NCJ Number
65448
Journal
Corrective and Social Psychiatry and Journal of Behavior Technology Methods and Therapy Volume: 26 Issue: 1 Dated: (1980) Pages: 6-11
Date Published
1980
Length
6 pages
Annotation
THE PHENOMENOLOGY, DIAGNOSIS, DYNAMICS, AND PROGNOSIS OF SEXAULLY MOTIVATED ATTACKS ON AND MURDER OF WOMEN BY MALES ARE DISCUSSED.
Abstract
FREUD INDICATED THE CONNECTION OF SEX WITH AGGRESSION, AND MACLEAN DEMONSTRATED THE NEUROANATOMICAL SUBSTRATE OF THIS CONNECTION IN THE LIMBIC SYSTEM. MINOR ATTACKS ON WOMEN AND HOMICIDAL FANTASIES MAY PRECEDE THE ACTUAL GYNOCIDE. THE MURDER MAY OR MAY NOT BE ASSOCIATED WITH SEXUAL MOLESTATION, ERECTION, AND EJACULATION. CHOKING, KNIFING, AND BATTERING ARE INVOLVED IN THE MOST COMMON METHOD OF ATTACK, BASED UPON AN EXAMINATION OF 43 CASE STUDIES. ON SOME OCCASIONS, THE GYNOCIDE IS ACCOMPANIED BY CANNIBALISM, VAMPIRISM (DRINKING OF THE VICTIM'S BLOOD), AND NECROPHILIA. MANY OF THE CASES HAD A TENDENCY TO REPEAT AGGRESSION AGAINST WOMEN EVEN AFTER YEARS OF IMPRISONMENT. THE MOST COMMON CHARACTERISTICS OF THE OFFENDERS STUDIED WERE HOSTILITY TO WOMEN; PREOCCUPATION WITH MATERNAL SEXUAL CONDUCT; OVERT OR COVERT INCENTUOUS PREOCCUPATIONS; FEELINGS OF SEXUAL INFERIORITY, WEAKNESS, AND INADEQUACY; AND OCCASIONALLY, A NEED TO POSSESS AND OWN THE VICTIM. CATATHYMIC MURDERS (RELEASE OF ACCUMULATED PSYCHIC TENSION THROUGH EXPLOSIVE AGGRESSION), WHICH ARE USUALLY STIMULATED BY AN AMBIVALENT RELATIONSHIP WITH A FEMALE, GENERALLY HAVE A MORE FAVORABLE PROGNOSIS THAN GYNOCIDE INVOLVING REPETITIVE COMPULSIVE ATTACKS. A BIBLIOGRAPHY IS PROVIDED. (AUTHOR ABSTRACT MODIFIED--RCB)