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.
Table of Contents
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
Objectives and Topics
This dissertation investigates the relative obscurity of filicide within the criminological field and explores the potential societal benefits of re-establishing it as a focal point of criminological study. The primary research question addresses whether increasing the academic and public awareness of filicide—specifically the murder of a child by a parent or parental surrogate—could help provide a more realistic understanding of child homicide risks and mitigate the disproportionate fear of strangers.
- The complex definitions of filicide and the challenges in distinguishing it from other child murders.
- The ‘medicalisation’ of the act, which often prioritizes the psychiatric state of the perpetrator over the criminal nature of the homicide.
- The influence of media portrayal and cultural perceptions on how filicide is viewed by the public and legal systems.
- A survey-based assessment of knowledge levels regarding filicide among students of Criminal Justice and Criminology.
Excerpt from the Book
What is filicide?
Initially the meaning of filicide appears relatively simple. Yet, once the definition is explored it is apparent that it holds many complexities. In fact, the definition is rather confusing and for that reason it is worthwhile considering how these complexities can alter the way that an act of filicide is understood. While reviewing the literature on filicide it becomes clear that there is uncertainty as to what the exact definition is, and as a result, authors and researchers tend to adopt their own version. For instance, Flynn acknowledges that the age range of the child differs between studies and consequently the “age limit appears to be dictated by the sample itself” (2009:11). Defining an end age would understandably be difficult due to the fact that although a child becomes an adult in the eyes of society, they continue to be the parent’s son or daughter. Therefore, the definition is open to interpretation. The early years, however, appear to be more problematic because of the incorporation of infanticide and neonaticide. Whilst these terms may be used independently, they only reflect the age of the child when it was killed (with exception given to infanticide, which harbours a stricter definition). For that reason, we have to appreciate that infanticide and neonaticide may also, by definition, be regarded as acts of filicide (West, 2007). Their presence does, however, raise the question as to why the age range distinction matters. This issue, therefore, will be addressed in the third chapter when the age of victims is discussed.
Summary of Chapters
Chapter 1: The act of filicide: This chapter introduces the definition of filicide, explores its complexities regarding age and parental roles, and examines historical and literary representations of filicidal motives.
Chapter 2: A Hidden Crime: This chapter discusses the ‘medicalisation’ of filicide, examining how legal and societal frameworks often shift focus from the criminal act to the psychiatric health of the offender, particularly mothers.
Chapter 3: Acknowledging the act of filicide: This chapter analyzes statistical data and presents a survey on student knowledge, highlighting the lack of distinct criminological focus on filicide compared to other forms of child murder.
Chapter 4: Bringing filicide back into the criminological sphere: This final analytical chapter discusses the potential benefits and risks of increasing awareness, specifically regarding how it might reshape the public’s fear of ‘stranger danger’ and improve child safety.
Keywords
Filicide, Criminology, Child Homicide, Infanticide, Neonaticide, Medicalisation, Resnick, Motive, Stranger Danger, Criminal Justice, Parental Responsibility, Victimology, Moral Panic, Media Portrayal, Safeguarding.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the core focus of this research?
This work explores the act of filicide—the killing of a child by their parent—and investigates why this phenomenon is often treated as an obscure topic within criminology, despite its significant impact on child homicide statistics.
What are the central thematic fields covered?
The dissertation covers legal definitions of child murder, the psychiatric ‘medicalisation’ of filicidal parents, the role of media in shaping public perception, and the discrepancy between actual risks and perceived threats.
What is the primary goal of the dissertation?
The main goal is to argue that re-integrating filicide into the criminological sphere would allow for a more accurate understanding of child homicide risks, potentially reducing societal fear of strangers and redirecting focus toward actual dangers.
Which scientific methods were used?
The author conducted a literature review of historical and modern criminological sources alongside an independent short survey distributed to Criminal Justice and Criminology students to gauge current awareness levels.
What is examined in the main section?
The main section analyzes Dr. Phillip Resnick’s motive categories, the influence of the Infanticide Acts, current statistical limitations, and specific high-profile cases like those of ‘Baby P’ and Andrea Yates.
How would the author define the key characteristics of this work?
Key characteristics include the focus on the hidden nature of filicide, the critique of ‘medicalising’ criminal behavior, and the call for independent, specialized research into filicidal acts to improve child protection.
How does the author view the role of the 'Medea Complex' in modern society?
The author uses the 'Medea Complex' to illustrate how ancient literary notions of filicide have persisted, influencing how society perceives murderous motives in parents today.
Does the author believe media coverage is balanced regarding filicide?
No, the author argues that the media disproportionately focuses on sensational ‘stranger danger’ cases, often neglecting the more frequent but less ‘newsworthy’ occurrences of filicide within the family.
Why does the author advocate for a shift in current child protection focus?
The author suggests that current child protection strategies are overly focused on external threats, and that acknowledging domestic risks could lead to more effective and realistic preventative measures.
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- Rebecca Getliffe (Autor:in), 2013, The Act of Filicide. How offenders and motives differ from other murders, München, GRIN Verlag, https://www.grin.com/document/936191
