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Homicidal school-age children: Cognitive style and demographic features

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Abstract

This paper reviews the literature regarding homicide in children and discusses the various hypotheses regarding the etiology of murderous aggression. The relationship of perceived locus of control as a cognitive style and homicidal behavior in children is discussed. A comparison of children matched for severity of illness, sex, age, and intelligence is described which found the nine homicidal children, ages 6 to 11, to perceive themselves as more externally controlled than the comparison group of children hospitalized for similar psychiatric disorders. Issues related to prevention, detection, and treatment are presented.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, USA

    Theodore A. Petti MD (Assistant Professor of Child Psychiatry)

  2. Department of Child Psychiatry at Metropolitan Hospital, New York, New York

    Leonard Davidman MS (the Chief Psychologist)

Authors
  1. Theodore A. Petti MD
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  2. Leonard Davidman MS
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Additional information

The authors wish to express their thanks to Ms. Laura Hippolite (Brooklyn) and Charles Goyette, Ph.D. (Pittsburgh) for their assistance.

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Petti, T.A., Davidman, L. Homicidal school-age children: Cognitive style and demographic features. Child Psych Hum Dev 12, 82–89 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00709624

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