ScholarLens Back to search
1970•American Journal of PsychiatryRequires access

Murder of the Newborn: A Psychiatric Review of Neonaticide

Phillip J. Resnick

Open publisher page 485 citations

Abstract

The author believes that the killing of a newborn baby is a separate entity from other filicides, differing in regard to the diagnosis, motives, and legal disposition of the murderer. Whereas most filicides are committed for "altruistic" reasons, most neonaticides are carried out simply because the child is not wanted. The author notes the different psychological characterisctics of mothers who commit these two crimes. Legal considerations and the present status of neonaticide are also discussed.

About this research paper

What this paper is about

The author believes that the killing of a newborn baby is a separate entity from other filicides, differing in regard to the diagnosis, motives, and legal disposition of the murderer. Whereas most filicides are committed for "altruistic" reasons, most neonaticides are carried out simply because the child is not wanted. The author notes the different psychological characterisctics of mothers who commit these two crimes. Legal considerations and the present status of neonaticide are also discussed.

Why it matters

OpenAlex reports 485 citations for this work. Citation counts describe recorded attention and do not establish research quality.

Key contribution

A contribution statement is not available in the OpenAlex record.

Method / approach

Method details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Main findings

Findings are not separately available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Limitations

Limitations are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Applications

Application details are not available in the OpenAlex metadata.

Available abstract

The author believes that the killing of a newborn baby is a separate entity from other filicides, differing in regard to the diagnosis, motives, and legal disposition of the murderer. Whereas most filicides are committed for "altruistic" reasons, most neonaticides are carried out simply because the child is not wanted. The author notes the different psychological characterisctics of mothers who commit these two crimes. Legal considerations and the present status of neonaticide are also discussed.

Key concepts: Commit, Psychiatry, Psychology, Disposition, Medicine, Criminology, Social psychology, Computer science

Related papers

Related paper 1Related paper 2Related paper 3
Back to paper searchBrowse research topicsOriginal source
Murder of the Newborn: A Psychiatric Review of Neonaticide — Research Paper | ScholarLens