Homicidal Crimes

Paper Summary:

This paper explains that, whereas occurrences of male homicides are spread across the myriad circumstances, incidences of female homicide are clustered very narrowly around domestic crimes of intimacy involving significant others. To further investigate this phenomena, the author reviews Merton's general strain theory of deviant behavior, Agnew's strain theory of criminology and the structured action theory of criminology. The paper presents two preferred methods of research for this field and reviews some of the research literature.

Table of Contents:
Demographic and Historical Distribution
Criminology Theories and Gender Differences in Homicidal Crimes
Merton's General Strain Theory of Deviant Behavior
Agnew's Strain Theory of Criminology
Structured Action Theory of Criminology
Research Methods for Analyzing Gender Differences in Homicidal Crimes
Preferred Research Method for Studying Homicide and Gender
Least Beneficial Method for Studying Homicide and Gender
Prior Research - Homicidal Crimes and Gender Differences

From the Paper:

"Male homicides frequently involve family and significant others as well; in fact, males still commit homicides much more frequently against their spouses and significant others (in addition to infanticide and eldercide) than females. However, whereas male homicides are spread across the myriad circumstances in which such crime may occur, female homicide is clustered very narrowly around domestic crimes of intimacy involving significant others."

Sample of Sources Used:

• Agnew, R. (1992). Foundation for a General Strain Theory. Criminology, Vol. 30, No.1, pp. 47-87.
• Broidy, L. (2001). Test of General Strain Theory; Criminology, Vol. 39, No. 1, pp. 9-35
• Dugan, L., Nagin, D., Rosenfeld, R. (1999). Explaining the Decline in Intimate Partner Homicide: The Effects of Changing Domesticity, Women's Status, and Domestic Violence Resources; Homicide Studies, Vol. 3, No. 3, pp. 187-214.
• Gerrig, R., Zimbardo, P. (2005). Psychology and Life 17th Edition. Boston: Allyn & Bacon
• Hamby, S. (2005). Measuring Gender Differences in Partner Violence: Implications from Research on Other Forms of Violent and Socially Undesirable Behavior; Sex Roles: A Journal of Research, Jun/05.

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• Essay # 137930 : "The Canadian Government, Crime Reporting, and Race:Race should not be a Factor in Canadian Crime Data Reporting"

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