Morality and Homicide among Young Killers

ABSTRACT Morality among juveniles convicted of homicide is approached through balance or polarity, while self-empowerment becomes central for accounts. Feelings are analyzed as a source of plausible grounds for acting, though not necessarily suited to or legitimate according to a conventional code of behavior. Fear, in a sense of despair and menace, and rage, connected to power and excitement, were recurrent. Perceptions of self-enhancement and polarity rather than balance, without belittling the victim or presenting her as disreputable, marked a trend. Punishment was often linked to deprivation of contacts with family, suggesting social relevance of relatives, particularly women, in killings and accounts. A novel approach is suggested for assessing moral claims in homicides by juveniles, addressed to alternative audiences beyond the criminal justice system.

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Main Author: Gabaldón,Luis Gerardo
Format: Digital revista
Language:English
Published: Universidade Federal do Rio de Janeiro 2021
Online Access:http://old.scielo.br/scielo.php?script=sci_arttext&pid=S2178-27922021000300659
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!