombroso's Atavistic Form? (contradictory evidence)

  • Goring (1913) - compared 3000 criminals + 3000 non-criminals + found no evidence criminals had atavistic characteristics.

  • He did find lower intelligence was a key feature, something Lombroso argued for also
• What is one Limitation of Lombroso's Atavistic Form? (no control group)

  • No control group - Lombroso didn't have a control group, so could not make comparisons

  • Many of the criminals Lombroso studied had psychological disorders which may have confounded the findings
• One strength of Lombroso's research is its large contribution to criminology 


  Lombroso has been hailed as the 'father of modern criminology' (Hollin 1989) and credited as shifting emphasis in research away from moralistic (weak minded) discourse to scientific discourse (genetics/evolution). Also, in trying to describe how particular types of people are likely to commit particular types of crime, Lombroso's theory heralded the beginning of criminal profiling. In this way he made a major contribution to the science of criminology.