Violent Crime and Homicide Flashcards
Aggression vs. Violence
Aggression: Behaviour with intention of harming one or more individual physically or psychologically or to destory an object
Violence: Destructive physical aggression intentionally directed at harming other persons or things.
Violence is the manifestation of aggression
Hostile
Occurs in response to anger-inducing emotions
Instrumental
Occurs due to competition/desire for material good or prestige possessed by another
Difference between hostile and instrumental
Hostile occurs in response to anger-induced emotions, while instrumental results due to a desire for material goods
Psychodynamic viewpoint on aggression (Sigmund Freud)
Humans are susceptible to building up aggressive energy, and violence is the act of releasing this built up energy
Pressure must be dissipated through catharsis
Catharsis - Releasing and providing relief from strong or repressed emotions.
Ethological viewpoint of Aggression (Konrad Lorenz)
Ethology: Study of animal behaviour
Aggression is an instinct developed throughout evolution
Purpose: to defend territory (territoriality)
This perspective has evolved into evolutionary psychology which says:
Aggression = normal human characteristic
Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis (Dollard et al.)
Frustration is an unpleasant emotional response that occurs when something blocks our goals.
Aggression is a conseuence of an individual trying to reduce frustration.
Frustration -> Aggression
Cognitive-Neoassociation theory (Berkowitz)
Revision of Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, but it emphasizes cognitive factors
3 steps:
- person blocked from obtaining goal
- Frustration results, leading to anger
- Past anger makes person more likely to aggress
Excitation Transfer Theory
(Zillman)
Arousal from one situation can be transferred to another situation, it slowly dissipates over time.
- Lingering arousal will intensify person’s reaction to the second situation
Displaced aggression theory (Bushman)
Aggression may occur when individual cannot aggress directly against source of provocation
It is then misplaced to a secondary target, when someone emits an annoying act (trigger)
Homicide
the act of killing another person
Culpable homicide
The person responsible for the death is legally responsible.
- Direct or indirect cause of death of human beings by
a) Unlawful act
b) Criminal negligence
Ex. Murder, manslaughter
Non-culpable homicide
The person responsible for the death is not held legally responsible.
Ex. Self-defense, accidents
Types of murder
First-degree murder: Planned, deliberate
Second-degree murder: Any other murder
In Canada where are homicide rates the highest
- Nunavut
- Northwest territories
- Yukon
Which gender was responsible for more homicides (Stats can, 2019)
Males were responsible for 2x more homicides than women
Indigenous homicide victims compared ot overall
indigenous homicide victims are 6x higher than non-indigenous
Death by gun (Kellerman et. al)
Households with guns 3x more likely to have someone in household die from shooting
Gun homicide in US
Nearly 50000 people died fro gun related inuries in 2021
*81% of all homicides in US from guns
Infanticide
Intentional killing of an infant (< 12 months)
Neonaticide: within 24 hours of birth
Filicide: Killing a child from 24 hours - 12 months old
3 types of multiple murder
Serial: 2+ people seperately
Mass: 4+ people in the same event
Spree: 3+ people at different locations within days
Mass murderers
- Typically white male adults
- Plan carefully
- Usually experiencing negative emotions (e.g. loss of loved one, anger, frustration)
Typology of mass murder motivations
- revenge
- Power
- Loyalty
- Profit
- terror
Spree murderers
Rare type of murderers
- It is argued they cannot be meaningfully differenciated from mass murderers
Serial murderers
Typically white males
Not mentally disordered other than:
High incidence of Antisocial Personality Disorder (APD)
APD: A pervasive pattern of disregard for, and violation of, the rights of others
Serial killer victim selection (Morton & Hilts)
Availability: easy access
Vulnerability: How easy to kill
Desirability: Appeal reaction to certain characteristics
Typology of serial killers
- Visionary
- Mission-oriented
- Hedonistic
- Power/Control
Theories on causes of serial killing
- Social factors
- Family and developmental factors
Ex. Neglect, abuse, isolation - Cognitive factors
- Biological factors
Giannangelo’s Diathesis/Stress Model of serial killing
The development of serial killing behaviour happens through the interaction of predispositional vulnerabilities (diathesis) and environmental or psychological stressors.
- Individual repeats criminal activity after kill because it does not live up to their fantasies
