What principle underlies anthropometry in criminal identification?

The principle that underlies anthropometry in criminal identification is that every human being differs in body measurements. This concept was central to the development of anthropometry as a scientific method for identifying individuals based on their physical dimensions, such as the lengths of various body parts. The idea is that a combination of these measurements can create a unique profile for each person, making it possible to distinguish one individual from another.

Anthropometry was famously used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, especially by figures like Alphonse Bertillon, who developed a system for cataloging criminals based on their measurements. While it is true that humans sometimes share certain physical features, the key idea here is that the variability in physical body measurements can provide a reliable means of identification, which is why this principle is foundational for anthropometry.

The reliance on DNA as a sole unique identifier is a more modern approach to identification, highlighting the advancement of forensic science beyond physical measurements. Similarly, psychological traits do not specifically address the physical aspects of identification that anthropometry focuses on, as they relate more to personality and behavioral characteristics rather than measurable physical dimensions.