Often religious or culture bias, suggesting criminals were possessed by demons
Lombroso's Criminal Man (1876)
Attempt to produce a scientific theory of criminality
Atavistic Form
Criminals genetically are at a more primitive stage of human evolution than non-criminals, making criminality innate, being born with it
Physical Differences
Criminals resemble ancestors
Asymmetrical face
Heavy brow
Fleshy lips
Large jaw
Types of Criminals
Murderer - blood shot eyes, curly hair
Sexual - glittering eyes, fleshy lips
Fraudster - thin and reedy lips
Lombroso's Research
400 dead and 4000 living Italian criminals sample, testing height, weight, arm span etc
Found 40% had atavistic features
Positivist School of Criminology
Argues that criminal behaviour has distinct characteristics, and careful measurements of criminals will reveal causes of criminal behaviour
(+) A03: Procedure
Lombroso used careful measurements to create theory, promoting scientific approaches, rejecting free will for biological determinism
(-) A03: Scientific Racism
Characteristics stated were common in people of colour, claiming features like dark skin were criminal, influencing racist policies of eugenics and biased IQ testing that harmed POC communities
(-) A03: Goring (1913)
Biological measurement of 3000 criminals against 3000 non-criminals when controlling factors of age, class and intelligence, no physical difference found
