When looking at Criminal behaviour from a Biological perspective, the research of Phenomenal Physician Cesare Lombroso not only intrigues us but also captivates our minds. This blog will outline the Outstanding research completed by Lombroso and what his theories have taught us when studying Criminology today. Born Ezechia Marco Lombroso on November 6, 1835, Lombroso was an Italian Physician who came from a wealthy Jewish family. He studied in Pavia, Padua and obtained his Degree in 1858. A great thinker, Lombroso was drawn to Italian and French Positivism. During his student days, which began at the mere age of 18, Lombroso spent much of his time giving back to the poor. Many years of hard work paid off and in 1874, Lombroso obtained the
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His theory was inspired by the biological factors of Criminals and Lombroso’s research implies that those who commit crimes are naturally born criminals and could be identified as this by physical defects. There were many features Lombroso claimed defined somebody as a criminal, such as a deformity with the Skull, a difference in jaw size and longer arms. His belief was these features resembled that of a primate and remote ancestors and the criminal had not yet fully evolved. Lombroso became interested in the physical appearance of criminals when he served in the Medical Military Corps. He began looking at tattoos on the soldiers and came up with the concept that those he believed were dishonest, actually had more obscenities tattooed on them than those he felt were honest. These thoughts triggered Lombroso to extend his research into Criminal behaviour, he believed the tattoos were just the beginning of being able to explain Criminal behaviour based on biological and physical attributes and by carefully watching for other characteristics to develop he would be able to explain Criminality on a physical and biological …show more content…
Sometime after his death, a British Physician named Charles Goring published a book which he speaks of research similar to Lombroso’s. Goring carefully analysed over 3000 British convicts, studying both their physical features and crimes committed. He concluded that there is no real factors to prove a criminal type actually exists, and I quote: “no evidence has emerged confirming the existence of a physical criminal type, such as Lombroso and his disciples have described” Goring
His theory was inspired by the biological factors of Criminals and Lombroso’s research implies that those who commit crimes are naturally born criminals and could be identified as this by physical defects. There were many features Lombroso claimed defined somebody as a criminal, such as a deformity with the Skull, a difference in jaw size and longer arms. His belief was these features resembled that of a primate and remote ancestors and the criminal had not yet fully evolved. Lombroso became interested in the physical appearance of criminals when he served in the Medical Military Corps. He began looking at tattoos on the soldiers and came up with the concept that those he believed were dishonest, actually had more obscenities tattooed on them than those he felt were honest. These thoughts triggered Lombroso to extend his research into Criminal behaviour, he believed the tattoos were just the beginning of being able to explain Criminal behaviour based on biological and physical attributes and by carefully watching for other characteristics to develop he would be able to explain Criminality on a physical and biological …show more content…
Sometime after his death, a British Physician named Charles Goring published a book which he speaks of research similar to Lombroso’s. Goring carefully analysed over 3000 British convicts, studying both their physical features and crimes committed. He concluded that there is no real factors to prove a criminal type actually exists, and I quote: “no evidence has emerged confirming the existence of a physical criminal type, such as Lombroso and his disciples have described” Goring