Biological And Psychological Positivism Analysis

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‘Positivism highlights scientific methods in the study of crime, the importance of criminal types and theories of course or aetiology’ (Carrabine et al 2004) The Positivist theory was a move from the classical approach, that there was to crime during the enlightenment period. There are several other theories that attempt to explain criminal behaviour, one of which includes Merton’s strain theory. The one thing criminologists tend to have in common is their belief that criminal behaviour is the product of complex interaction between biology and environmental or social conditions. The aim of this essay is to state how Biological and Psychological positivism relates to the murder of Lee Rigby. On the 22nd May 2013, a fatal attack took place in broad daylight on Wellington Road, South East London. Fusilier Lee Rigby was commuting back from Tower of London to his place of residence at the Royal Artillery Barracks in Woolwich. As Mr Rigby was walking along Wellington Road, a blue Vauxhall Tigra drove directly into him, knocking him down. Immediately after he’s attackers came out of the vehicle with various types of knives, and used it to attack their victim. After the brutal attack the culprits walked up and down the road justifying the murder to members of the public. Shortly after the police turned up on scene and arrested the attackers. …show more content…

The cause of crime is Biological Inferiority’ Italian physician Cesare Lombroso was one of the most famous figures in biological positivism. He’s belief was that individuals participated in criminal activities because of their genetics. He depended on Atavism, as a way of picking out he’s criminals. This means he believed you can tell someone is a criminal by their physical appearance and irregularities within their brains. Lombroso associated Darwin’s Theory of evolution with Atavism. (Tierney,

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