Maternal Infanticide and Modern Motherhood

Behavioral Analysis of Maternal Filicide

“…Some argue that psychological perspectives of maternal filicide are often one dimensional and explain the occurrence as primarily a result of mental illness (Smithey 2001). However, examination of filicide from criminological and sociological viewpoints is scant.…”

“…Maternal infanticide offenders are often mothers who have little or no support, and the relationships they do have are emotionally empty, violent, and dysfunctional. As a result, these mothers commonly abuse substances to cope and their substance abuse often precedes a violent interaction with their child (Smithey 1998(Smithey , 2001. In a study of mothers who had committed infant homicide, most reported regular use of alcohol and/or cocaine both during and after birth (Smithey 1998).…”

“…Other studies have explored the relationship between infanticide and the unrealistic demands of modern motherhood (Smithey 2001). Smithey (2001) proposed a theoretical framework that suggests that infanticide is the result of the mother's inability to fulfill the normative expectations of motherhood.…”

“…Smithey (2001) proposed a theoretical framework that suggests that infanticide is the result of the mother's inability to fulfill the normative expectations of motherhood. Societal expectations of self-sacrificing motherhood and maternal attachment do not allow her to escape her feelings of failure, and she remains in an intense and often escalating situation (Hays 1998;Smithey 2001).…”

“…Smithey (2001) proposed a theoretical framework that suggests that infanticide is the result of the mother's inability to fulfill the normative expectations of motherhood. Societal expectations of self-sacrificing motherhood and maternal attachment do not allow her to escape her feelings of failure, and she remains in an intense and often escalating situation (Hays 1998;Smithey 2001). Hays (1998) believes societal expectations of motherhood have increased over the past several decades due to the perception that "children are innocent and priceless, that their rearing should be centered on children's needs, with methods that are informed by experts, labor-intensive, and costly" (p. 21).…”