1998 suplement 2

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Volume 7, suplement 2

Orzecznictwo

Nonsensical motives of homicide perpetrated by young people: two case studies

Teresa Gordon1, ZDZISŁAW MAJCHRZYK1, EWA SZABLEWSKA1
1. Kliniki Psychiatrii Sądowej Instytutu Psychiatrii i Neurologii w Pruszkowie
Postępy Psychiatrii i Neurologii, 1998, 7, suplement 2 (7), 127-134
Keywords: motives of homicide, juvenile delinquents, court opinions, case study

Abstract

Two cases are presented of teenage perpetrators of homicide, exemplifying the more and more widespread phenomenon of committing such crimes without any important or comprehensible motives (of not psychopathological nature though). Sources of such motives (e.g. in order to gain unusual experience, or peer group acceptance) and their relation to perpetrators' personality are analyzed. Moreover, possible detrimental influences of some large-scale social and cultural phenomena on psychological development of children and adolescents are considered. Finally, the authors deal with the issue of difficulties in psychological assessment and formulation of psychiatric court opinions in such cases.

Address for correspondence:
Mgr Teresa Gordon,
Klinika Psychiatrii Sądowej IPiN,
ul. Partyzantów 2/4,
05-802 Pruszków