biological explanation

• Atavistic form explanation of offending behaviour

  Proposes individuals are born with a criminal personality and is a throwback to earlier species
• Lombroso's view of criminals


  • Savaged, untamed, and lacking evolutionary development
• Lombroso's research


  1. Examined 383 dead criminals' skulls

  2. Examined 3839 living criminals

  3. Concluded 40% of crimes could be explained by atavistic form
• Physical characteristics Lombroso associated with criminals


  • Strong prominent jawline
  • High cheekbones
  • Facial asymmetry
  • Dark skin
  • Existence of extra toes, nipples, or fingers
  • Bloodshot eyes
  • Curly hair
  • Long ears
  • Glinting eyes
  • Swollen fleshy lips
  • Projecting ears
• Many modern researchers have branded Lombroso and his atavistic theory as racist
• Just because an individual had certain atavistic characteristics, does not mean that they are or are destined to become criminal
• Lombroso's dated methodology did not use statistical analysis or a control group from another culture and non-criminals
• Researcher later completed a study and found no significant differences between criminals and non-criminals, except the prisoners were slightly smaller
• Strengths of Lombroso's theory


  • Took a more interactionist approach, considering the inherited atavistic form would also interact with the environment the individual lived in
• Lombroso's theory is still considered deterministic as he is proposing that factors outside individuals' control are responsible for criminal behaviour