Psycholegal Considerations in Abuse-Motivated Parricides: Children who Kill Their Abusive Parents

Abstract

Child maltreatment has been recognized as a significantly influential force in precipitating parricides committed by children and adolescents, in that an abused youth may learn to be violent, may suffer psychological and physical trauma that leads to impaired functioning, and may act out violently in direct response to severe and longstanding victimization. This review of the literature delineates the significant psychological and legal issues surrounding abuse-motivated parricides. Particular emphasis is placed on (a) characteristics of maltreated children and various psychological conceptualizations of the effects of and responses to abuse, and (b) relevant legal issues, including the admissibility of expert testimony, self-defense claims of abused children who kill, and the use of mitigating factors. Finally, the treatment of abused children who kill their parents is addressed, as are future directions for research involving these captivating cases.