Lecture notes
biological theories
- Module
- Criminological Theories
- Institution
- WJEC
Lecture notes of 11 pages for the course Criminological Theories at WJEC (criminology)
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Physiological Theories- Criminals are biologically different from non-criminals
- This difference causes them to commit crime
2.1 Describe biological theories of criminality
Physiological theories- criminals physical characteristics
Genetic theories- criminality is inherited
Brain injuries and disorder- cause criminality
Biochemical explanations- hormones in offending
Lombroso’s Theory: ‘Born Criminals’
- Criminals are physically different from non criminals and can be differed by their
looks
- Lombroso examined the facial and cranial features of 383 dead criminals and 3839
living ones
- He spent many years measuring and recording details of the heads and faces of
thousands of prisoners
- He recorded their height, weight, skull dimensions and the shape of their eyes,nose
and ears
Conclusion:
- Criminals can be identified by their distinctive physical features such as enormous
jaws, high cheekbones, handle shaped ears, prominent eyebrow arches, long arms
and acute eyebrows
- Different types of criminals have different facial features
Murderers= ‘aquiline’ noses like the beak of an eagle
Thieves= flattened noses
Rapists= thick lips
Atavism- saw criminals as throwbacks to an earlier, primitive stage of evolution, they were
pre-social, unable to control their impulses and had reduced sensitivity to pain (why they had
tattoos)
- Lombroso argued that criminals are like ‘savages’ or even like ‘apes’
- In a more primitive society, he claimed, they would be normal, but in a modern
society they are abnormal
- Lombroso thought people were ‘born criminals’ as they could be identified
scientifically by ‘reading’ their bodies for the physical characteristics that marked
them out as different- very much an ‘us’ and ‘them’ theory
- WE are normal and THEY (criminals) are abnormal and fundamentally different from
us
, Types of criminals:
- Insane criminals
- Epileptic criminals
- He also added ‘criminaloids’ later on in his studies- criminality is caused by
environmental factors too
Sheldon’s somatotypes theory:
- He saw criminals as physically different to non criminals
- Certain body types or ‘somatotypes’ are linked to criminal behaviour
- He examined 4000 scantily clothed men, showing front side and back
Endomorphs- rounded, soft and tending to fat, lacking muscle or tone with wide hips, their
personality is sociable, relaxed comfortable and outgoing
Ectomorphs - thin and fragile, lacking both fat and muscle, flat chested with narrow hips,
shoulders and high face, their personality is self conscious, fragile and inward looking,
emotionally restrained and thoughtful
Mesomorphs- muscular and hard bodied, very little fat and strong limbs, broad shoulders
and narrow waist, personality is adventurous, sensation-seeking, assertive and domineering,
enjoy physical activity
- Sheldon argued that mesomorphs are the somatotype more likely to engage in crime
- More likely to be attracted to risk taking and their imposing physique and
assertiveness can be important assets in crime
- Ectomorphs are least likely
Lombroso strengths:
1) He was the first person to study crime scientifically, using objective measurements to
gather evidence. Previously, crime was seen as a moral or religious issue.
2) His research showed the importance of examining clinical and historical records of
criminals
3) His later work took some limited account of social and environmental factors, not just
heredity.
4) By arguing that offenders were not freely choosing to commit crime, he helps us to
focus on how we might prevent further offending rather than simply punishing
offenders.
Lombroso limitations:
1) Research since has failed to show a link between facial features and criminality
2) Failed to compare findings on prisoners with a control group of non criminals. Had he
done so, he may have found the same characteristics among the general population,
in which case his explanation would be invalid
3) By describing criminals like a ‘primitive savage’ he equates non western societies
with criminals which is a form of racism
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