SOCI 388 Chapter Notes - Chapter Gould: Anthropological Criminology, Atavism, Mongolian Idiocy
25 Feb 2020
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Gould measuring bodies: two case studies on the apishness of undesirables . Lombroso"s theory of the criminal man : he established criminal anthropology. 1870: he tried to find anatomical differences between criminals and insane men wasn"t successful. When examining vihella"s skull (a gang member), lombroso noticed atavistic features: atavistic = someone who has primitive instincts. Lombroso"s theory was evolutionary: these people are driven to act as a normal ape or savage would, but such behaviour is deemed criminal in our civilized society . Anatomy = destiny (some people are born criminals, can"t escape this) Lombroso decides to study criminal behaviour of animals. Then, he does a comparison of criminals with inferior groups. Whenever something was presented that went against lombroso"s theory of atavism, he twisted it to make it fit with his theory: such as, stories of courage and accomplishment among those he wished to denigrate . Stated that primitive people/animals/savages had physical insensibility.
