Physiological theories

• Physiological theories


  Focus on a person's physical form as an indicator of criminality
• Lombroso's 'born criminal' theory (1876)


  Cesare Lombroso 'the father of modern criminology' argued that the criminal is almost a separate species; a species that is between modern and primitive humans
• Lombroso's theory


  • Criminality was hereditary and criminals were simply born that way, with their criminality determined by the physical shape of the head and face
• Lombroso's 'atavistic' features of criminals

  • Low sloping forehead
  • Large jaws or forward protruding chin
  • Flattened or upturned nose, large ears
  • Long arms relative to legs
• Lombroso's claim


  You can tell which type of crime someone will commit by the way they look
• Lombroso's physical features of criminals

  • Murderers: curly hair, glossy eyes, bulging eyes
  • Sex offenders: thick lips, protruding ears, glint in their eyes
• Other aspects of Lombroso's 'born criminal'

  • Insensitivity to pain
  • Use of criminal slang
  • Tattoos
  • Unemployment
• Lombroso's work is now discredited
• A recent study from a university in China has produced research which suggests facial features really can give a criminal away
• Somatotype


  Body shape
• Sheldon's Somatotypes Theory


  Criminal behaviour is linked to a person's physical form
• Sheldon's three body types

  • Ectomorph
  • Endomorph
  • Mesomorph
• Ectomorphs


  Thin, self-conscious, introverted, emotionally thoughtful
• Endomorphs


  Soft, round, relaxed, sociable, comfortable
• Mesomorphs


  Muscular, self-assertive, sensation-seeking, aggressive
• Sheldon argued that the muscular build of mesomorphs made them most likely to engage in crime, especially relating to violent and aggressive acts