Crju 304- Biological Positivism

biological Positivism argues and assumes….

All argue determinism – is the assumption that most humans behavior is determined by factors beyond free will and free choice

Who created the IQ test and how was it used in criminology

Binet created the IQ test to measure intelligence

Goddard used IQ testing to justify deportation, sterilization, and incapacitation of individuals

What was lombrosos biological theory

Inherited biological characteristics made crime an inevitable part of a person criminal behavior

1. criminals were atavistic, genetic throwbacks

2. Criminaloids= commit minor offenses, influenced by external factors

3. Born criminals -> chronic offenders with biological predispositions

4. Stigmata are physical manifestations of atavism –abnormal physicality

Lombrosos policy implications

Lombroso's theory basically was incapacitation, kill them, no rehabilitation

The empirical support for Lombrosos theory

Scientific studies have shown that being unattractive predicts criminal offending, which somewhat supports Lombroso's theory Theorists did not want to let go of theories that said certain groups of people are inferior, so they chose to emphasize a different factor like IQ

his theories of abnormalities being linked to criminality are debunked

What are some physical stigmata Lombroso identified in criminals

fine hair, droopy eyelids, low set ears, no ear lobes, webbed toes

limitations for Lombrosos theory

observational rooted in racism/sexism lacked scientific rigour, failed to consider social factors

what is Sheldon’s body type theory

Endomorph- soft body, underdeveloped muscles, round shape

ectomorph- thin flat chest, delicate, young, stopped shoulders, large brain

mesomorphs had criminal personalities, hard muscular body, mature appearance, thick skin

Limitations on Sheldons work

based on poor methodology, very primitive understanding of biological science, observational rooted in racism

policy implications for Sheldons work

led to use of scientific methods in criminological theory, early medical screening/mandated medical intervention, incapacitation, sterilization and

eugenics

Limitations Of early biological theories of crime

Ignore, environmental and social factors, deterministic approach assumed biology alone caused crime, unethical policies like for sterilization and eugenics