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MURDER - A PSYCHIATRIC VIEW

NCJ Number
4995
Journal
Criminologist Volume: 7 Issue: 24 Dated: (SPRING 1972) Pages: 35-45
Author(s)
J C BATT
Date Published
1972
Length
11 pages
Annotation
NOTES FROM THE PERSONAL EXPERIENCES OF A BRITISH PSYCHIATRIST ON BEHAVIOR PATTERNS IN DIFFERENT CLINICAL CATEGORIES OF MURDERERS.
Abstract
THE AUTHOR INVESTIGATED THE PSYCHIATRIC HISTORIES, INTELLIGENCE, HOME AND FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, METHODS OF MURDER, AND VICTIM TYPES OF ONE HUNDRED FORTY SUSPECTS ARRESTED FOR MURDER. RESEARCH FINDINGS INDICATED THAT CERTAIN PSYCHIATRIC CLASSES OF MURDERERS HAD CONSISTENT BEHAVIORAL CHARACTERISTICS. FOR EXAMPLE, PSYCHOPATHS WERE MORE LIKELY TO KILL STRANGERS THAN MEMBERS OF THEIR OWN FAMILY. WHEN MEMBERS OF THIS GROUP DID MURDER A RELATIVE, THE MOST COMMON OCCURRENCE WAS CASES OF CHILD BATTERING.