Chapter 5: Early Positivism & Biological Theories of Crime

Early Biological Theories of Crime

The belief that certain individuals or groups naturally offend more because they are biologically inferior.

Eugenics

Policies and ideas aimed at improving the human race by controlling selective reproduction.

Craniometry

The pseudoscience belief that the size of the brain or skull determines superiority and criminality.

How did Craniometry study living people brains?

They measured the circumference of the skull

How did Craniometry study recently dead people brains?

Weighed the brain or measured skull volume

How did Craniometry study long dead people brains?

Filled the skull with seeds or ball bearings to measure volume

Major Flaw of Craniometry

Researchers were not blind to race; correlation disappeared when studies were done blindly.

Phrenology

The belief that skull bumps and shapes can indicate human behavior and criminal dispositions.

What did Phrenology get right?

They correctly guessed that certain parts of the brain are responsible for specific tasks.

What did Phrenology get wrong?

They incorrectly believed that skull bumps could tell you who was disposed to commit crime.

Physiognomy

The study of facial and bodily features to spot developmental problems or criminality.

The findings of Physiognomy

Researchers compared ethnic groups to prove superiority and claimed that criminals' faces resembled animals, acting as a genetic "throwback" to primitive species.

Charles Darwin's Influence

His theory of evolution laid the groundwork for Cesare Lombroso's scientific theory of crime.

Cesare Lombroso

Considered the father of criminology, he wrote 'The Criminal Man' (1876).

Atavism

The core concept that a criminal is a 'throwback' to a more primitive stage of evolution. The thought that they are biologically wired to be criminals

Born Criminals vs. Criminaloids

Born criminals are true atavists; criminaloids commit minor offenses due to external circumstances.

Stigmata

Physical traits (ex. abnormally small or large ears, nose, eyes, jaws or having tattoos) used to identify born criminals if five or more are present.

Major Flaw of Lombroso's Study

He only studied imprisoned criminals and lacked a comparison group of non-criminals.

Determinism (Positive School)

The assumption that human behavior is dictated by factors beyond free will, like biology.

H. H. Goddard

Brought IQ tests to the U.S. and falsely claimed static scores were innate and passed down. Used IQ scores to deport, sterilize, and lock up low-IQ individuals.

Goddard's Categories of Feeble-Mindedness

Ranked from highest to lowest as morons, imbeciles, and idiots.

Buck v. Bell (1927)

Supreme Court case upholding the forced sterilization of 'feeble-minded' individuals.

Hirschi & Hinelang (1970s)

Found that low intelligence significantly links to delinquency, scoring about 10 points lower.

The Bell Curve (1994)

Herrnstein and Murray argued that cognitively disadvantaged individuals are more likely to commit crime.