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Physiological Theories of Criminality - Coggle Diagram
Physiological Theories of Criminality
Atavistic Form
(Lombroso)
Key Idea
Criminals are physically different from non-criminals e.g. in terms of facial features
Evaluation
Strengths
1st person to study crime scientifically -> crime before Lombroso was seen as a moral/religious issue
Lombroso's research showed the importance of examining clinical & historical records
His later work took some limited account of social & environmental factors, not just hereditary
By arguing offenders were not freely choosing to commit crime, it can allow us to focus on how we might prevent further offending rather than simply punishing offenders
Weaknesses
Lombroso failed to show a link between facial features & criminality
Failed to compare his findings with a control group of non-criminals -> if this was done he might have found the same characteristics among the general pop. in which his explanation would be invalid
By describing criminals as primitive savages, Lombroso equates non-western societies with criminals & is a form of racism
Longitudinal study over many years and looked at heads and faces of thousands of prisoners
Sheldon's Theory of Somatotypes
Key Idea
somatotype is related to criminality and mesomorphs are more likely to be criminal than ectomorphs & endomorhps
Endomorph
Rounded, soft & tending to fat
Lacking muscle & tone, wide hips
Personality is: sociable, relaxed, comfortable & outgoing
Example
: John Wayne Gacy
Ectomorph
Thin & Fragile
Lack fat & muscle
Flat Chested, narrow hips & shoulders
Personality: self conscious, emotionally restrained & thoughtful
Example
: Jeffrey Dahmer
Mesomorph
Muscular & hard bodies
Little fat & strong limbs
Broad Shoulders narrow waist
Personality: adventurous, sensation seeking, assertive & domineering & enjoy physical activity
Example
: Gordon Kimbrough
Evaluation
Strengths
Glueck & Glueck found 60% of offenders in their study replicating Sheldon's were mesomorphs
Most serious delinquents in Sheldon's sample were the ones with the most extreme mesomorphic builds
Weaknesses
Criminals may develop mesomorphic builds as a result of needing to be physically tough to succeed therefore criminality causes somatotype
Social class may be true cause of offending & mesomorphy. Convicted offenders are mainly working class males who are more likely to be in manual jobs where they acquire an athletic build
Mesomorphs may be labelled as trouble makers as they fit the stereotype resulting in a self-fulfilling prophecy
Doesn't account for endomorphs and ectomorphs that commit crimes