physiological theories (bio)

• lombroso born criminals:

  • key idea = criminals are physically different to non criminals
  • he measured over 50,000 skulls and faces
  • found criminals are more likely to have large eyes, large jaws, long arms and aquiline nose
  • atavism = criminals are throwback to primitive stage of evolution. pre social, impulsive and have reduced sensitivity to pain
  • then found 2 types of criminals called insane and epileptics. further found criminaloids who were criminals due to enviournment
• lombroso strengths

  • he was the first person to study crime scientifically
  • he showed the importance off clinical and historical records of criminals
  • helps to focus on the prevention of criminals not the punishment
• lombroso weaknesses

  • no further evidence since to link facial features and criminality
  • he did not compare with control group of non criminals
  • racist as only equates criminals with savages/non western society
  • only studied men not women. gender bias
• Sheldon somatypes theory:

  • believes body type is related to criminality
  • Sheldon looked at body types and compared likelihood of criminality
  • he found mesomorphs most likely to be criminal
  • this is because they are attracted by risk taking and their physique and assertiveness are important in crime
• endomorph:

  soft rounded

  sociable

  relaxed

  outgoing
• ectomorph:

  thin

  fragile

  lacking fat and muscle

  emotionally restrained
• mesomorph:

  muscular

  hard bodied

  assertive

  adventourous
• strengths of sheldon:

  • other studies replicate his findings- validity
  • most serious delinquents had most mesomorphic bodies
• limitations of Sheldon:

  • mesomorphic build may be a result of criminality
  • criminality might be a mixture off biology and environment
  • mesomorphs more likely to be labelled. so will act criminal
  • social class might be true cause of offending and mesomorphy