Physiological Theories of Criminality

• Cesare Lombroso Atavism Theory:

  • came up with the first physiological theory
  • concluded that criminals could be identified by distinctive physical features
  • Examples: big jaw, high cheek bones, handle shaped ears, prominent eyebrow arches, exceptionally long arms, acute eyesight.
  • He went further to say certain criminals have specific features
  • Examples: murderers have big beady eyes and beak-like noses and sex offenders had thick lips.
• • Atavism- the idea that criminals are “throwbacks” to a primitive version of human kind- almost going back in evolutionary terms.
  • Lombroso said that criminals are pre-social, had a higher pain threshold who were unable to control their criminal due to these features
  • In his view criminals who were born savages were primitive humans
  • He even siad you can ’read’ someone’s body and knew they were a criminal even before they committed any crimes.
• William Sheldon’s Somatotypes Theory:

  • American physiologist who believed certain body types or somatotypes are linked to criminal behaviour.
  • Believed those with a mesomorph somatotype would be more likely to be a criminal.
• Ectomorph Somatotype- thin, fragile, self-conscious, inward looking, emotionally restrained and thoughtful. Least likely to commit a crime

  Endomorph Somatotype- sociable, relaxed, outgoing, fat and soft. Not likely to commit a crime.
• Mesomorphs- adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive and domineering, enjoy physical activity, muscular and hard.

  • Mesomorphs are the somatotypes which are most likely to engage in criminality because of the risk taking and the adventure involved. Assertiveness and imposing physique can be important assets in crime.
• William Sheldon used a sample of photographs of college students and delinquents rated on a scale of 1 (low) to 7 (high) on their resemblance to mesomorphs. The results showed that the average delinquents has a higher average of a mesomorph rating than the college students (4.6-3.5)
• Lombroso Atavism Key Words:

  • Large Nose
  • Short Legs
  • Long Arms
• Sheldon Somatotypes Key Words:

  • Somatotype
  • Mesomorph
  • Muscular
  • Strong
  • Athletic
  • Adventurous
  • Thrill-Seeking