Author(s) :

Tillie Pepos-Lebrun.

Volume/Issue :

Abstract :

Despite decades of research, there is still a limited understanding of the psychological and social drivers of homicide. A prominent factor is childhood adversity, which is shockingly influential and could cause numerous problems in later adolescence and adulthood. Adverse childhood experiences are associated with increased prevalence of mental illness and substance abuse issues later in life and could result in violent behavior, which in extreme cases could escalate to homicide. While aspects of these relationships are well documented by prior research, most papers only examine a few risk factors at a time and do not provide a comprehensive overview of how childhood adversity may influence homicidal behavior. This review paper discusses the specific impacts of varying forms of childhood adversity and its downstream consequences, including its effects on the occurrence of school shootings, domestic homicide, and serial homicide. Case studies are incorporated to provide real-world perspectives to complement the theories presented, and recommendations for future research and interventions are discussed.