Chapter 5 Early Positivism Biological Theories of Crime

Chapter 5: Early Positivism: Biological Theories of Crime

Introduction • The Chapter focuses on the following key aspects: – Positive School of Criminology: Early formulations of scientific criminological testing and theorizing. – How the emphasis on science in criminology started in the 1800 s and continues till today. – How the Father of Criminology developed his theory. – The impact of IQ testing on the field and policies. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 2

Early Biological Theories of Behavior (1 of 5) • The deterrence framework was not explaining the distribution of crime. • Inferior individuals should be controlled or even eliminated. • Eugenics is a study of and policies related to improvement of the human race via control. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 3

Early Biological Theories of Behavior (2 of 5) • Many views put forth on how to determine individuals or groups likely to commit crime. • Establishing a method for distinguishing superior individuals and groups from those that were inferior. • Such intentions were likely related to the increased use of slavery. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 4

Early Biological Theories of Behavior (3 of 5) Craniometry • It is the belief that brain size shows superiority or inferiority. • Western European descent tended to be far superior to other ethnic groups. • New studies showed little correlation. • Persons who have larger brains do tend to score higher on intelligence tests. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 5

Early Biological Theories of Behavior (4 of 5) Phrenology • It is based on the science of determining human dispositions based on distinctions in the skull. • Modern studies focus on the link between the left temporal lobe and criminality. • The phrenologists’ assumptions were inaccurate. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 6

Early Biological Theories of Behavior (5 of 5) Physiognomy • It is the study of facial and other bodily aspects to indicate criminality. • These theories would not be acceptable beyond the 1800 s. • Darwin made a huge impact on societal views regarding the rank order of ethnic groups. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 7

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (1 of 7) • Created the first attempt at scientific theory in criminological thought: Informed largely by Darwin’s theory of natural selection. • The Criminal Man triggered response from Western societies. • His theory was based “atavistic” persons. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 8

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (2 of 7) Lombroso’s Theory of Crime • He claimed “born criminals” should be singled out – Born criminals were the most serious and violent criminals in any society. • He believed in identification through stigmata. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 9

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (3 of 7) Lombroso’s List of Stigmata • Manifestation of more than five stigmata indicates that an individual is atavistic and thus a born criminal. • Stigmata consisted of facial and bodily features that deviated from the norm. • Extraphysiological features: Tattoos and history of epilepsy. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 10

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (4 of 7) Lombroso’s List of Stigmata • Synthesized the craniometry, phrenology, and physiognomy. • Stigmata could be identified among anarchists, burglars, murderers, shoplifters, etc. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 11

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (5 of 7) Lombroso as the Father of Criminology and the Father of the Positive School • The assumptions of positivism are synonymous with the term determinism. • Determinism: Human behavior determined by factors beyond free will and free choice. • Biological, psychological, and sociological variables determine our choices. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 12

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (6 of 7) Lombroso’s Policy Implications • He was called in to determine the guilt of persons in key criminal testimony. • Based judgments on the visual stigmata in the line of suspects. • Modern medicine identifies minor physical anomalies. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 13

Lombroso’s Theory of Atavism and Born Criminals (7 of 7) Lombroso’s Policy Implications • His model of stigmata as predictors of antisocial problems has implications to the present day. • They are more accepted by medical science than criminological literature. • Criminologists began to question his theory of atavism and stigmata. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 14

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (1 of 6) • Criminologists realized that the idea of a “born” criminal was not valid. • Researchers were not ready to disbelieve ethnic groups were superior or inferior. • Binet’s IQ test to identify underperformers. • He stated that IQ could be changed. • H. H. Goddard misused the test to rid U. S. society of low-IQ individuals. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 15

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (2 of 6) Goddard’s IQ Test • He was considered the authority on the use of IQ testing in the United States • He adapted Binet’s model to examine immigrants coming into the United States • He proposed theory of feeblemindedness which became a scientific term in the early 1900 s. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 16

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (3 of 6) Goddard’s IQ Test • He labeled humans from highest to lowest intelligence. • He believed the morons were the biggest threat to the genetic pool. • He insisted that women could pick out the feeble-minded better than men could. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 17

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (4 of 6) Policy Implications • Goddard was proud of the increase in the deportations of potential immigrants. • He reported that deportations for the reason of mental deficiency increased by 350% in 1913 and 570% in 1914. • Over time Goddard realized that the inaccuracy of his theories. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 18

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (5 of 6) Policy Implications: Sterilization – Of mostly females based on scores from intelligence tests continued in the United States – Justification based on scores of mother or father. – Issue came to the highest court in the 1920 s. – Sterilizations continued for many years. – It is important to acknowledge this blot on the 19 history of the United States Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021.

After Lombroso: The IQ-Testing Era (6 of 6) Reexamining Intelligence • Researchers realized the atrocities that had been committed. • Hirschi and Hindelang studied the effect of intelligence on youths. • They found that intelligence has a significant effect on delinquency. • Herrnstein and Charles Murray’s argument agreed with feeble-mindedness. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 20

Body Type Theory: Sheldon’s Model of Somatotyping (1 of 3) • Sheldon’s theoretical perspective merged the concepts of biology and psychology. • He spoke of the development of certain body types and temperaments. • Somatotyping became the best-known body type theory. – Layers of tissues were determiners of a person’s build and personality. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 21

Body Type Theory: Sheldon’s Model of Somatotyping (2 of 3) • Individuals who were endomorphic tended to be jolly or lazy: Viscerotonic. • Persons who were mesomorphic were aggressive: Somatotonic. • Individuals who were ectomorphic tended to be introverted: Cerebrotonic. • The middle group, the mesomorphs, had the greatest propensity for criminality. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 22

Body Type Theory: Sheldon’s Model of Somatotyping (3 of 3) • Mesomorphic boys were more likely to have traits predictive of criminality. • The fact is mesomorphs are more likely to be aggressive. • Theorists claim offenders can be identified by muscle shape in their pelvic region. • Factors affecting one’s temperament are based on biology and social environment. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 23

Policy Implications (1 of 2) • A variety of policy implications can be derived from all these theories like medical screening at birth. • Studies reviewed implicate numerous MPAs in developmental problems. • Policy implications derived from theories involve implementation of samesex classes. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 24

Policy Implications (2 of 2) • The importance of diagnosing early head trauma to reduce the long-term impact of risk factors for criminality. • Mandatory health insurance for pregnant mothers and children. • Youth should be screened for abnormal levels of hormones, neurotransmitters, and toxins. Schram, Introduction to Criminology, Third Edition. © SAGE Publications, 2021. 25