Cesare Lombroso and Criminal Behaviour - Essay Example

Cesare Lombroso and Criminal Behaviour Introduction Lombroso’s positivist criminology established a theory of multiple- factor approach towards thecauses of crime. The positivist school of criminology assumed that offenders had features that were not to be found among the non-offenders. The presumption was that offenders had specific features that could be studied, classified and integrated into a holistic theory regarding criminal conduct. Upon segregating the chief causal sources, criminal conduct could be prevented. This was based upon the belief that such sources could be neutralised (Edney, 2006, p. 251). In the beginning, positivist criminology had many features, such as economisim, biologism, and mental hereditarianism. At that stage, the main objects, namely criminal man, criminality and criminal character, were described and separated by means of the pre-given epistemological boundaries that ensured the separation of the normal from the pathological (Edney, 2006, p. 252). This was quite different from classical criminology, which was based upon classical jurisprudence, and was active during the 18th century. As described in the works of Beccaria, Bentham and Romilly, classical criminology was a system of rational and efficient punishment that addressed the actions of volitional legal subjects (Harcourt, 2013). Cesare Lombroso made several important contributions to the science of phrenology. As is well known, this area is regarded as the first major school of criminological thought. It stresses upon understanding behaviour. Typically, this school studies the shape of the skull of the offender, and considers this to be crucial for explaining criminal behaviour (Kuper, 1996, p. 111). Analysis Initially, Lombroso had claimed that offenders differed radically from non-offenders. Specifically, he believed that there were major differences in the physical traits of offenders, and that this was obvious with regard to the size of the skull of offenders. Certain skull shapes would lead to criminal behaviour, as contended by Lombroso. This fantastic assumption could not survive rigorous scrutiny (Edney, 2006, p. 251). Thus, several of the assumptions of Lombroso’s theory could not be established. The problem with his theory was that he had studied only prisoners. As a result, it was not possible to generalise his assumption beyond this category. Those who believed in Lombroso’s theory were the least fazed by this development. After making persistent efforts, they succeeded in creating a respectable and acceptable criminal science of man. These individuals were collectively known as the positivist school of criminology. Their aim was to identify the physical characteristics that would be present in a person who could be more inclined than the others to take to a life of crime (Edney, 2006, p. 251). Moreover, people have long believed that criminals can be identified from their physical defects. Thus, Socrates had been examined by a physiognomist after he had been sentenced to death by the drinking of hemlock (Screech, 2015, pp. 127-128). Cesare Lombroso’s claim to fame is that he was the first individual to examine the anatomical traits of humans, in order to discover the criminal type. Lombroso had been working as a military physician in Southern Italy, when he decided to study around 3,000 soldiers. He used to measure and record the physical attributes of soldiers, meticulously (Richter, 2003, p. 195). In addition, Charles Darwin had come forward with his theory of evolution, and Lombroso relied upon this theory to make certain conclusions regarding criminals. Lombroso claimed that criminals were basically primitive entities who generated in their person the raw and violent instincts of inferior animals and barbarians (Mazzarello, 2011, p. 97). Thus, Lombroso claimed that a criminal was a degenerated person and that this flaw was visible in that person’s physical traits. Lombroso was very systematic, when it came to the classification of criminals. He categorised criminals into the following classes. First, born criminals, who represented atavistic degeneration to forms that were more primitive. Second, insane criminals, such as drunkards, epileptics, and people given to hysterics. Third, criminaloids or individuals who were more likely to indulge in crime, due to their emotional and mental temperament. Fourth, criminals of passion or individuals whose extreme emotions resulted in crime (Richter, 2003, p. 196). Realising the naiveté of his approach, Lombroso changed his theory. As a result, he included several non-physical elements into his theory regarding the causes of crime. Some of these new additions, were banking practices, marriage and sex, and rainfall. He believed that these factors could help to understand criminal behaviour. As such, Lombroso established a multiple –factor approach towards the causes of crime. As such, psychotics can engage in criminal conduct. Psychosis can result from certain diseases of the brain, like Alzheimer’s and dementia. Moreover, some of the mental ailments are usually associated with a state of psychosis. This is evident among the individuals suffering from schizophrenia and to a lesser extent among those with bipolar disorder. The person affected by schizophrenia suffers from thought processes that are not rational. In addition, such individuals experience delusions and hallucinations. This could make them behave unreasonably and violently. The troubles of the person afflicted with schizophrenia do not end with this. On occasion, these people suffer from delusions that have paranoid nature. (Simon, 2012). Such an individual could experience delusions of grandeur. Such individuals might even be convinced that death cannot touch them, or that they possess supernatural powers. Conclusion The contribution of Lombroso is very important, as he established a multiple-factor approach towards the causes of crime. These factors were cultural, as well as social and economic. Moreover, individuals can become psychotic, and several causes have been identified, which can bring about this effect. Psychosis can be brought about by alcohol, opiates, stimulants, steroids and other intoxicating substances. It is not just these substances that can cause psychosis. Thus, physical abnormalities of the brain, such as tumours, can also result in symptoms of psychosis. This, in turn, could lead to violent behaviour that may result in crime. From the above discussion, it can be concluded that positivist criminology is based on a multiple-factor approach towards the causes of crime. References Edney, R. (2006) Models of understanding criminal behaviour and the sentencing process: a place for criminological theory?. Journal of Criminal Law, 70(3), pp. 247-271. Harcourt, B. E. (2013) Beccarias On Crimes and Punishments: A Mirror on the History of the Foundations of Modern Criminal Law. Available from: http://chicagounbound.uchicago.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1633&context=law_and_economics [Accessed 7 November 2015]. Kuper, A. (1996) The Chosen Primate: Human Nature and Cultural Diversity. Cambridge, MA, USA: Harvard University Press. Mazzarello, P. (2011) Cesare Lombroso: an anthropologist between evolution and degeneration. Functional Neurology, 26(2), pp. 97-101. Richter, J. (2003) Are some people born criminal? What impact would the discovery of a "criminal gene" have on existing justifications of punishment?. UCL Jurisprudence Review, Volume 10, pp. 191-212. Screech, M. A. (2015) Laughter at the Foot of the Cross. Chicago, USA: University of Chicago Press. Simon, G. (2012) Psychosis and Psychopathy: Two Very Different Conditions. Available from: http://counsellingresource.com/features/2012/11/12/psychosis-psychopathy/ [Accessed 7 November 2015]. 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