A Meta-Synthesis of Filicide Classification Systems: Psychosocial and Psychodynamic Issues in Women Who Kill Their Children

An Examination of the Mental Health and Negative Life Events of Women Who Killed Their Children

“…Some studies have suggested a potential link between childhood trauma and filicide (Debowska et al 2015;Mugavin 2005;Oberman and Meyer 2008;Smithey 1997). For instance, Crimmins et al (1997) have approached the issue from a self-psychological perspective, suggesting that serious negative experiences during childhood cause damage to a woman's self, making it difficult for her to care for dependents.…”

“…Additionally, struggles during childhood might make it harder for a woman to rely on others later in life, and social isolation and lack of social supports have been widely acknowledged as risk factors for filicide (Alder and Polk 2001;D'Orban 1979;Oberman and Meyer 2008;Wilczynski 1997). Other studies have suggested that exposure to violence socializes girls to some degree that predisposes them to violent outbursts as mothers (Mugavin 2005;Smithey 1997). Finally, inability to manage with childhood trauma might lead to various negative coping mechanisms including alcohol and drug abuse (Edalati and Krank 2016), which in turn have been recognized as contributing factors in filicide research (Hatters Friedman and Resnick 2007).…”

Intra- and extra-familial child homicide in Sweden 1992–2012: A population-based study

“…Almost half a century ago, American psychiatrist Phillip Resnick (1969) formulated a typology of filicide to facilitate further understanding of the phenomenon. His paper is still widely cited, and although several scholars have proposed new typologies, none of these has reached widespread use (see, for example, references [Biron & Reynald, 2015;Mugavin, 2005;Putkonen et al, 2016]). Five categories were identified by Resnick: (i) the altruistic filicide, which is characterized by the urge to relieve (real or imagined) suffering; (ii) the acutely psychotic filicide, in which the offender is acting under the influence of psychosis; (iii) the unwanted child filicide, in which the offender primarily strives to rid him-or herself of the child; (iv) the accidental filicide, which is characterized by the unintentional use of excessive violence by a battering parent; and last, (v) the spouse-revenge filicide, in which the offender kills primarily to retaliate against a former or current intimate partner (Resnick, 1969).…”

Behavioral Analysis of Maternal Filicide

“…Therefore, the use of filicide classification systems in cases is often incomprehensive and typically provides an overly simplistic explanation of an offender and her motivation. The complexities of human behavior imply that not all maternal filicide cases fit into one system or framework (Mugavin 2005;Silverman and Kennedy 1988).…”