Violent Crime and Homicide

Question 2

Aggression vs. Violence

Answer 2

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

Question 3

Hostile

Answer 3

Occurs in response to anger-inducing emotions

Question 4

Instrumental

Answer 4

Occurs due to competition/desire for material good or prestige possessed by another

Question 5

Difference between hostile and instrumental

Answer 5

Hostile occurs in response to anger-induced emotions, while instrumental results due to a desire for material goods

Question 6

Psychodynamic viewpoint on aggression (Sigmund Freud)

Answer 6

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.

Question 7

Ethological viewpoint of Aggression (Konrad Lorenz)

Answer 7

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

Question 8

Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis (Dollard et al.)

Answer 8

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

Question 9

Cognitive-Neoassociation theory (Berkowitz)

Answer 9

Revision of Frustration-Aggression Hypothesis, but it emphasizes cognitive factors

3 steps:

1. person blocked from obtaining goal
2. Frustration results, leading to anger
3. Past anger makes person more likely to aggress

Question 10

Excitation Transfer Theory
(Zillman)

Answer 10

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

Question 11

Displaced aggression theory (Bushman)

Answer 11

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)

Question 12

Homicide

Answer 12

the act of killing another person

Question 13

Culpable homicide

Answer 13

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

Question 14

Non-culpable homicide

Answer 14

The person responsible for the death is not held legally responsible.

Ex. Self-defense, accidents

Question 15

Types of murder

Answer 15

First-degree murder: Planned, deliberate

Second-degree murder: Any other murder

Question 16

In Canada where are homicide rates the highest

Answer 16

1. Nunavut
2. Northwest territories
3. Yukon

Question 17

Which gender was responsible for more homicides (Stats can, 2019)

Answer 17

Males were responsible for 2x more homicides than women

Question 18

Indigenous homicide victims compared ot overall

Answer 18

indigenous homicide victims are 6x higher than non-indigenous

Question 19

Death by gun (Kellerman et. al)

Answer 19

Households with guns 3x more likely to have someone in household die from shooting

Question 20

Gun homicide in US

Answer 20

Nearly 50000 people died fro gun related inuries in 2021

*81% of all homicides in US from guns

Question 21

Infanticide

Answer 21

Intentional killing of an infant (< 12 months)

Neonaticide: within 24 hours of birth

Filicide: Killing a child from 24 hours - 12 months old

Question 22

3 types of multiple murder

Answer 22

Serial: 2+ people seperately

Mass: 4+ people in the same event

Spree: 3+ people at different locations within days

Question 23

Mass murderers

Answer 23

• Typically white male adults
• Plan carefully
• Usually experiencing negative emotions (e.g. loss of loved one, anger, frustration)

Question 24

Typology of mass murder motivations

Answer 24

1. revenge
2. Power
3. Loyalty
4. Profit
5. terror

Question 25

Spree murderers

Answer 25

Rare type of murderers

• It is argued they cannot be meaningfully differenciated from mass murderers

Question 26

Serial murderers

Answer 26

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

Question 27

Serial killer victim selection (Morton & Hilts)

Answer 27

Availability: easy access
Vulnerability: How easy to kill
Desirability: Appeal reaction to certain characteristics

Question 28

Typology of serial killers

Answer 28

• Visionary
• Mission-oriented
• Hedonistic
• Power/Control

Question 29

Theories on causes of serial killing

Answer 29

• Social factors
• Family and developmental factors
  Ex. Neglect, abuse, isolation
• Cognitive factors
• Biological factors

Question 30

Giannangelo’s Diathesis/Stress Model of serial killing

Answer 30

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