Definition of Filicide:

Filicide is a term used to describe the act of a parent or guardian intentionally causing the death of their own child.

Types of Filicide:

There are several recognized types of filicide:

• Filicide-suicide: This occurs when a parent kills their child and then takes their own life.
• Altruistic filicide: In this type, the parent believes they are acting in the best interest of the child, often driven by the belief that the child will be better off dead.
• Psychotic filicide: This involves a parent who is experiencing a break from reality, such as during a psychotic episode, and commits filicide as a result.
• Unwanted child filicide: As the name suggests, this involves the killing of an unwanted or undesired child, often driven by factors such as financial strain or emotional stress.
• Spousal revenge filicide: This occurs when one parent kills their child to inflict emotional pain and seek revenge on the other parent.

Motives and Risk Factors:

The motives and risk factors associated with filicide can vary significantly depending on the specific case. Some common motives include:

• Unwanted pregnancy or resentment towards the child
• Mental illness or psychological distress
• Substance abuse or addiction
• Domestic violence or relationship issues
• Extreme stress, financial problems, or lack of support

Legal and Psychological Perspectives:

Filicide is considered a highly deviant and criminal act in most jurisdictions. The legal and psychological perspectives on filicide focus on understanding the motivations, risk factors, and potential prevention in order to protect children from such acts and provide appropriate support to families in crisis.