Work

Examining the Criminal Patterns Within the Expressive‐Instrumental Motivation Typology Among Homicides in China: Implications for Criminal Profiling

Year: 2025

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT This study investigated criminal patterns within the expressive‐instrumental homicide typology by analysing homicide cases from 2013 to 2022. We coded and analysed a sample of 254 solved homicides from China Judgements Online through chi‐square tests, binary logistic regression, and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. First, we examined whether expressive and instrumental homicides demonstrated significant distinctions in offender and victim characteristics, and behavioural patterns. Second, we explored the associations between these behavioural indicators and the expressive‐instrumental typology. Our results demonstrated that overkill, offenders' use of threat and control, victim targeting, and dealing of forensic evidence significantly differentiated expressive and instrumental homicides, and effectively predicted motivational typologies in homicides.

Source: Journal of Investigative Psychology and Offender Profiling

DOI: 10.1002/jip.70005

Author: Ruihan Chen

Institution: Queen's University Belfast

Language: English

Topic: Homicide, Infanticide, and Child Abuse

Subfield: Sociology and Political Science

Field: Social Sciences

Domain: Social Sciences

SDGs: Peace, justice, and strong institutions, Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $2,900