A behavioral portrait of the attempted adolescent parricide offender

Few studies exist which systematically address the topic of attempted adolescent parricide, particularly within a family violence context. This study, through qualitative research techniques: (a) determined the incidence of attempted adolescent parricide; (b) examined variables associated with the phenomenon; (c) derived a behavioral portrait of adolescents who attempt parricide through TFA Systems (tm); and (d) compared actual and attempted parricide. Select case studies from the research literature served as the actual parricide group for comparative purposes. This descriptive study identified counselors in Virginia and West Virginia who had worked with parricidal clients within the preceding 2 years. Through questionnaire completion and personal interviews with respondents, counselors provided substantive information on youth who attempted parricide, including: (a) detailed demographic data; (b) youth and family social history variables; (c) circumstances surrounding the act; (d) counseling involvement; and (e) a TFA behavioral portrait. Although precise figures are lacking, it was found that adolescent parricide comprises approximately 2% of all yearly murders, and that for each successful parricide, there is at least one additional attempt where the parent does not die. Youths who attempt and those who commit parricide are close cousins who share many commonalities, including: an abusive home environment; youth and parental alcohol or drug use or abuse; a runaway history; problem behaviors; and school difficulties. The fact that the victim survives in attempted parricide is explained more by fortuity and weapons choice than by differing motive. A TFA profile analysis revealed that, at the time of the killing, youths who committed parricide fell into the Acting-Feeling or Acting-Thinking behavioral patterns. Youths who attempted the act shared the Acting-Feeling and Acting-Thinking patterns, but also evidenced a Feeling-Acting pattern. A stronger affective component appeared to be evidenced by attempters, when compared with actuals. Actual and attempted parricide offenders were found to share many variables with other high-risk or at-risk youths. Future research may wish to focus on some of these common variables. Recommendations for further study of attempted adolescent parricide were presented.

Name thesis:degree_name

Ph. D.

Level thesis:degree_level

doctoral

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Counselor Education

Department dc:contributor.department

Counselor Education

Grantor dc:publisher

Virginia Tech

Year dc:date.issued

1993

Author dc:creator

• Flanigan, Marjie Miller

Chairs dc:contributor.committeechair

• Vogler, Daniel E.
• Hutchins, David E.

Committee members dc:contributor.committeemember

• Keith, Timothy Z.
• Sporakowski, Michael J.
• Curcio, Claire Cole Vaught

Statement dc:rights

• In Copyright

Licence dc:rights.uri

• http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

Language dc:language.iso

en

Dc Identifier Other

etd-05222007-091407

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:vtechworks.lib.vt.edu:10919/37892