Addressing the complex definition of filicide and assessing the problems that can arise from these complexities. The age range of victims and the incorporation of stepparents are discussed in reference to the difficulties that they can pose. Filicidal notions are drawn from historical and modern literature in a bid to highlight the prevalence of the subject, whilst moving on to consider who commits filicide and the motives for such an act. The work of Resnick (1969) will be explored and acknowledged for providing a significant turning point in the study of filicide, and his development of motive categories. Once the act of filicide has been firmly established, the hidden aspect of this crime will be explored. This includes the apparent ‘medicalisation’ of filicide and draws upon Wilczynski’s (1997) discussion of filicidal parents as being either ‘mad’ or ‘bad’. Additionally, the moral dilemma surrounding the filicidal act is also discussed, with attention drawn to cultural differences of opinion and the cultural pressures that somewhat condone the presence of filicide within certain cultures. This will be followed by a discussion of filicide’s route to ‘medicalisation’ and how the roots for this change may be embedded in the modernisation of criminal justice methods. This will lead to an acknowledgement of filicide as a criminal act and highlight the problems surrounding the Infanticide Acts of 1922 and 1938 that were raised by parliament. These problems mirror those that are found within the definition of filicide and include the problem with age ranges and inclusion of stepparents. Homicide statistical data will be analysed in relation to their relevance and then explored further to highlight any problems that are visibly present when focus is placed solely on acts of filicide. At this point I draw upon my own research, which was conducted in a bid to assess the knowledge level of filicide exhibited by students currently studying Criminal Justice and Criminology at the University of Leeds.
Contents
Abstract
Introduction
Chapter 1: The act of filicide
Who commits filicide?
Why commit filicide?
Victimology
Chapter 2: A Hidden Crime
The medicalisation of filicide
The moral dilemma
The route to ‘medicalisation’
Chapter 3: Acknowledging the act of filicide
Why is filicide unfamiliar in the criminological field?
The age range distinction
Maternal versus Paternal and surrogate parentage
Statistical data
Knowledge of filicide: A short survey
Methodology
Findings
Media portrayal
Chapter 4: Bringing filicide back into the criminological sphere
Acknowledgement of risk
Filicide versus ‘stranger danger’
What would be the Benefits?
What would be the negatives?
Conclusion
Bibliography
-
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X. -
Upload your own papers! Earn money and win an iPhone X.