A Sociological Analysis of Maternal Infanticide in the United States, 1984-1996

Bibliographic Data

ID2187267
AuthorsDeann K Gauthier (a University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA), Nancy K Chaudoir (a University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA), Craig J Forsyth (0000-0002-7636-8106, a University of Louisiana at Lafayette, Lafayette, Louisiana, USA)
Year2003
Volume24
Issue4
Pages393-404
Publication date2003-07-01
Peer ReviewedYes
Open AccessNo
TypeARTICLE
VenueDeviant Behavior (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 0163-9625 • E-ISSN: 1521-0456
PublisherInforma UK Limited (PUBLISHER • GB)
DOI10.1080/713840226
OpenAlexW1984688453
LanguageEN
Citations received9

This study investigates structural predictors of maternal infanticide at the macro level. Our findings lend support to the economic stress hypothesis, which predicts increased maternal aggression and lethal violence by mothers toward their children in contexts of economic stress. Specifically, states in which high numbers of women of childbearing age are in poverty are states with high rates of maternal infanticides. The findings also indicate support for the notion that relative deprivation affects maternal violence in that extreme poverty amid extreme wealth is conducive to stress-related violence

Aggression · Criminology · Demographic economics · Developmental psychology · Economic growth · Economics · Macro level · Poverty · Sociology · Child Abuse and Trauma · Demography · Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse · Intimate Partner and Family Violence · Psychology · Social Psychology

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