Female Perpetrators of Intimate Partner and Non-Intimate Partner Homicides

• In Event: Homicide in Intimate Relationships and Families

Abstract

The purpose of this preliminary study is to compare characteristics of female intimate partner homicide (n = 23) to those of female non-intimate partner homicide (n = 12). Studies have reported that women who kill their intimate partners are less likely to be “criminal-like” than those who kill non-intimate partners. This research examines whether there are differences between the two homicide groups in facet and item scores on the Psychopathy Checklist-Revised (PCL-R), as well as differences in age, education, age at which they first had sex, and had initial contact with the criminal justice system. The results showed that perpetrators of non-intimate partner homicide had significantly greater problems in their lifestyle (facet 3) compared to those who committed intimate partner homicide, while other facets did not differ significantly. An examination of the items in facet 3 revealed that perpetrators of non-intimate partner homicide had significantly higher scores in their need for stimulation/proneness to boredom (item 3), parasitic lifestyle (item 9), and lack of realistic/long-term goals (item 13) compared to those of intimate partner homicide. Further, female perpetrators of non-intimate partner homicide tended to be younger at their first arrest compared to those who committed intimate partner homicide.

Authors

• Jiseun Sohn, Southern University and A & M College

• Young-Oh Hong, Korean Institute of Criminology and Justice