SOC 1500 Lecture Notes - Lecture 2: Scientific Method, Age Of Enlightenment, Zygomatic Bone

• School: University of Guelph
• Department: Sociology
• Course: SOC 1500
• Professor: Ryan Broll

Document Summary

Overview: historical explanations of crime, biological explanations of crime, psychological explanations of crime. Positivism: emphasis on the application of the scientific method on the study of human behaviour, ex. Lombroso"s atavism: best/stronger species will survive and thrive, weaker species will, well known example of the early positivist thinking that strongly influenced the development of criminological theorizing. Atavists: small and sloping forehead, large and protruding ears, beady eyes, strong jaw, bushy eyebrows, tattoos, high cheekbones. Lombroso on female offenders: deceitfulness, cunning, spiteful, short, dark haired, moles, genetically male-like ( super-males ) In more recent studies it has been determined that atavists do not exist. These body types related closely to temperaments: ectomorph, thin, fragile, shy, anxious/introverted, endomorph, heavy, short, complacent, social, mesomorph - criminals, hard, muscular body, aggressive personality. Psychological theories of crime: modern theories generally contend that are criminals are made, not born, contrast with biological theories.