4 Hours | 4 CEs

This on-demand professional training program on Child Murder by Parents is presented by Phillip Resnick, MD, in partnership with The American Academy of Forensic Psychology.

Andrea Yates and Susan Smith have increased public awareness about parents killing their children. Among depressed mothers with children younger than three years of age, 41% report thoughts of killing their children. The motives for killing newborns (neonaticide) are distinguished from killing children older than 24 hours (filicide). Child murder is divided into five categories: altruistic, acutely psychotic, unwanted child, child maltreatment, and spouse revenge. Dr. Resnick discusses the perpetrators’ and their spouses’ reactions to the homicides in this course. Videotaped examples of cases of altruistic filicide and neonaticide serve as a basis for the discussion. Finally, strategies for prevention are addressed.

Learning Objectives

Upon completion of this program you will be able to:

  • Describe the differences between filicide and neonaticide

  • Describe child-murders based on motive

  • Describe the motives of mothers who kill their newborns

  • Describe which child killers are most likely to succeed in an insanity defense

Presented By

Phillip Resnick, MD

Phillip J. Resnick is an internationally known forensic psychiatrist noted for his expertise in the assessment of violence risk and the detection of malingered mental illness. He is a Professor of Psychiatry and Director of the Division of Forensic Psychiatry at Case Western Reserve University School of Medicine in Cleveland, Ohio. He is a past president of the American Academy of Psychiatry and the Law. He has provided consultation in many high profile cases including: Jeffrey Dahmer, Susan Smith, Timothy McVey, Andrea Yates, Scott Petersen, Brian Mitchell (kidnapper of Elizabeth Smart), Theodore Kaczynski (Unabomber) and Casey Anthony. He has written over 180 professional journal articles and book chapters.

  • Intended Audience

    This self-paced program is intended for mental health and other allied professionals.

  • Experience Level

    This self-paced program is appropriate for beginner, intermediate, and advanced level clinicians.

  • CE / CPD Credit

    APA, ASWB, CPA, NBCC Click here for state and other regional board approvals.

Curriculum

  • 1

    Welcome

    • Review Before Proceeding
  • 2

    Introduction

    • Lesson 1 Video
  • 3

    Neonaticide

    • Lesson 2 Video
  • 4

    Classification of Apparent Motive

    • Lesson 3 Video
  • 5

    After the Homicide

    • Lesson 4 Video
  • 6

    Case Example- Yates

    • Lesson 5 Video
  • 7

    Insanity Defense, Laney Case, and Prevention

    • Lesson 6 Video

    • Program Quiz

  • 8

    Evaluation

    • Instructions

    • Evaluation

    • Submission Verification

Develop a Specialty Area of Practice

Transforming mental health professionals into experts

  • Expert Instructors

    Professional training developed and delivered by the field's leading experts

  • CE Credit

    Earn CE credit for meaningful professional training that will elevate your practice

  • Convenience & Flexibility

    Learn at your own pace, from wherever you might be!

American Academy of Forensic Psychology

We are proud to partner with the American Academy of Forensic Psychology (AAFP) for this training. AAFP is a non-profit organization of board certified forensic psychologists whose mission is to contribute to the development and maintenance of forensic psychology as a specialized field of study, research and practice. The Academy does this by providing high quality continuing education workshops, providing a forum for the exchange of scientific information among its members, and conferring awards upon outstanding students and practitioners in the field of forensic psychology.
Partner Website

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