Date of Conferral

2021

Degree

Ph.D.

School

Psychology

Advisor

Jessica Hart

Abstract

Juvenile-facilitated parricide is a rare crime when a juvenile child murders their parent. Parricide cases are unique in that the offender defies the normal parent-child relationship when they kill their own parent. The purpose of this study was to explore the parenting styles that occur in juvenile-facilitated parricide. By using a qualitative case study analysis methodology, this study examined the effect of parenting styles on the bonds between a parent and child, which creates the necessary tension for a child to be able to kill their parents. Attachment theory was used to understand how a child bonds through parenting styles and how a parenting style can affect attachment style as well as explain what parenting styles are common in parricide cases facilitated by the juvenile parricide offender. The goal of the study was to recognize common parenting styles in hopes to aid professionals in having accurate information to help recognize a potential situation and intervene before a crime is committed. After conducting a case study analysis on 11 juvenile-facilitated parricide cases, the following themes emerged: (a) abused children had authoritarian parents, (b) juveniles with antisocial tendencies or killings had parents that were authoritative with permissive tendencies and were likely trying to punish the child in an appropriate manner though the child did not want to be tamed, and (c) a juvenile who had diagnosed mental illness also demonstrated antisocial behavioral traits. The findings of this study can lead to positive social change through helping developmental and forensic psychologists understand the importance of the role parenting styles play in preventing parricide cases.

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