SOC 2700 Lecture 3: Week 3 Biology and Crime
29 Jan 2012
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> criteria to identify atavists: eye shape, jaw-line, hooked nose, short hands, long arms, scanty beard, etc: stigmata > physical traits that act as signs of moral inferiority, born criminal. Lombroso s classification of criminals: categories on pg. Crime prevention strategies: prison: keeps criminal off the street. Origins of theories on biology and crime: evolutionary theory, physical traits and links to crime? (born criminals) Born criminal theory: physiognomy: developed by john caspar lavater (1741-1801, facial features used to judge moral character, nose, earlobes, eyes, chin lines, beards, etc. Born criminal theory: phrenology: founders: franz joseph gall (1776-1828) and johann casper. Spurzheim (1776-1832: mapped areas of the outside skull, areas indicative of brain function, certain areas indicate criminality. Born criminal theory: craniometry: developed in part by gustave le bon, classification of human types based on skull measurement and size. Other examples of biological determinism: twin studies, adoption studies, methodological problems.
