Notes on Cesare Lombroso

Introduction

• Presenter: Marcus from criminologyweb.com
• Topic: Cesare Lombroso, an influential figure in criminology.

Biography

• Birth: 1835 in Verona, Italy.
• Profession: Italian doctor and researcher.
• Fields of Study: Mental diseases, corpse study, brain pathology.
• Notable Work: "The Criminal Man" (first published in 1876).

Criminal Anthropology Theory

• Lombroso developed the theory of criminal anthropology.
• Proposed differences between offenders and non-offenders.
• Born Criminals: Suggests that they have physical abnormalities known as atavistic characteristics.
• Atavistic: Relates to earlier stages of human evolution.

Characteristics of Offenders

• Offenders exhibit physical and mental characteristics of primitive humans.
• Crime is attributed to biological abnormalities.
• Lombroso's research involved:
  • Detailed body studies of offenders, non-offenders, and mentally ill individuals.
  • Autopsies on deceased individuals to examine skulls and brains.

Physical Characteristics Measured

• Height, weight, arm span, seated height, hand/foot size, and eye color.

Distinction of Offenders

• Lombroso categorized offenders as a different type of human:
  • Examples of physical characteristics:
    • Asymmetric face
    • Large jaw
    • Long arms
    • Epilepsy
• Suggested that different types of criminals (e.g., thieves, violent offenders) had distinct physical traits.

Evolution of His Ideas

• Early versions of his book emphasized physical characteristics.
• Later editions included factors like:
  • Poverty
  • Alcohol
  • Gangs
  • Psychological traits (lack of remorse, cynicism, impulsivity).

Influence in Criminology

• Lombroso is regarded as the father of modern criminology.
• Founder of the positivist school, which used measurable evidence to study criminal behavior.
• Influenced the Italian school of Criminology.

Free Will vs. Determinism

• Lombroso rejected the concept of free will in criminal behavior.
• Focused on external factors influencing behavior, reflecting societal issues of the time (e.g., war, famine, class).

Criticisms of Lombroso’s Work

• Received significant criticism during and after his lifetime (died in 1909).
• Major criticisms include:
  • Misinterpretation and uncritical examination of findings.
  • Lack of accuracy in supporting atavism and degeneration theories.
• Modern criminology generally views his atavistic theories as flawed and biased.

Legacy and Current Relevance

• Despite criticisms, some concepts from Lombroso’s work remain relevant:
  • Physical characteristics and their potential link to criminal behavior (e.g., genetics, brain structure).
• A resurgence in interest in the biological causes of criminal behavior in recent research.

Conclusion

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