2.1 Physiological Theories of Criminality

• Lombroso 1876 and Atavistic Form?


  He proposed criminals could be identified by their physical features that they inherit. he argued criminals are born and thus not responsible for their actions and look physically different due to their genes. In his study of 4000 criminals and the skulls of 400 dead criminals, he identified that features such as sloping brows, bushy eyebrows and beady eyes were indicators of criminals.
• Theory of Atavistic form?


  This stated that criminals were a primitive species and less evolved than individuals in modern society. They often demonstrated behaviours similar to that of when people were not civilised.
• 1879?


  In 1879 he proposed that there were three types of criminals. atavistic criminals were the born type. insane criminals were those that suffered from mental illness. criminaloids were those that had characteristics that made them predisposed to criminal behaviour.
• Strengths? (Lombroso)

  Butcher and Taylor (2007) suggest that less attractive individuals tend to be more likely to considered guilty.

  Charles Goering (1918) did find a low order intelligence in convicts which suggests there is some genetic base to criminality.
• Weaknesses (Lombroso)?

  It is scientifically racist - DeLisi 2012 indicated that most of the listed features were from people of african decent.

  Only studied offenders so there was no control group to compare the results to.

  Charles Goering used a control group and lund no significant differences which discredits Lombrosos study.
• Sheldon?

  identified three body types:

  — endomorphs: rounded and soft bodies, lacking muscle or tone

  — ectomorphs: thin and fragile, lack fat and muscle 

  — mesomorphs: muscular and hard bodied, very little body fat and strong limbs, broad shoulders and narrow waist 

  • ectomorphs are least likely to commit crime, and mesomorphs are most likely
• Body type personalities?

  endomorphs: social, relaxed and comfortable and outgoing

  ectomorphs: self conscious, fragile and emotionally restrained/ thoughtful 

  mesomorphs: adventurous, assertive and domineering and enjoy physical activity, are callous and have a high tolerance to pain, enjoy risk taking
• Strengths - Sheldon?

  study is reliable and other studies have replicated sheldons findings ie glueck and glueck 1956 found that 60% of offenders in deliquent sample were mesomorphs compared to 31% in the non deliquent sample.

  the most serious deliquent in the sample were the ones with the most mesomorphic body types

  • used a large sample of 200 and had a control sample
• Weaknesses - Sheldon?

  mesomorphs may be labelled as trouble makers as they fit the tough guy stereotype resulting in a self fulfilling prophecy. they may also be more likely to attract police attention and get caught more often perpetuating the stereotype 

  • doesnt account for the fact that body shapes are not fixed, criminals may build a mesomorphic body type as a result of needing to be fit, or in the case of social class as lower classes work more, which suggests criminlity causes somatotypes not the other way around.
• Three offences


  - murderers: bloodshot eyes, curly hair and long ears

  - sexual deviants: glinting eyes and swollen and fleshy lips

  - fraudsters: thin and reedy lips

  - other features: unemployed, tattoos and criminal slang