NCJ Number
40092
Journal
British Journal of Criminology Volume: 17 Issue: 1 Dated: (JANUARY 1977) Pages: 58-63
Date Published
1977
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THIS STUDY INVESTIGATED THE FAMILY AND SOCIAL HISTORIES OF CHILD AND ADOLESCENT HOMICIDE OFFENDERS, ALONG WITH ADVERSE FACTORS IN THEIR FAMILY BACKGROUNDS, PREVIOUS CRIMINAL RECORDS, AND TREATMENT RECEIVED AS A RESULT.
Abstract
THE AGES OF THOSE STUDIED RANGED FROM 10 TO 151/2 YEARS OLD WHEN THE OFFENSE WAS RECORDED. AN ANALYSIS OF 11 CHILDREN, 1 GIRL AND 10 BOYS, INDICATED A MATERNAL OVER-DOMINANT RELATIONSHIP IN 8 OF THE MALES, STUDIED. THE MURDERERS WERE FOUND TO HAVE MORE CO-OPERATIVE PERSONALITIES THAN OTHER CHILDREN FOUND GUILTY OF NON-CAPITAL OFFENSES AND SHOWED BOTH NORMAL INTELLIGENCE AND PERSONALITY FACTORS. DESPITE A HISTORY OF 'BLACKOUTS' IN SEVERAL CASES, ALL WERE FOUND ON INVESTIGATION TO BE FREE FROM EPILEPSY AND ALL WERE HEALTHY. DIFFICULTY WAS EXPERIENCED IN DETERMINING THE PRESENCE OR ABSENCE OF PARENTAL ALCOHOLISM, PROMISCUITY, AND CRIMINAL CONVICTIONS. ALL OF THE 10 BOYS AND THE GIRL CAME FROM NORMAL HOMES AND APART FROM MINOR OFFENSES NONE WAS INVOLVED PREVIOUSLY IN SERIOUS ANTISOCIAL BEHAVIOR. FUTURE RESEARCH IS INDICATED ON TWO ASPECTS: (A) ROLE OF THE WORKING MOTHER WITH PARTICULAR REFERENCE TO MATERNAL DOMINANCE, AND (B) THE 'CYCLE OF DEPRIVATION' THEORY. THIS THEORY STATES THAT THOSE PARENTS WHO HAVE THEMSELVES BEEN EMOTIONALLY, INTELLECTUALLY, OR CULTURALLY DEPRIVED AND THEREFORE 'HURT' IN THEIR YOUTH, TEND TO 'HURT' THEIR OWN CHILD IN EXACTLY THE SAME WAY. REFERENCES ARE INCLUDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT)...ELW