Social Correlates of Intimate Partner Homicide in Finland: Distinct or Shared With Other Homicide Types?

• NCJ Number: 239175
• Journal: Homicide Studies Volume: 16 Issue: 1 Dated: February 2012 Pages: 60-77
• Author(s): Janne Kivivuori; Martti Lehti
• Date Published: February 2012
• Length: 18 pages
• Publication Format: Article
• Publication Type: Report (Study/Research)
• Language: English
• Country: United States of America

Annotation

This study examined whether intimate partner homicide (IPH) is committed by average people as opposed to social disadvantaged persons.

Abstract

The question as to whether intimate partner homicide (IPH) is committed by average people as opposed to socially disadvantaged persons has both theoretical resonance and practical salience. The gender framework predicts that IPH offenders are socially and individually less disadvantaged than other homicide offenders. The violence framework predicts that IPH offenders resemble other homicide offenders in that they tend to come from socially disadvantaged groups. The authors examine these perspectives using data on all homicides committed in Finland since 2002 (N = 836 offenders). The findings indicate that socially disadvantaged people are overrepresented in IPH as in other homicide types. In terms of social correlates, IPH clusters with other homicides in close relations, irrespective of the victim's gender. (Published Abstract)