RESUMO
This article explores the contribution of evolutionary theory to the understanding of causation and motive in filicide cases and also reviews special issues in the forensic evaluation of alleged perpetrators of filicide. Evolutionary social psychology seeks to understand the context in which our brains evolved, to understand human behaviors. The authors propose evolutionary theory as a framework theory to meaningfully appreciate research about filicide. Using evolutionary psychology as a theoretical lens, this article reviews the research on filicide over the past 40 years, and describes epidemiologic and typologic studies of filicide, and theoretical analyses from a range of disciplines.
Assuntos
Psiquiatria Legal/métodos , Homicídio/psicologia , Infanticídio/psicologia , Pais/psicologia , Criança , Homicídio/classificação , Homicídio/legislação & jurisprudência , Humanos , Lactente , Infanticídio/classificação , Infanticídio/legislação & jurisprudência , Transtornos Mentais/psicologia , Motivação , Teoria PsicológicaRESUMO
Filicide is the killing of a child by a parent. To protect potential homicide victims, it is necessary to examine and identify intrapsychic and interpersonal dynamics that result in filicide. The current filicide classification systems have intended to yield better etiological understanding of the crime and ultimately lead to prevention strategies and accurate death certification. A framework of motives and precipitating factors that lead to filicide by mothers offers a starting point to examine this emotionally evocative and complex phenomenon.
Assuntos
Psicologia Criminal/métodos , Infanticídio/classificação , Infanticídio/psicologia , Mães/classificação , Mães/psicologia , Acidentes/psicologia , Fatores Etários , Altruísmo , Mulheres Maltratadas/psicologia , Criança , Maus-Tratos Infantis/mortalidade , Maus-Tratos Infantis/prevenção & controle , Maus-Tratos Infantis/psicologia , Pré-Escolar , Criança não Desejada/psicologia , Médicos Legistas , Atestado de Óbito , Eutanásia/psicologia , Feminino , Enfermagem Forense/métodos , Psiquiatria Legal/métodos , Humanos , Lactente , Infanticídio/prevenção & controle , Infanticídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Mães/estatística & dados numéricos , Motivação , Papel do Profissional de Enfermagem , Fatores Desencadeantes , Teoria Psicológica , Transtornos Psicóticos/psicologiaRESUMO
AIM: To determine socio-demographic features and criminal liability of individuals who committed filicide in Turkey. METHOD: The study involved 85 cases of filicide evaluated by the 4th Specialized Board of the Institute of Forensic Medicine in Istanbul in the 1995-2000 period. We assessed the characteristics of parents who committed filicide (age, sex, education level, employment status, and criminal liability) and children victims (age, sex, own or stepchild), as well as the causes of death. RESULTS: There were 85 parents who committed filicide (41 fathers and 44 mothers) and 96 children victims. The mean age of mothers who committed filicide (52% of filicides) was 26.5-/+7.7 years, and the mean age of fathers (48% of filicides) was 36.1-/+10.0 years (t=-5.00, p<0.001). Individuals diagnosed with psychiatric disturbances, such as schizophrenia (61%), major depression (22%), imbecility (10%), and mild mental retardation (7%), were not subject to criminal liability. Almost half of parents who committed filicide were unemployed and illiterate. CONCLUSION: Filicide in Turkey was equally committed by mothers and fathers. More than half of the parents were diagnosed with psychiatric disorders and came from disadvantageous socioeconomic environments, where unemployment and illiteracy rates are highly above the average of Turkey.
Assuntos
Homicídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Pais , Adolescente , Adulto , Causas de Morte , Criança , Maus-Tratos Infantis/mortalidade , Pré-Escolar , Direito Penal , Feminino , Homicídio/classificação , Humanos , Lactente , Infanticídio/classificação , Infanticídio/estatística & dados numéricos , Masculino , Pais/psicologia , Transtornos Psicóticos/epidemiologia , Turquia/epidemiologia , Populações Vulneráveis/psicologia , Populações Vulneráveis/estatística & dados numéricosRESUMO
This article summarizes and reviews the literature on neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide. A literature review was conducted using the Medline database: the cue terms neonaticide, infanticide, and filicide were searched. One hundred-fifteen articles were reviewed; of these, 51 are cited in our article. We conclude that while infanticide dates back to the beginning of recorded history, little is known about what causes parents to murder their children. To this end, further research is needed to identify potential perpetrators and to prevent subsequent acts of child murder by a parent.