Cesare Lombroso

Cesare Lombroso

Cesare Lombroso (born Ezechia Marco Lombroso; 6 November 1835 – 19 October 1909) was an Italian criminologist, physician, and founder of the Italian School of Positivist Criminology. Lombroso's theory of anthropological criminology essentially suggests that criminality is inherited, and that someone "born criminal" could be identified by physical defects, which he termed as atavistic anomalies or signs of degeneration.

Biography

Cesare Lombroso was born in Verona, Kingdom of Lombardy-Venetia, and was of Jewish descent. He studied medicine and surgery at the universities of Padua, Vienna, and Paris, and later became a professor of psychiatry, forensic medicine, and hygiene at the University of Turin. Lombroso served in the army as a military doctor and also worked in various asylums. His experiences and observations during these periods led him to formulate his theories on criminality.

Criminological Theories

Lombroso's work is best encapsulated in his most famous book, L'uomo delinquente (Criminal Man), first published in 1876. He posited that criminals are born, not made, and that criminality is a result of biological determinism. He identified certain physical characteristics, such as asymmetry of the face, large jaws, low sloping foreheads, and more, as indicators of a born criminal. Lombroso later expanded his theory to include environmental factors, but his emphasis remained on biological predispositions.

His work laid the foundation for the modern field of criminology, but it also attracted widespread criticism, especially for its determinist implications and racial undertones. Critics argue that Lombroso's theories justify discriminatory practices and neglect the complex social and environmental factors that contribute to criminal behavior.

Legacy and Criticism

Despite the controversy, Lombroso's theories influenced the development of various disciplines, including criminal anthropology, forensic science, and criminal psychology. His concept of the "born criminal" has been largely discredited in contemporary criminology, which favors a more nuanced understanding of the interplay between genetics, environment, and personal choice in the development of criminal behavior.

Lombroso's work also contributed to the establishment of the first museum of criminal anthropology in Turin in 1898, where many of his collections and research materials are preserved.

Selected Works

• L'uomo delinquente (1876)
• L'uomo bianco e l'uomo di colore (1876)
• L'antisemitismo e le scienze moderne (1894)
• Le crime: Causes et remèdes (1899)

See Also

• Criminal anthropology
• Positivist criminology
• Biological determinism