Criminalidade violenta feminina: estudo qualitativo com ofensoras sexuais e homicidas

Abstract

Violent female crime is a phenomenon that has been more visible in recent years, with a greater number of studies on the phenomenon, however there are no studies that seek to comparatively analyze women who have committed homicides and women who have committed sexual crimes. The present study aims to explore and compare the life trajectories of women who have committed violent crimes and who are serving an effective prison sentence, namely homicidal women, and sex offenders, to identify what unites them and what differentiates them. The sample consisted of nine participants with no history of active consumption of psychoactive substances or psychopathology, at present. For this, a socio-demographic and criminal questionnaire, the Inventory of Psychopathological Symptoms, and the McAdams Life Story Interview were used, being administered individually. Narrative analysis was used as methodology, using the Nvivo 10 software. The results indicate differences, but also similarities between the participants, with the majority centering their narrative around five main themes, the family being the most referenced. As for the crime, it is only referenced by homicides, while sexual offenders avoid the subject and tend to hold third parties responsible. It appears that they convey a prosocial image, seeking to maintain a positive identity, despite the adversities and present themselves as being resilient and hopeful about their future. The two narratives present are narratives of victimization / suffering and adversity / resilience. Homicides present a narrative of adversity and resilience and show greater psychological distress, while sexual aggressors present a narrative of less violent adversity and are less resilient. Keywords: Female crime; murder; sexual crimes; narrative analysis.

Date of Award	2021
Original language	Portuguese
Supervisor	Ana Rita Conde Dias (Supervisor)