AO1

• Atavistic explanations argue that criminals are 'genetic throwbacks' and have failed to evolve and hence have a savage, animal nature, hindering them from living normally whithin society
• Criminals have certain biologically determined 'atavistic' characteristics that make criminals identifiable
• Lombroso (1876) recorded one of the first systematic studies of criminal features, and developed an atavistic theory of crime, which proposes a biological basis for offending behaviour.
• General: strong jaw, dark skin, extra fingers/toes
• Murderers: bloodshot eyes, curly, abundant hair 
• Sex offenders: glinting eyes, swollen lips and projecting ears
• Fraudsters: thin lips