Term Paper on "How Does Murder Impact the Family of the Victim?"

Term Paper 3 pages (1242 words) Sources: 3

[EXCERPT] . . . .

Murder and the Family

How Does Murder Affect the Family

Homicide is described as causing intentional harm to another resulting in their death (Miller, 2008). Family survivors of murder victims suffer a significant loss and are often overlooked when we think of victims. Family members of murder victims deal with unique challenges, not only are they suffering the emotional loss of a loved one, but they must contend with the stigma associated with murder in society, as well as the re-victimization that can occur when dealing with the justice system (Armour, 2002). On top of psychological distress and diagnosable mental health disorders, such as posttraumatic stress disorder, murder causes survivors to question their own mortality (Miller, 2008). It can leave them feeling anxious and unsafe in their own homes and communities. Family members of murder victims experience social isolation as their supports struggle to deal with their own feelings about the homicide. Further, the long lasting nature of the grieving process can lead survivors to feel alone when others have appeared to move on with their day-to-day living.

How Does Murder Affect the Family?

Homicide has been defined as the intentional killing of one human being by another (Armour, 2002). Murder has also been described by Miller (2008) as the most extreme violation that one human can inflict on another. Surviving family members often experience a uniquely traumatic experience compared to the experience of other types of death. When survivors of murder victims are first informed of their loss, they often experience unparallel shock and disbelief (Armour, 2002). Survivors of murder victims experience a bereavement process that is more intense, lasts longer, and is more complex than of those persons whose family members did not die in a violent manner (Horne, 2003). Unlike an accident, family members of murder victims have to deal with the abrupt reality that someone intentionally inflicted violence on their loved one (Armour, 2002). When the loved one is a family member, the murder can cause the family to struggle with concepts of fairness, justice, religion, as well as the meaning of life (Miller, 2008).

According to Horne (2003), the typical grief that occurs over the loss of a loved one is compounded by numerous internal and external factors in murders. These include fixation on the violent nature of the incident, anxiety regarding personal safety, and feelings of guilt and anger (Horne, 2003). Miller (2008) describes how family members can become obsessed with the nature of the crime, the injuries exacted on their loved one, the viciousness of the killing, and how much the victim suffered. The greater the cruelty of the crime, the more distress the family appears to demonstrate (Miller, 2008).

Survivors of murder victims have been found to have a prolonged grieving process, one that in some instances does not subside (Miller, 2008). This is due in part to the fact that they must process the vicious nature of the murder victim's death, the abrupt end to a life, as well as their anger at the perpetrator (Horne, 2003). It has been shown that parents of children who have died in a violent manner continue to suffer unrelenting thoughts of revenge, retribution, regret, reenactment, and have exhibited over reactive behavior and over protectiveness toward family members that did not subside with time (Miller, 2008). Family members often futilely question why this has happened to the victim and to their lives. The inability to understand the motivation for the crime can leave survivors feeling more emotionally distraught (Miller, 2008). These feelings have led to disruptions in several life domains such as work, marital discord, physical health, and psychological distress. Miller (2008) found that two thirds of parents whose children died in a violent manner developed… READ MORE

How to Reference "How Does Murder Impact the Family of the Victim?" Term Paper in a Bibliography

Related Term Papers:

Autobiography of Malcolm X By Alex Haley Term Paper

Malcolm X

How Malcolm X's Street Life Contributed to his Leadership Skills

In order to understand Malcolm X as a leader, one must first understand him as a street thug,… read more

Term Paper 6 pages (2085 words) Sources: 1 Topic: Family / Dating / Marriage

---

Gang Membership Multiple Chapters

Gang Membership

A gang involves persons who have a similar identity and have a common purpose. A gang as per the description is just an association of people. However, the… read more

Multiple Chapters 3 pages (1004 words) Sources: 3 Topic: Family / Dating / Marriage

---

Family Violence and PTSD Children Are Subject Term Paper

Family Violence and PTSD

Children are subject to a number of stressors that may contribute to the onset of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). One of the stressors given particular attention… read more

Term Paper 16 pages (5408 words) Sources: 15 Style: APA Topic: Child Development / Youth / Teens

---

Domestic Violence a Real Issue or Overly Exaggerated Thesis

Domestic Violence, a Real Issue or Overly Exaggerated

Domestic violence refers to the physical abuse or violence directed to a domestic partner or a spouse; it is the behavior pattern… read more

Thesis 12 pages (3415 words) Sources: 12 Topic: Family / Dating / Marriage

---

Ice Man Confession Capstone Project

Iceman Confessions: A Social History Profile of Richard Kuklinski

IDENTIFYING INFORMATION

Reason for Referral:

Richard Kuklinski was referred because of his involvement in multiple murders. A member of Newark's DeCavalcante… read more

Capstone Project 5 pages (2060 words) Sources: 1+ Topic: Family / Dating / Marriage

---

View 100+ more related papers  >>