ESCOLA POSITIVISTA DE CRIMINOLOGIA: LOMBROSO, FERRI E GARÓFALO (SÉRIE CRIMINOLOGIA – EP 04)

Summary

The video dives into the Positivist School of Criminology, focusing on key figures like Cesare Lombroso, Enrico Ferri, and Raffaele Garofalo. The Positivist approach views crime as a result of innate, pathological traits in criminals, distinguishing them from 'normal' individuals. Lombroso's theory of the 'born criminal' sets the foundation, while Ferri introduces a sociological perspective, and Garofalo further develops criminal typologies and proposes the death penalty for certain crimes. The video also touches on how these theories evolved, emphasizing the importance of scientific methods in understanding criminal behavior and society's response to crime.

Takeaways

• 😀 The positivist school of criminology, which includes Lombroso, Ferri, and Garofalo, focuses on the idea that criminals are different from ordinary people due to certain pathological traits.
• 😀 Lombroso is most famous for his theory of the 'born criminal,' suggesting that criminality is determined by biological and psychological factors.
• 😀 Ferri expanded on Lombroso's ideas, incorporating social factors into the study of criminality, and argued that crime was a result of determinism, not free will.
• 😀 The positivist criminologists believed that crime was natural and could be studied scientifically, leading to interventions aimed at correcting the criminal's condition for the greater good of society.
• 😀 Lombroso's research included comparing criminals in psychiatric hospitals and prisons with ordinary people, looking for physical and mental anomalies that distinguished criminals.
• 😀 The concept of the 'born criminal' was further developed by Ferri, who refined it by adding a social dimension, arguing that environmental factors also influenced criminal behavior.
• 😀 Lombroso's theories were later modified by Ferri and Garofalo, who included social and psychological factors in the analysis of criminals.
• 😀 Ferri's main work, 'Sociology of Crime,' introduced the idea that crime was not only a biological issue but also a social one, and that criminal behavior could be influenced by societal factors.
• 😀 Garofalo created the term criminology and divided criminals into three categories: 'born criminals,' 'occasional criminals,' and 'criminals by special moral defect.' He also proposed the death penalty for certain types of criminals.
• 😀 Garofalo also distinguished between 'legal crimes,' which vary by location, and 'natural crimes,' which are universally harmful to society, arguing that the latter required harsher punishments.

Q & A

What is the core argument of the Italian Positivist school of criminology?

The core argument of the Italian Positivist school is that criminals are different from normal individuals due to pathologies that lead them to commit crimes. These differences are seen as biological, psychological, or social anomalies that require scientific intervention.

Who were the main figures in the Italian Positivist school of criminology?

The main figures in the Italian Positivist school were Cesare Lombroso, Enrico Ferri, and Raffaele Garofalo.

What was Cesare Lombroso's contribution to criminology?

Lombroso is known for his theory of the 'born criminal,' suggesting that certain criminals had physical and psychological characteristics that made them predisposed to crime. His work laid the foundation for the positivist approach to criminology.

How did Enrico Ferri's view on criminology differ from Lombroso's?

While Lombroso focused on biological factors and the concept of 'born criminals,' Ferri introduced social factors into criminology, emphasizing that crime was influenced by a mix of biological, psychological, and social factors.

What was Raffaele Garofalo's perspective on crime and criminals?

Garofalo, who coined the term 'criminology,' defined crime as a natural phenomenon related to human society. He argued that criminals were inherently inclined to commit crimes due to their moral defects, and he divided criminals into categories such as 'born criminals' and 'occasional criminals.'

What does the concept of 'determinism' mean in the context of positivist criminology?

Determinism in positivist criminology refers to the idea that crime is determined by factors beyond the individual's control, such as hereditary, anatomical, or psychological characteristics. This concept suggests that criminals cannot be fully blamed for their actions.

What were the main criticisms of the positivist criminology approach?

Critics argued that the positivist approach was overly deterministic, as it didn't account for personal responsibility and often led to the treatment of criminals as cases to be 'cured' rather than holding them accountable for their actions.

How did Garofalo classify crimes?

Garofalo classified crimes into two categories: 'legal crimes,' which vary by jurisdiction, and 'natural crimes,' which harm the fundamental values of society and human nature, such as murder or violent crimes.

What role did Lombroso's work in psychiatric hospitals and prisons play in his criminology theory?

Lombroso conducted studies in psychiatric hospitals and prisons to identify physical and psychological traits that could distinguish criminals from non-criminals. His research aimed to prove the existence of 'born criminals' and emphasize the biological roots of criminal behavior.

Why did Ferri believe that punishment should not just be repressive?

Ferri believed that punishment should have a rehabilitative and educational aspect, aiming to 'cure' the criminal's underlying pathological condition and reintegrate them into society, rather than simply punishing them for their actions.