NCJ Number
146438
Journal
Psychological Reports Dated: (1990) Pages: 1235-1242
Date Published
1990
Length
8 pages
Annotation
This study replicated results of Busch, Zagar, Arbit, Hughes, and Bussell (1990) in using the original discriminant-function predictor weights to separate homicidal adolescents from nonviolent delinquents, who were matched by age, race, sex, and socioeconomic status.
Abstract
Each group consisted of 30 subjects. Both groups received physical, psychological educational, psychiatric, and social examinations. Data analysis used stepwise discriminant analysis. Homicidal juveniles had four factors that distinguished them from matched nonviolent delinquents: criminally violent families, gang participation, alcohol abuse, and severe educational deficits that included mental retardation, lowered performance IQ, lowered Full Scale IQ, with more epilepsy and central nervous system conditions. These results replicated earlier findings. When the replication and original sample of murderers were combined, the differences between the juvenile killers and the control group became more apparent. As sample size increased, subtle differences in the symptom of educational difficulties and epilepsy became more notable. The study concludes that the juvenile murderers learned and developed aggressive response in childhood. They manifested cognitive and perceptual difficulties in school years, and during adolescence they participated in gangs and used alcohol. These factors reinforced earlier risk factors. Research with larger samples of adolescents should show more precisely the differential contributions for the prediction of adolescents who will commit homicide. 26 references and 1 table