Document Type

Paper

Publication Date

3-31-2026

Abstract

What motivates some individuals to commit homicide and what role does childhood trauma play in increasing that risk? Psychology and neuroscience suggest that when a child experiences traumatic events it can change how they handle stress, emotional control, and how their brain develops. All these factors can lead to them acting out in more violent ways. The Adverse Childhood Experiences study shows that traumatic events during one’s childhood can have a negative effect on their mental wellbeing later in life making them more prone to act out aggressively and possibly having more criminal involvement. Exposure to trauma has been linked to the increase rates of violent crimes such as homicide. Trauma can affect impulse control and threat detection which could increase the likelihood of violent reactions while under extreme stress. However, just because someone has childhood trauma does not automatically mean they are going to lash out violently while under pressure. Most survivors do not become violent offenders. Factors such as a good support system and early intervention can help reduce the risk of violent behaviors later in life. Understanding the connection between childhood trauma and violent crimes can bring light to the importance of early intervention and trauma informed approaches to reduce the risk of violent crimes.

Creative Commons License

Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-Share Alike 4.0 International License.

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