Atavisim

1. The theory of Atavisim was a concept developed by the criminologist Cesare Lombroso ( 1835-1909 ). His ideas were part of the 19th century movement known as Positivism.

   • Positivism was an approach to the study that relied on the scientific method.

   • Positivism was applied to the field of criminology by Lombroso in an attempted to create a field of study known as criminal anthropology.

   • Criminal Anthropology was based on the earlier work of Charles Darwin and the theory of Evolution.
     Lombroso attempted to show that physical traits would be determinats of criminal behavior. This is also known as biological determinism.
2. Lombroso used the term atavistic anomolies to mean that certain people were evolutionary "throw backs" and that they would have difficulty functioning in a civilized culture.
   • atavistic anomolies physical features were large jaws,