Situational Characteristics of Female-perpetrated Homicide: Does the Degree of Intimacy between Offender and Victim Matter?

• In Event: Offender and Victim Decision-Making

Abstract

Analyzing disaggregated homicide data, previous studies have found that each specific type of homicide has unique situational characteristics. While the majority of these situational studies included victim/offender relationship as a control variable, only a few studies classified homicide by such relationship and examined the differences between intimate partner and “other” homicide. Within the broad category of “other” homicide, however, includes distinct relationship types that may differ in situational contexts. Another limitation of prior homicide/situational factor studies is that there is only limited gender-specific research using the data outside of the United States. To address these gaps in literature, the current study will compare the situational covariates of three distinct female homicide types (intimate partner, family, and non-family homicide) that occurred in South Korea from 1986 through 2013. Special focus will be on the situational characteristics of “other” homicide (i.e., homicide incidents other than intimate partner homicide). The implications of findings for policies, preventive strategies and future research will be discussed.

Authors

• Bitna Kim, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Matthew Robert Hassett, Indiana University of Pennsylvania

• Young-Hee Kim, Chungbuk National University, South Korea