LOMBROSO'S ATAVISTIC FORM

LOMBROSO'S ATAVISTIC FORM

1. Historical approach to offending

   • Criminals are genetic throwbacks who cannot cope with the demands of civilised society and so commit crime

2. Atavistic characteristics

   • Strong jaw, high cheekbones, dark skin, extra toes, etc.

3. Lombroso's research

   • Examined over 4000 convicts, 40% of criminal acts related to atavistic form

4. EVALUATION

   • Lombroso brought the study of criminology into science - theory was forerunner to offender profiling
   • Many of the facial features he identified were associated with people of Black African origin - using science to prop up racism
   • Goring compared 3000 criminals and non-criminals and found no significant differences in atavistic form
   • In Lombroso's research, no comparison with non-criminal sample and important confounding variables e.g. psychological disorders
   • Other factors e.g. poverty or poor diet may cause physical differences in criminals