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.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 113-124 |
| Number of pages | 12 |
| Journal | Aggression and Violent Behavior |
| Volume | 21 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 1 Mar 2015 |
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Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide-suicide. / Debowska, Agata; Boduszek, Daniel; Dhingra, Katie.
In: Aggression and Violent Behavior, Vol. 21, 01.03.2015, p. 113-124.Research output: Contribution to journal › Review article
TY - JOUR
T1 - Victim, perpetrator, and offense characteristics in filicide and filicide-suicide
AU - Debowska, Agata
AU - Boduszek, Daniel
AU - Dhingra, Katie
PY - 2015/3/1
Y1 - 2015/3/1
N2 - 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.
AB - 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.
KW - Filicide-suicide
KW - Maternal filicide
KW - Paternal filicide
KW - Stepparental filicide
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84924352775&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.avb.2015.01.011
DO - 10.1016/j.avb.2015.01.011
M3 - Review article
VL - 21
SP - 113
EP - 124
JO - Aggression and Violent Behavior
JF - Aggression and Violent Behavior
SN - 1359-1789
ER -