Studies and experts agree on one common factor when mothers commit such an
unthinkable crime: extreme mental illness. This is important because it shows a reason why parents commit the unthinkable act of maternal filicide. Another reason why mothers do this is because there are other types of filicides.
“A l t r u i s t i c f i l i c i d e ,” t h e m o s t c o m m o n m o t i v e , w h e r e a m o t h e r r a t i o n a l i z e s t h a t k i l l i n g h e r child is in the child’s best interest.
●“Ac u t e l y p s y c h o t i c f i l i c i d e ,” w h e r e a m o t h e r k i l l s w i t h o u t a n u n d e r s t a n d a b l e m o t i v e , possibly hearing voices.
●“Fatal maltreatment filicide,” where a mother does not necessarily mean to kill her child, but death occurs after cumulative abuse.
●“Unwanted child filicide,” where a mother believes her child is a hindrance in her life.
●“Spouse revenge filicide,” the rarest for mothers, where she kills her child to emotionally strike out against the father.
These filicides show that there are many reasons why some mothers may commit the unthinkable act of maternal filicide.
“A l t r u i s t i c f i l i c i d e ,” t h e m o s t c o m m o n m o t i v e , w h e r e a m o t h e r r a t i o n a l i z e s t h a t k i l l i n g h e r child is in the child’s best interest.
●“Ac u t e l y p s y c h o t i c f i l i c i d e ,” w h e r e a m o t h e r k i l l s w i t h o u t a n u n d e r s t a n d a b l e m o t i v e , possibly hearing voices.
●“Fatal maltreatment filicide,” where a mother does not necessarily mean to kill her child, but death occurs after cumulative abuse.
●“Unwanted child filicide,” where a mother believes her child is a hindrance in her life.
●“Spouse revenge filicide,” the rarest for mothers, where she kills her child to emotionally strike out against the father.
These filicides show that there are many reasons why some mothers may commit the unthinkable act of maternal filicide.