Childhood and family background of killers seen for psychiatric assessment: a controlled study.

The Parent Child Relations (PCR) of 109 killers, 38 nonviolent offenders and 54 normal controls were compared on a standard PCR questionnaire and on medical record information, rated for reliability. Results showed that killers had disturbed PCR but they did not differ from nonviolent offenders. The extreme violence reported in uncontrolled homicide research was not found in this study. Killers differed from nonviolent offenders in less often being adopted or fostered, less often running away from home but in more often stealing as a child. The triad of enuresis, firesetting, and cruelty to animals was not significant and had little predictive value .