Discuss the work of Cesare Lombroso and others who followed in his footsteps. Why is Cesare Lombroso important to the field of criminology? Be sure to discuss the works of Ernest Hooten and Charles Goring. What did each study? What were their major findings? What were the major criticisms of Lombroso, Hooten, and Goring’s work?

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Answers should address the idea that Lombroso was the first to apply the scientific
method to the field of criminology, as such, he is considered the father of criminology
and the father of the positive school of criminology. Applying the work of Darwin,
Lombroso compared the physical characteristics of criminals and noncriminals. He
concluded that criminals were atavisms, or less evolved than modern man--they were
evolutionary throwbacks. These throwbacks could be identified by the presence of
stigmata that marked them as such. Most of the stigmata were apelike characteristics.
Like Lombroso, Ernest Hooten studied the physical characteristics of criminals and
noncriminals. He concluded that the two were physically different in terms of physical
features. Charles Goring was critical of biological determinism. He studied more than
3,000 prisoners and an equally large group of noncriminals and found no significant
differences between the two groups. The theories of all three theorists were criticized as
being too simplistic and incorrect in their assumptions that observed physical traits were
indicative of meaningful biological differences.