Abstract
An analysis of 11 children convicted of homicide, one girl and ten boys, indicates a maternal over-dominant relationship in eight of the males studied.
The murderers were Found to have more co-operative personalities than other children Found guilty of non-capital offences and showed both normal intelligence and personality factors. Despite a history of ‘blackouts' in several cases, all were Found on investigation to be free from both major and minor epilepsy.
Difficulty was experienced in determining the presence or absence of parental alcoholism, promiscuity and criminal convictions. All of the ten boys and the girl came from normal homes and apart from minor offences none were involved previously in serious anti-social behaviour.
Future research is indicated on two aspects:
role of the working mother with particular reference to maternal dominance, and the ‘Cycle of Deprivation Theory’.
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