Trigger Warning: This content of this article, whilst important and educational, could be disturbing and should not be read by individuals who may be susceptible to any mental harm as a result.
By Aaron Miller-
When an individual takes the life of their mother, father, or both, the crime of parricide(killing of parent by their child) shatters public comprehension. The act is statistically rare, yet it invokes a profound societal horror that demands an explanation. It is surely every parent’s nightmare that they produce a curse of a child who would one day be their worst nightmare by killing them.
AD: Capeesh Restaurant
Children who kill their parents are by any standards deranged, and the scum of the earth. Such homocides are so repulsive that they call for an explanation. Central to all explanations is often evil, greed, or both.
Criminologists and mental health experts have dedicated decades to studying these tragic cases. Experts identify three distinct categories of psychological reasons parricide (the killing of a parent by their child) occurs, moving beyond simple malice to understand complex trauma or profound mental illness.
Understanding the motivations behind parental homicide relies on the tripartite classification system developed through extensive psychological profiling. They include a history of child abuse, mental illness, and anti social disorder.
AD: Oysterian Sea Food Restaurant And Bar
Psychological reasons parricide falls into the largest category of motivations is when a child has been a victim of abuse. Typically, this killer is a teenager or young adult who has endured years of severe physical, sexual, or emotional torment from the parent they eventually kill.
In these tragic scenarios, the homicide often results from a desperate act of self-preservation, with the child believing they have no other escape route from the ongoing, life-threatening violence. Research shows the violence is generally directed at the primary abuser, often occurring during or immediately after a severe physical assault.
A second significant group involves individuals suffering from profound mental illness. It is worth noting that the crime of paricide accounts for only 2% of homocides in America. These adult children, or sometimes late adolescents,
Psychotic symptoms, most commonly severe delusions or auditory hallucinations. are considered by psychologists to be one of the chief causes of paricide. Adolescents who tended to dehumanize others were at greatest risk of committing murder when their wishes were thwarted.
Psychologists researching the psychodynamics of ten adolescent murderers found that “narcissistic disturbances, particularly an impaired capacity for self-esteem regulation and underlying narcissistic rage, were related to homicidal behaviour.
Such a fractured perception of reality overrides normal moral and emotional restraints. They are not acting out of malice or anger but responding to a perceived life-or-death scenario generated by their disordered mind. This group necessitates specialized psychiatric treatment rather than solely punitive justice.
The final, and generally rarest, classification is the dangerously antisocial killer. This category usually involves an older child or adult motivated by purely selfish, criminal means, demonstrating no remorse or underlying psychiatric distress. Their primary motivation may involve material gain, such as expediting an inheritance, or eliminating a parental figure who acts as an inconvenient obstacle to their preferred lifestyle.
These individuals often exhibit a history of delinquency, manipulation, and antisocial personality traits, showing a clear disregard for the lives of others. Examining these varied motivations provides crucial insight for prevention and intervention strategies, highlighting the varied psychological reasons parricide enters the justice system.
None of the research findings expressed in this article should be taken as an indication that the confession of killer, Lorenz Kraus was due to abuse by his parents. Instead, it seems clear that Kraus murder might have been financially motivated on top of him having a severe mental condition, likely bordering on psychosis.
Researchers have also opined that the most common cause of parricide was psychosis with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. Substance abuse, anger, and a desire for monetary gain are often strong motives for parricide.
Ultimately, the study of parricide remains essential for both forensic and therapeutic communities. Recognizing which category a case fits profoundly impacts its legal and clinical trajectory. This classification system guides mental health professionals in treating the individual, whether through trauma resolution, managing psychosis, or addressing deep-seated antisocial pathology.
Individuals who kill their parents have often been harbouring deep level of resentment for many reasons; this often compounded by complex mental health issues.
AD: Heritage And Restaurant Lounge Bar
