Study Notes on Cesare Lombroso's Theories on Biological Causes of Crime

POSITIVE EXPLANATIONS OF CRIME

Biological Causes of Crime

  • Biological factors considered as potential causes of criminal behavior.

CESARE LOMBROSO (1835-1909)

  • Noteworthy criminologist from the late 19th century.

  • Authored L'Uomo Delinquente (The Criminal Man) published in 1876.

Theory of the 'Born Criminal'

  • Lombroso claimed that there exists a 'criminal type,' suggesting that certain individuals are born criminals destined to commit crimes.

  • His theory drew from Charles Darwin's theory of evolution, positing that these born criminals represent a regressive stage in human evolution.

    • Described the atavistic man:

    • A more primitive form of human being.

    • Physically and mentally inferior to modern humans.

    • Reflective of lower, ape-like ancestors.

Physical Characteristics of Born Criminals

  • Lombroso identified several physical characteristics that were said to indicate an individual as a born criminal, including:

    • Peculiar size and shape of the head

    • Facial asymmetry

    • Enlarged jaw and cheekbones

    • Distinctive nose shapes:

    • Upturned or flattened for thieves

    • Beak-like for murderers

    • Abnormal teeth

    • Variations in chin structure (too long, short, or flat)

    • Retreating forehead

  • A person was categorized as a born criminal if they exhibited five or more of these features.

Additional Indicators of Criminality

  • Born criminals were also discussed to have certain behavioral indicators such as:

    • Sensory differences: Higher sensitivity to pain and touch; diminished acuity of hearing, taste, and smell.

    • Underdeveloped moral sense: Lack of moral reasoning.

    • Use of criminal slang: Indicative of belonging to a criminal culture.

    • Excessive tattoos: Seen as a mark of criminal identification.

    • Excessive idleness: Lack of engagement in productive activities.

    • Greater strength and agility: Physical attributes that may predispose them to crime.

Claims on Epilepsy and Gender

  • Lombroso initially asserted that all criminals were epileptics but later revised his assertion, estimating that only 30% of criminals had this condition.

  • Proposed that female criminals exhibited biological traits that were more similar to males than to females.

Later Works and Theories

Crime: Causes et Remedes (Crime: Causes and Remedies)

  • Published in 1906.

  • Lombroso redefined his classifications of criminals into three distinct groups:

    1. Born criminals: Atavistic types with inherent biological factors.

    2. Insane criminals: Mental health issues including idiots, imbeciles, and conditions like paranoia, dementia, alcoholism, epilepsy, and hysteria.

    3. Occasional criminals: Non-habitual offenders classified further into subdivisions:

    • Pseudo-criminals: Engage in crimes of passion.

    • Criminaloids: Opportunistic criminals with innate traits, but lack overt physical features.

    • Habitual criminals: Motivated to engage in criminal activities due to social conditions like poverty and association with other criminals.

Critique of Lombroso

Flaws in Methodology

  • Lombroso's application of evolutionary principles was criticized as naïve and simplistic.

  • Psychiatry and psychology suggested that the relationship between epilepsy, insanity, and criminality is far more complex than claimed by Lombroso.

  • Drawn from unscientific clinical observations and anecdotal evidence, neglecting rigorous scientific scrutiny.

Sampling Issues

  • Notably criticized for unrepresentative sampling:

    • Primarily studied records of mentally ill criminals.

    • Prison samples lacked control groups for comparative analysis.

    • Assumed that atavistic characteristics directly led to criminality, ignoring significant socio-economic factors such as poverty and low social conditions.

Contributions of Lombroso to Criminology

  • Regarded as the 'father' of the positivist school of criminology.

  • Promoted the use of scientific methodology in criminology while discarding the concept of free will in criminal behavior.

  • While not the first to incorporate ‘scientific’ methods, Lombroso gained prominence due to the novelty and popularity of Darwinian ideas, suggesting that if criminals are born, then the social environment is not to blame for criminal behavior.

Applications of Lombroso's Theory

  • His theories had implications for various approaches to managing criminal behavior such as:

    • Treatment to 'cure' criminality: Seeking rehabilitative rather than punitive measures.

    • Long sentences: Justifying harsh penalties based on biological determinism.

    • Early intervention: Proactive measures to address criminal tendencies.

    • Sterilization of certain individuals: Ethical implications connected to eugenics and inhumane treatments questioning moral validity of such actions.