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A Meta-Study of Filicide: Reconceptualizing Child Deaths By

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A Meta-Study of Filicide: Reconceptualizing Child Deaths by Parents by Diane Jackson A Dissertation Presented in Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Doctor of Philosophy Approved November 2011 by the Graduate Supervisory Committee: Mary Gillmore, Chair Jemel Aguilar Nora Gustavsson ARIZONA STATE UNIVERSITY December 2011 ABSTRACT In the United States, the total number of child deaths at the hands of a parent is unknown. Five children a day under the age of five die from fatal abuse and neglect (U.S. Advisory Board on Child Abuse and Neglect, 1995). This number is a conservative estimate and does not include children over the age of five who are kill by methods other than abuse and neglect. Regardless of the number, this author views each filicide as a sentinel event for the United States and the world. A sentinel event is an unexpected occurrence involving death and signals the need for immediate investigation and response. Filicide, the killing of a child by a parent, is the focus of this meta-study. Social constructionism and role theory frame this study. The overarching goal was to understand what we know about filicide, and how do we know it? To answer this question, the author explored six questions of the extant filicide research: What is the research knowledge on filicide? How is filicide constructed in the research discourse, and what is the context of this research? Is filicide constructed as a social problem? Can the use of role theory advance our understanding of filicide? Are there common themes in the filicide research findings? Is there disagreement in the research? What is missing, assumed, or overlooked in the research? The sample consisted of 66 international studies of parents (i.e., genetic, step, foster, person in role of parent) who killed their child(ren) from 1969 to 2009. Major findings include ―meta-categories‖ of filicide research, risk factors, salient themes, focus for future research, and a new conceptualization of filicide based on role theory. Individual, social, and structural variables that can be used to identify and prevent filicide are presented. An outline for educating practitioners and a tool for screening families for filicide risk are offered. ii DEDICATION I would like to dedicate this dissertation to my father Cecil George ―Dan‖ Dansby who died on August 9, 2001 of esophageal cancer. Dad, you always told me that I could do whatever I set my mind to do. You wanted me to get my doctorate and by the grace of God, my family, and your help, I did it. You were my rock and a big part of my motivation to finish. I miss you all the time. In the tough times, I pray for your assistance and now I would like you to celebrate with me in my accomplishment. I am doing fine and taking care of others. Thank you for your never-ending love and support. iii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS I would like to thank my loving husband William ―Danny‖ Jackson who stuck with me through better or worse, and in sickness, and Ph.D. This has been a long difficult process but I think as individuals and as a couple, we are stronger. I could not have accomplished this without you. I love you very much. Thank you for my two wonderful boys, Hunter and Brendan. They were both born during this process. Thank you for taking care of them when I became sick and while I spent long hours researching and writing. I am sorry that I missed so much time with the family while I was pursuing this degree. I pray that I made the right decision and I hope that my research can prevent the death of even one child. I would like to acknowledge United States Air Force for giving me the time and financial support to pursue this degree. I am grateful for this opportunity of a lifetime. iv TABLE OF CONTENTS Page LIST OF TABLES ................................................................................................................ xiv LIST OF FIGURES ................................................................................................................ xv CHAPTER INTRODUCTION ............................................................................................... 1 Victims .......................................................................................................... 2 Terminology and Conceptualization ............................................................ 7 Incident Rates ................................................................................................ 8 Fatal Child Abuse and Neglect ................................................................ 8 Homicide and Violent Deaths ................................................................ 11 Underestimation of Filicide ................................................................... 12 Sentinel Event ............................................................................................. 16 Problem Statement ...................................................................................... 17 Purpose of Study ......................................................................................... 18 Implications for Social Work ...................................................................... 18 Meta-Study .................................................................................................. 19 2 BACKGROUND LITERATURE ................................................................... 21 Historical and Cultural Perspective on Filicide .......................................... 21 Exisiting Research ....................................................................................... 24 Early Research........................................................................................ 24 Seminal Study ........................................................................................ 24 Classification Systems ........................................................................... 27 Strengths and Weaknesses in Classification Systems ...................... 32 Paternal Filicide Research ...................................................................... 33 v CHAPTER Page Dominant Theoretical Perspective ............................................................. 35 Methods and Samples ........................................................................... 36 Unique Research Perspectives and Approaches.................................... 37 Theoretical Frameworks to Explain Maternal Filicide ......................... 39 Consensus in the Research ..................................................................... 42 Disagreement in the Research................................................................ 43 Gaps in the Reserach .............................................................................. 44 Conceptual and Theoretical Foundation of Present Meta-Study ............... 46 Theory of Social Problems.......................................................................... 46 Claims-making ....................................................................................... 46 Claims-makers and Audience ................................................................ 47 Social Constructionism ............................................................................... 48 Research on Construction of Social Problems ...................................... 49 Objectivist and Social Constructionist (Subjectivist) Perspectives ...... 52 Strict verses Contextual Approach ........................................................ 53 Contextual Constructionism .................................................................. 54 Applied Constructionist Approach ........................................................ 54 Theorteical Framework: Role Theory ....................................................... 55 3 METHOD ......................................................................................................... 57 Research Design .......................................................................................... 57 Background of Research Approach ............................................................ 57 Qualitative Methods .................................................................................... 57 Discourse ................................................................................................ 57 Discourse Analysis ................................................................................. 58 vi CHAPTER Page Critical Discourse Analysis......................................................................... 59 Meta-Methodologies ................................................................................... 59 Meta-Analysis Compared to Meta-Synthesis ........................................ 60 Meta-Study ............................................................................................. 61 Procedure ..................................................................................................... 64 Meta-Study Method Applied to Filicide Research ..................................... 66 Phase 1 Getting Started: Formulating the Meta-Study ........................ 66 Phase 2 Selecting a Sample .................................................................. 67 The Process of Identifying Research ................................................ 69 Final sample ...................................................................................... 70 Phase 3 Data Collection: Research Protocol ....................................... 71 Phase 4 Analysis ..................................................................................
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