Facial reconstruction

Search LJMU Research Online

Browse Repository | Browse E-Theses

Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide-suicide

Debowska, A, Boduszek, D and Dhingra, K (2015) Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide-suicide. Aggression and Violent Behavior, 21. pp. 113-124. ISSN 1359-1789

[img]
Preview
Text
Debowska et al. (in press) Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide-suicide_author copy.pdf - Accepted Version
Available under License Creative Commons Attribution Non-commercial No Derivatives.

Download (417kB) | Preview

Abstract

The purpose of this paper is to provide a critical review of most recent studies of parental and stepparental filicide. A detailed review of the literature revealed the importance of certain demographic, environmental, and psychosocial factors in the commission of child homicide. Our findings indicate that filicides perpetrated by genetic parents and stepparents differ considerably in terms of underlying motivational factors. Data in the literature suggest that biological parents are more likely to choose methods of killing which produce quick and painless death, whereas stepparents frequently kill their wards by beating. Research results demonstrate the victims of maternal filicides to be significantly younger than the victims of paternal filicides. Additionally, filicide-suicide is most often associated with parental psychopathology. Genetic fathers are at the greatest risk of death by suicide after the commission of familicide. These findings are discussed in relation to theoretical frameworks explaining the occurrence of child murder. Further, limitations of reviewed studies and directions for future research are presented. © 2015 Elsevier Ltd.

Item Type: Article
Uncontrolled Keywords: 1602 Criminology, 1701 Psychology
Subjects: B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
H Social Sciences > HV Social pathology. Social and public welfare. Criminology
Divisions: Natural Sciences & Psychology (closed 31 Aug 19)
Publisher: Elsevier Masson
Date Deposited: 09 Sep 2016 11:17
Last Modified: 04 Sep 2021 12:33
DOI or ID number: 10.1016/j.avb.2015.01.011
URI: https://researchonline.ljmu.ac.uk/id/eprint/4118
View Item View Item