Atavistic Form

An Historical Approach

• In 1876, Lombroso wrote a book suggesting that criminals were 'genetic throwbacks'.
• They were a primitive sub-species who were biologically different from non-criminals.
• Today, his theory would be described as naive, but it may have laid the foundation for the modern offender profiling.
• Offenders were seen as lacking evolutionary development.
• Their savage and untamed nature meant they would find it impossible to adjust to the demands of civilised society, causing crime.
• Criminal behaviour was a natural tendency, rooted in offenders genealogy.

Evaluation

Contribution to Criminology

Scientific Racism

• Lombroso is credited as shifting the emphasis in crime research away from a moralistic discourse and towards a more scientific and credible realm.
• Describes how particular types of people are likely to commit particular types of crimes.
• This theory heralded the beginning of criminal profiling, having a major contribution to the science of criminology.

• Several critics have noticed the distinct racial undertones in Lombroso's work.
• Many features that Lombroso identified such as curly hair and dark skin are common amongst those of African descent.
• His description of the atavistic being 'uncivilised and primitive' would support the many eugenic philosophies of the time.

Poor Control in Lombroso's Research

Contradictory Evidence

Causation is an Issue

Lombroso's Research

• Lombroso did not compare his criminal sample with a non-criminal control group.
• If he had done so, the significant differences in atavistic form that Lombroso reported may have disappeared.
• He also failed to acknowledge other important variables.
• Many criminals he studied had suffered from a history of psychological disorders.

• Goring, like Lombroso, set out to establish whether there were any physical or mental abnormalities among the criminal classes.
• Compared 3000 criminals with 3000 non-criminals and found there was no evidence that offenders are a distinct group with unusual facial features.
• He did suggest criminals have a lower than average intelligence.

• Just because there are some criminals with atavistic features does not necessarily mean this is the cause of their offending.
• Facial and cranial differences may be influenced by factors like poverty or poor diet, not due to delayed evolutionary development.
• Lombroso later acknowledged that criminals could be made and born due to a range of environmental factors.

• Examined the facial and cranial features of hundreds of Italian convicts, both living and dead.
• Proposed that the atavistic form was associated with a number of physical anomalies which were key indicators of criminality.
• Overall, 383 dead criminals' skulls were examined and 3839 living ones.
• Concluded 40% of criminal acts could be accounted for by atavistic characteristics.

Atavistic Characteristics

• Criminal sub-type could be identified as being in possession of particular physiological 'markers'.
• These were linked to a particular type of crime.
• These are biologically determined, atavistic characteristics, making criminals physically different from the rest of us.
• Included -
• Narrow, sloping brow
• Strong prominent jaw
• High cheekbones
• Facial asymmetry
• Dark skin
• Besides physical traits -
• Insensitivity to pain
• Use of criminal slang
• Tattoos
• Unemployment

Atavistic Form

Biological Explanations