PSY 3173 Lecture Notes - Lecture 11: Mass Murder, Criminal Negligence, Problem Solving
28 Apr 2018
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March 29, 2017
Homicidal Offenders
Learning Objectives
Describe characteristics of homicide in Canada
Differentiate between instrumental and reactive homicide
Describe various categories of maternal ļ¬licide
Differentiate between serial, mass, and spree murders
Describe theories used to explain homicidal behaviour
Describe effectiveness of treatment for violent offenders
Definitions of Homicidal Offences
Four different types of homicides:
-First-degree murder: planned and deliberate
ā¢Also includes murder of police and correctional staff
ā¢A murder during another offence is considered ļ¬rst degree, whether or not it was unplanned or deliberate (ex.
murder during a rape)
ā¢Maximum sentence of 25 years (life) with no chance of parole
-Second-degree murder: a deliberate killing without planning
ā¢All murder not considered ļ¬rst degree
ā¢Maximum sentence of 25 years (life) with no chance of parole
-Manslaughter: unintentional, in the heat of passion or due to criminal negligence
ā¢Ex. Bar ļ¬ght and accidentally killing the other person, domestic ļ¬ght
ā¢Maximum sentence of 25 years (life) with no chance of parole
-Infanticide: killing of a baby
ā¢Maximum sentence of 5 years
Extent of Homicidal Offences
Homicide rate peaked in the 1970s and declined from 1975-2003
Homicide rate increased in 2004 and 2005, but is generally decreasing again
Gang and gun-related homicides are increasing, but the rate of victims is decreasing
Homicide is more likely in Western provinces
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March 29, 2017
Bimodal Classification of Homicide
Reactive (affective): impulsive, unplanned, response to perceived provocation
-Victims are most often relatives
Instrumental (predatory): proactive, premeditated, motivated by a goal
-Victims are most often strangers
-Goals can include money, power, control, or even the gratiļ¬cation of sadistic fantasies
Types of Homicide: Filicide
Filicide: killing of children by parents (biological or stepparents)
-Neonaticide: child is killed within 24 hours of birth
-Infanticide
3 types of maternal ļ¬licide:
-Infanticide: typically young, unmarried women who have concealed their pregnancies fearing rejection or
disapproval from their families
ā¢Typically have no prior history of mental illness and are not suicidal
-Battering mothers: killed their children impulsively in response to the behaviour of the child
ā¢Have the highest rates of social and family stress
-Mental illness: likely to be diagnosed with psychosis or depression, to have killed older children and to have
multiple victims
ā¢Most likely to attempt suicide after the murder
Other Types of Homicide
Familicide: spouse or children killed
-Perpetrator most often male
-Two types of killers:
ā¢Despondent non-hostile killer: depressed and worried about the impending disaster for himself or his family
-Usually a murder-suicide
-Usually no past history of aggression or violence towards family members
-āProtectsā the family by killing them
ā¢Hostile accusatory killers: often motivated by inļ¬delity or a desire to end the relationship
-Often a past history of violence
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