Atavism is a theory in criminology that explains criminal behavior as a result of the reemergence of primitive, genetically inherited traits in individuals. The theory suggests that some individuals have a genetic predisposition to criminal behavior due to inherited traits that are associated with aggression, impulsivity, and a lack of empathy. These traits are believed to have been adaptive in earlier human societies, where violence and competition for resources were more common, but are now maladaptive in modern societies that value cooperation, empathy, and the rule of law. The term "atavism" means "evolutionary throwback" and was first suggested by Darwin. The theory of atavism was popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries when criminologists were searching for biological explanations for criminal behavior. It was based on the work of Italian criminologist Cesare Lombroso, who argued that criminals were biologically distinct from non-criminals and that criminal behavior was a manifestation of primitive, atavistic traits. Lombroso believed that some people were simply "born criminal" and that physical abnormalities that offenders have occurred because offenders were the products of an earlier stage of human evolution, a stage where more primitive humans and apes existed. However, modern criminologists have largely rejected the theory of atavism in favor of more nuanced explanations of criminal behavior that take into account a wide range of social, economic, and environmental factors.