What drives women to kill? Emotion and threat, no psychopathy

Summary: Women who commit lethal violence rarely show psychopathy, instead of acting for provocation and perceived threats. A 15 -year -old Swedish study found that approximately half of the women had a severe mental disorder, and these women showed a slightly more short -term planning but still a high emotional excitement.

The instrumental motifs such as power or money were unusual, and most acted impulsively under pressure. The findings suggest prevention opportunities when addressing exposure to violence and exploring women’s own thoughts about the use of violence.

Key facts:

The female murderers showed low levels of psychopathy, with reactive reasons, not instrumental.

Source: Gothenburg University

Women who kill are not characterized by psychopathy. Instead, they act mainly because they feel caused and threatened. At the same time, there is a certain degree of planning among the group of women with a severe mental disorder that commits lethal violence, according to a study at the University of Gothenburg.

The background of the study is limited knowledge about women who commit lethaly violence. The general objective was to investigate the links between psychopathy, the type of violence and severe mental disorder in lethal violence carried out by women.

The study is based on a mapping of the 175 cases in Sweden for a period of fifteen years (2000–2014) in which perpetrators women underwent forensic psychiatric research after being accused of lethal violence or attempt at lethal violence. Approximately half of the women who had a severe mental disorder were evaluated.

According to the results, published in the International Journal of Forensic Mental Health, the group of female perpetrators is characterized by relatively low levels of psychopathy.

They usually act under great excitement due to reactive motifs, for example, to protect themselves or others in a threatening situation. It was less likely to have instrumental motifs, where the goal is to gain power, obtain money or similar.

Thoughts on violent actions

Women with severe mental disorder also acted largely under great excitement, but as a general rule they were caused to a slightly lower degree, and also had a slightly longer time to think of acting violently compared to those who did not evaluate that they had a serious mental disorder.

There were no long preparations or advanced planning; Rather, there were thoughts on violent actions up to 24 hours in advance.

The main researcher of the study was Karin Trägårdh, a doctoral student at the University of Gothenburg and a psychologist specified in clinical forensic psychology, who works in the department of Forensic Psychiatry, Hospital of the Sahlgrenska University, Rågården.

“Women with a severe mental disorder seem to have a slightly higher degree of short -term planning than those without a severe mental disorder, which is interesting,” he says.

“People do not necessarily associate a person with a serious mental illness with planning what they do. We have also seen that women without a severe mental disorder have a stronger provocation experience in carrying out violence.”

Important ask about violence

In his previous research, Karin Trägårdh has studied background factors for women in Sweden who are guilty of murder, homicide, involuntary homicide or infanticide.

Regardless of whether or not a severe mental disorder was evaluated in relation to their crimes, most had a history of exposure to violence, suicide attempts, etc.

The current study suggests that neither psychopathy or instrumental aggression are strong drivers for women who kill, which is consistent with previous research.

In addition, previous investigations also show that women are more likely than men to have sought help before committing crimes, which, in combination with recent findings about a certain degree of planning, presents an opportunity for prevention.

“This is an important aspect to capture. Although they can certainly be asked questions about exposure to violence by the police, social services and health professionals, we rarely ask them if they themselves have thought about the use of violence as a solution to the problems they experience.

“Although it is extremely rare for women to commit lethaly violence, we should not shy away to ask or investigate this more thoroughly.”

Fact box:

Psychopathy: psychopathy constitutes a disability in more serious cases, and is characterized by personality features and behaviors, such as the lack of empathy, guilt and remorse.

Other characteristics include manipulative and deceitful features, eloquence and a great self -image, as well as early behavioral problems and antisocial behavior. Psychopathy is not a diagnosis established by its own right, but may be related to antisocial personality disorder.

Severe mental disorder: This is a medical-legal concept, not a medical diagnosis, and deals with the effects of mental illness or behavioral disorders. The question of whether or not a suspicious has a severe mental disorder is investigated by the National Board of Forensic Medicine in the name of the Court, and can determine whether imprisonment or forensic psychiatric attention is appropriate.

On this news of forensic research of neuroscience and mental health

AUTHOR: MARGARETA G. KUBISTA
Source: Gothenburg University
CONTACT: MARGARETA G. KUBISTA – UNIVERSIDAD DE GOOTBURGO
Image: The image is accredited to Neuroscience News

Original research: open access.
“Links between psychopathy, type of violence and severe mental disorder among criminals of lethal violence in Sweden” by Karin Trägårdh et al. Forensic Mental Health Magazine

Abstract

Links between psychopathy, type of violence and severe mental disorder among criminals of lethal violence in Sweden

Knowledge about women who commit lethal violence is limited compared to what we know about their male counterparts.

The general objective of this study was to investigate the links between psychopathy, type of violence and severe mental disorder (SMD), among Swedish criminals of lethal violence.

All records of criminals were included (n = 175) that underwent a forensic psychiatric investigation ordered by the Court in Sweden accused of lethal violence/lethal attempt, between 2000 and 2014.

The structured evaluations were carried out based on the revised psychopathy verification list (PCL-R) with respect to psychopathy and the violent incident coding sheet (VICS) with respect to the instrumental/reagent aspects of the crime.

In general, female criminals were characterized by relatively low levels of psychopathy and acted based on reactive motifs instead of instrumental.

The modest associations appeared between psychopathy and instrumental characteristics, instead of reactive, crime.

However, the SMD group (n = 84) obtained a lower score in the total and interpersonal facet of PCL-R, somewhat higher in Ví Vís excitement and planning (<24 h compared to planning), while showing an inconsistent but generally lower score in provocation. PCL-R FACET 1, and Vís's secondary classifications appeared as covariables associated with an SMD.

These results contribute to our understanding of driving mechanisms and complexity behind women’s lethal violence, where the SMD group showed a somewhat unexpected multifaceted pattern, including aspects of reactive and instrumental VICS.

This has consequences especially for the evaluation and management of female criminals of lethal violence within forensic psychiatry and correctional services, they also ask for more research focused on this population.