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ABSTRACT
Adult matricidal crimes have been studied by clinicians since at least the 1940s. However one syndrome has been overlooked when discussing the dynamics between adult-son and mother-as-victim. The emotional incest syndrome is presented here as another possible dynamic that could account for offender, victim and relationship factors in a matricide. In particular, a case study is presented where a son suffering a first time psychotic episode, rid an evil force from his mother by killing her. A lifelong history of being the victim of romanticizing, critical/abusive and seductive parenting contributed to the psychotic misperception and matricide.
INTRODUCTION
Matricide is a crime that has been studied for many years. Many different means have been employed in examining matricide including cohort to case studies. Theories and findings have examined offender, victim as well relationship dynamics between them. This study is noteworthy in that it identifies a new family dynamic, namely the emotional incest syndrome, with the crime of adult-son perpetrated matricide. Significantly, characteristics of the offender, victim and relationship were accounted for by one syndrome in regards to adult sexual matricide. Although the emotional incest syndrome has not been connected to matricide before this case study, it will be presented as a critical dynamic operating between mother and son.
Matricide is defined as the murder of one's mother. Matricide is a rare form of homicide in that it accounts for less than two percent of all homicides in the United States (Heide & Frei, 2010). Predominantly, matricides are carried out by sons (Bourget et al. 2007; Heide & Petee 2003) as adults (Heide 1993b; Heide & Petee 2007). Although other offender populations, such as female or adolescent offenders, have been studied in regard to matricide, it is the research related to the mentally disorder population of adult sons that is relevant to the current case study.
Wertham (1941) was one of the first to give a clinical conceptualization to matricide as a "son being entrapped in a prolonged oedipal dependent relationship, immature with no sexual experience, but with homosexual potential. The murderous act could serve as a final explosive escape from this situation". Furthermore, Raizen (1960) proposed that the matricides were connected with sexual advances from the mother. However, McDonald (1961) and Sadoff (1972)...