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Summary Biological Theories of Criminality
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Biological Theories of Criminology
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AC 2.1 - Biological Theories of CriminalityIntroduction:
Biological theories of criminality attempt to explain criminality by looking into biological features of a
criminal, and the physiological factors which may cause someone to commit crime such as their
upbringing, or their genes.
List of Theories:
There are two types of theories we study, Physiological theories consisting of:
Lombroso (Atavistic Features)
Sheldon (Somatotypes)
Raine (Brain Abnormality)
Raine and Scerbo (Neurochemicals)
And genetic theories consisting of:
Crow & Mednick (Adoption Studies)
Christensen & Mednick (Twin Studies)
Jacobs (XYY)
Key Terms:
Nature: Nature is defined to be all the genes and hereditary factors which influence who we are.
Nurture: All the environmental variables which impact who we are
Deterministic: To make a prediction about future criminal behaviour based upon little evidence. For
example, suggesting that someone will be a criminal because their father and brother are one, or that if
you’re poor you are likely to commit certain crimes.
Reductionistic: Reducing an explanation of criminal behaviour down to one leaving out other possible
explanations. For example, suggesting that your upbringing is the cause of criminality and not considering
any biological or individual factors.
Objective Data: Objective data is data which has research which cannot be debated, and is not up for
interpretation
Subjective Data: Subjective data is up for interpretation and can be debated.
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, Lombroso (1876):
Claims: In 1876, Lombroso claimed that criminals are a separate species between modern and primitive
humans, he argued that the physical shape of the head and face determined the “born criminal”. He also
claimed that you can tell what kind of crime someone will commit by the way they look.
Components: Criminals held different physical features, known as atavistic features. So, if a person had a:
Large Jaw, Large Chin, High Cheekbones, Handle-shaped ears, flattened or upturned nose, hawk-like
noses or fleshy lips, hard shifty eyes, scanty beard or baldness, long arms, large of ‘freakishly small’
hands, or an insensitivity to pain. If these features were present, they were more likely to become a
criminal. Lombroso examined facial features and skulls of 383 dead criminals, and 3,839 living criminals
and concluded 40% of the criminal acts could be accounted for due to Atavistic characteristics.
Credibility: Lombroso was the first person to give criminology a scientific credibility. His work heralded
the beginnings of offender profiling.
Application: Can be linked to cases such as Fred West, who had some atavistic features. It can also be
linked to criminal statistics, Lombroso labelled prisons ‘criminal universities’ He said people will leave
more violent, today’s reoffending rates still show this.
Refuting Evidence: This theory is extremely deterministic, if we cannot criminal destiny, and that we’re
born to be bad. It also does not consider a control group of non-criminals, as well as ignoring
environmental factors such as disfigurement. Critics have also called this scientific racism.
Supporting Evidence: His theory is supported by Goring (1913) who found low-order intelligence in
convicts, suggesting some genetics base to criminality, this is also linked to Sheldon’s theory.
Sheldon (1949):
Claims: William Sheldon (1949) advanced Lombroso’s theory, developed in 1876, and linked it to a
person’s physical form. Sheldon claimed that people could be classified into three body types
(somatotypes)
Components: He looked at 4,000 barely clothed men and created 3 categories.
Endomorphic (fat and soft): Tend to be socialable and relaxed
Ectomorphic (thin and fragile): Tend to be introverted and restrained.
Mesomorphic (muscular and hard): Tend to be aggressive and adventurous.
Sheldon, using a correlational study found that many convicts were Mesomorphic, and the least likely
criminals was Ectomorphic. In subsequent studies of juvenile delinquency, Sheldon found:
Mesomorphic: Were more likely to engage in crime
Ectomorphs: Were more likely to commit suicide
Endomorphs: Were more likely to be mentally ill
Credibility: Sheldon’s study found that criminal groups were more likely to be mesomorphic. There has
been debates about how this could be stereotyping. As well as this, there has been scientific links found
between testosterone and muscle mass, and testosterone and aggression. Along with this, he used a
large sample group, increasing credibility.
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