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Abstract
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VioLit summary:
OBJECTIVE:
The purpose of this article by Russell was to review the cases of two juvenile girls who had committed homicide.
METHODOLOGY:
A non-experimental review of clinical cases was employed for this study.
FINDINGS/DISCUSSION:
The author began by stating that these two cases did not correspond with his prior review of the characteristics of 50 juvenile murderers. Boys displayed the common characteristics of early and continuing pathological maternal relationships which typically interfered or halted establishment of personal identity and autonomy in adolescence. The killing was seen as a kind of displacement. For girls, however, it was thought that other factors may be at work including profound maternal deprivation in early childhood which was followed by intense restrictiveness in adolescence. Common features found in these two case studies were pervasive subjugation to their mothers. Additionally, it was found that there was a pervasive lack of support and caring as well as inordinate exposure to overwhelming emotional forces and disruptive life circumstances. Use and abuse, lack of protection, and denial of their feelings and sense of self were also found. It was concluded that the murderous dynamic for girls is different than has been seen for boys, but the scale of this study left some obscurities.
EVALUATION:
This study should be taken as completely exploratory. Given the lack of knowledge we have about the female juvenile homicide offender, this study at least raises important questions. Generalizations, however, cannot be made from a sample of 2. More research is clearly needed.
(CSPV Abstract - Copyright © 1992-2007 by the Center for the Study and Prevention of Violence, Institute of Behavioral Science, Regents of the University of Colorado)
Female Offender
Female Violence
Homicide Causes
Homicide Offender
Juvenile Female
Juvenile Homicide
Juvenile Violence
Juvenile Offender
Violence Causes
Psychological Factors
Offender Characteristics
Case Studies
02-05
Language: en |