Citation

Temrin H, Nordlund J, Sterner H. Proc. Biol. Sci. 2004; 271(Suppl 3): S124-S126.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2004, Royal Society of London)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Evolutionary psychologists have suggested that stepchildren should be over-represented as victims of lethal parental violence compared with children living with their two genetic parents, because of relatively more lapses in parental solicitude among step-parents. In our study, using data over a period of 35 years in Sweden (1965-1999), there was no overall over-representation of stepchildren as victims. For very young stepchildren there was a tendency for over-representation. In families with both stepchildren and children genetically related to the offender, genetic children tended to be more likely to be victims.