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Susan Smith and Her Children: A Reasoning Dialectic

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Abstract

Human judgment and decision making has been demonstrated by several contemporary researchers to be comprised of both rational and emotive/intuitive cognitive systems; a single decision can involve both rational thinking and intuition. In the present article, a narrative approach is utilized to analyze the Susan Smith case, and this is interlaced with contemporary decision theory in an attempt to more fully understand the seemingly nonrational act (murder/attempted suicide) committed by Susan Smith in October, 1994. The ethical, legal and social implications of using an approach of this nature are discussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University of New England, Australia

    Sue-Ellen Kjeldal

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  1. Sue-Ellen Kjeldal
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Kjeldal, SE. Susan Smith and Her Children: A Reasoning Dialectic. Crit Crim 12, 265–284 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-004-3582-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10612-004-3582-7

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