Psychological Autopsy: A Method to Assist in the Identification of Risk and Protective Factors for Intimate Partner...

Area of Science:

• Criminology
• Forensic Psychology
• Public Health

Background:

• Intimate partner violence is a prevalent issue affecting women globally.
• Intimate partner femicide (IPF) is a critical area of research, highlighting gendered violence patterns.
• Existing IPF research methods have limitations, particularly in studying victims.

Purpose of the Study:

• To critically evaluate the methodologies currently employed in intimate partner femicide (IPF) research.
• To identify the limitations inherent in existing IPF research approaches, especially concerning victim-focused studies.
• To introduce and advocate for the adoption of the psychological autopsy as a novel method for IPF investigation.

Main Methods:

• Review of dominant methodologies used in intimate partner femicide (IPF) research.
• Critical analysis of the limitations of current IPF research techniques, focusing on victimology.
• Introduction of the psychological autopsy as a proposed alternative or supplementary research method.

Main Results:

• Current IPF research methodologies exhibit significant limitations in comprehensively understanding victim experiences.
• Existing methods often fail to capture the full context and nuances of victim circumstances leading to femicide.
• The psychological autopsy offers a promising framework to address these knowledge gaps.

Conclusions:

• There is a critical need to refine and expand methodologies in intimate partner femicide (IPF) research.
• The psychological autopsy presents a valuable tool for gaining deeper insights into the circumstances surrounding IPF.
• Adopting innovative approaches like the psychological autopsy can improve our understanding and prevention of gendered intimate partner homicides.