Multiple Domestic Homicide
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The killing of multiple family members, such as killing one’s wife and children, shatters our illusion of safety in our private homes. What are the motives underlying these events? And, with the recent economic downfall: Will we be confronted with more of these acts? When job loss or indebtedness is involved, the motivation for such events may become a lethal version of altruism.
We tested this hypothesis going back to the 1970s, and found no support for financial crises leading to more family homicides. It can be argued that the lack of finding a connection lies in the nature of financial crises: Society at large is affected by it, rather than a single person finding himself alone in the midst of financial downfall. Another explanation lies in the rare occurrence of the event itself, and few numbers inhibiting the possibility to make causal interferences. By offering coursework, trainings and workshops on multiple family homicide, we provide a framework through which such cases can be understood and which tools can be used in responding to these events. |
Selected Publications:
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