Biological Theories: Before Lombroso

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Biological Theories Before Lombroso
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Franz Joseph Gall

• 1738-1800 Baden, Germany
• Dr of Craniology or Cranioscopy, early terms for
  phrenology

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The Brain is the Organ of the Mind
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The Mind is Composed of Multiple Distinct innate
Facilities
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Because they are Distinct, Each has a Compartment
or Organ in the Brain
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The Size of an Organ is a Measure of its Power
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The Shape is a Determination of its Development
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The Skull Takes its Shape from the Brain
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Phrenology
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Phrenology
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More Biosocial Positivisim

• After Lombroso

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Goring

• English Prison Medical Officer
• The English Convict

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Goring

• Statistically Diverse differences in Body stature
  and weight

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Defective Physique Defective Intelligence

• Prisoners Were shorter and thinner
• Prisoners had lower IQ (Subjectively)

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Hooten

• Crime and the Man

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Hooten

• Whatever the crime may be, it ordinarily arises
  from a deteriorated organismCertainly the
  penitentiaries of our society are built upon the
  shifting sands and quaking bogs of inferior human
  organisms.(Hooten 1939)

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How Good were Hootens Conclusions?

• There was greater measured differences among
  prisoners than the general population

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Biosocial considerations

• If a Criminal is Biologically Inferior, why not
  sort them now?

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Biosocial Considerations

• Can we isolate them from society?
• Can we change the prison terms based on physical
  form?

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Biosocial Considerations

• Why not consider surgically fixing some
  inadequacies?

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Where did the Biological Theorists Go Wrong?