Abstract
Using information available regarding juvenile homicide, it is possible to draw several conclusions. First, a disproportionate number of juveniles who commit homicide reside in communities where the high incidence of poverty and the frequency of infant mortality indicate that life is not valued highly. Second, these juveniles are the products of violent, chaotic families. Third, kids who kill are likely to be either (1) youngsters who lack the capacity to identify with other human beings, (2) prepsychotic juveniles who kill as an expression of intense emotional conflicts, and who are also high suicide risks, or (3) neurotically fearful youngsters who kill in overreacting to a genuinely threatening situation.
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