The utility of demographic and structural variables in examining child fatalities is explored using data from the Uniform Crime Reports, which include all known homicide cases in the state of Texas from 1984 through 1994. The authors' analysis shows that the predictive power of these variables for adult homicide is substantially reduced when predicting child homicide. Social Exchange Theory provides a conceptual framework from which to analyze these types of cases by suggesting conditions under which infants may be lethally injured, usually by a parent or caretaker. This inclination is examined, explained, justified, and treated primarily according to physiological and psychological correlates.
Get full access to this article
View all access options for this article.
References
1.
Alexander, R.
, Sato, Y., Smith, W., & Bennett, T. (1990). Incidence of impact trauma with cranial injuries. American Journal of Diseases of Children, 144, 724-726.
2.
Blau, P. M.
(1964). Exchange and power in social life. New York: John Wiley.
3.
Bourget, D.
, & Bradford, J.M.W. (1990). Homicidal parents. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 35, 233-237.
4.
Cherland, E.
, & Matthews, P. C. (1989). Attempted murder of a newborn: A case history. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 34, 337-339.
5.
Christoffel, K. K.
, & Liu, K. (1983). Homicide death rates in childhood in 23 developed countries: U.S. rates atypically high. Child Abuse & Neglect, 7, 339-345.
6.
Crimmins, S.
(1993, October). Convicted women who kill children: Preliminary research findings in New York State. Paper presented at the meeting of the American Society of Criminology, Phoenix, AZ.
7.
DeMausse, L.
(1988). The evolution of childhood. In L. DeMausse (Ed.), Centuries of childhood (pp. 4-22) New York: Peter Bedrock.
8.
Di Maio, D. J.
, & Di Maio, V.J.M. (1989). Forensic pathology. New York: Elsevier.
9.
Ewigman, B.
, & Kivlahan C. (1989). Child maltreatment fatalities. Pediatric Annals, 18, 476-481.
10.
Federal Bureau of Investigation
. (1996). Crime in the United States: Uniform crime reports 1995. Washington, DC: Government Printing Office.
11.
Finkelhor, D.
(1997). The homicides of children and youth: A developmental perspective. In G. K. Kantor & J. L. Jasinski (Eds.), Out of the darkness: Contemporary perspectives on family violence. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
12.
Gelles, R.J.
(1983). An exchange/social control theory of intrafamily violence. In D. Finkelhor, R.J. Gelles, G. Hotaling, & M. A. Straus (Eds.), The dark side of families: Current family violence research (pp. 63-92) Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
13.
Gelles, R.J.
(1991). Physical violence, child abuse, and child homicide: A continuum of violence, or distinct behaviors?Human Nature, 2(1), 59-72.
14.
Gelles, R. J.
, & Cornell, C. P. (1990). Intimate violence in families (2nd ed.). Newbury Park, CA: Sage.
15.
Gelles, R. J.
, & Straus, M. A. (1988). Intimate violence. New York: Simon & Schuster.
16.
Hindelang, M. J.
(1974). The uniform crime reports revisited. Journal of Criminal Justice, 2, 1-17.
17.
Homans, G. C.
(1974). Social behavior in its elementary forms (2nd ed.). New York: Harcourt.
18.
Hosmer, D. W.
, & Lamiaceae, S. (1989). Applied logistic regression. New York: John Wiley.
19.
Husain, A.
, & Anasseril, D. (1984). A comparative study of filicidal and abusive mothers. Canadian Journal of Psychiatry, 29, 596-598.
20.
Jason, J.
(1983). Child homicide spectrum. American Journal of Diseases of Childhood, 137, 578-581.
21.
Knight, B.
(1991). Forensic pathology. New York: Oxford University Press.
22.
LaRossa, R.
(1986). Becoming a parent. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
23.
Margolin, L.
(1990). Fatal child neglect. Child Welfare, 69, 309-319.
24.
O'Brien, R. M.
(1985). Crime and victimization data. Beverly Hills, CA: Sage.
25.
Rodriguez, S. F.
(1994). Ethnic patterns of criminal homicide in Texas. In H. C. Daudistel & C. A. Howard (Eds.), Sociological explorations: Focus on the Southwest. San Francisco: West.
26.
Rodriguez, S. F.
, & Henderson, V. (1995). Intimate homicide: Victim-offender relationship in female-perpetrated homicide. Deviant Behavior, 16, 45-57.
27.
Scott, P. D.
(1973). Fatal battered baby cases. Medicine, Science, and the Law, 13(3), 197-206.
28.
Shorter, E.
(1975). The making of the modern family. New York: Basic Books.
29.
Skinner, A. E.
, & Castle, R. L. (1969). Battered children—a retrospective study. Gettysburg, PA: Thomas.
30.
Smithey, M.
(1997). Infant homicide at the hands of mothers: Toward a sociological perspective. Deviant Behavior, 18, 255-272.
31.
Smithey, M.
(1998). Infant homicide: Victim/offender relationship and causes of death. Journal of Family Violence, 13, 219-232.
32.
Somander, L.K.H.
, & Rammer, L. M. (1991). Intra- and extrafamilial child homicide in Sweden 1971-1980. Child Abuse & Neglect, 15, 45-55.
33.
Sorenson, S. B.
, & Peterson, J. G. (1994). Traumatic child death and documented maltreatment history, Los Angeles. American Journal of Public Health, 84, 623-627.
34.
Spaide, R. F.
, Swengel, R. M., & Meine, C. E. (1990, April 4). Shaken baby syndrome. American Forensic Pathologist, pp. 1145-1152.
35.
Straus, M. A.
(1987). State and regional differences in U.S. infant homicide rates in relation to sociocultural characteristics of the states. Behavioral Sciences and the Law, 5, 61-75.
36.
Straus, M. A.
, & Gelles, R. J. (1990). Physical violence in American families: Risk factors and adaptations to violence in 8,145 families. New Brunswick, NJ: Transaction.
37.
Wilson, M.
, & Daly, M. (1988). Evolutionary social psychology and family homicide. Science, 242, 519-524.
